In short
- Lithuania's modeling agencies are based in Vilnius and Kaunas. Fashion agencies mostly work as mother agencies, developing new faces and placing them with agencies abroad.
- Lithuania has no specific law capping agency commission or contract length, so your contract decides almost everything.
- Under an employment contract you can work independently from 16, and from 14 with consent from a parent, a doctor and the school. For younger children, the parents sign.
- Applying to a genuine agency and attending its casting are free. Being asked to pay a "registration fee" is a warning sign.
The modeling market in Lithuania
The Lithuanian market is small and concentrated in two cities. Vilnius is home to most fashion agencies and to the bulk of advertising and e-commerce shoots. Kaunas has several long-established agencies as well as schools for kids' and commercial models. You will find the agencies listed by city on the Vilnius and Kaunas pages.
The market splits into two parts. Fashion agencies scout new faces, develop them and, as mother agencies, introduce them to partner agencies in Paris, Milan, London, New York, Tokyo and other markets. Commercial and kids' agencies work mainly locally: online store shoots, campaigns for local brands, TV commercials, events and social media content. Some agencies run boards of both kinds.
There is only so much work in Lithuania, so most local models combine modeling with studies or another job, and those who want to live from it usually go abroad through their mother agency. For real figures at home and abroad, see our guide on how much models make.
How a modeling agency works
An agency represents the model: it puts you forward to clients, negotiates fees and dates, confirms bookings and handles payment. It earns a commission on your fees, not charges paid by you.
The mother agency
A mother agency is the agency in the model's home country that discovered them or first started working with them. It arranges the first test shoots, coaches posing and the runway walk, chooses agencies abroad, negotiates terms and keeps track of how the model is doing. The foreign agency pays the mother agency part of its own commission, so the model does not pay extra for this.
Commission
In Lithuania the agency commission is set in the contract, usually around 20% of the fee. When you work abroad, the agency representing you there takes its commission and your mother agency typically receives about 10% out of that share. The percentages should be written in the contract as numbers.
The contract
The key document is the representation agreement. Some countries limit its length or the commission by law; Lithuania has no such special rules, so what you sign matters. One to three years with a clear termination procedure is usual. A mother agency normally asks for exclusivity in Lithuania, which is fair if in return it commits to presenting you to partners and finding work. Which clauses to check and which are risky is covered in our guide to the modeling contract.
Boards and requirements
Agencies divide models into boards, each with its own requirements. Before you apply, think about which board you fit. The table shows typical benchmarks; every agency sets its own.
| Board | Height | Starting age | Where the work is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women (fashion) | Usually 172–181 cm (5'7"–5'11") | Usually 14–21 | Fashion weeks, magazines, campaigns, markets abroad |
| Men | Usually 183–190 cm (6'0"–6'3") | Usually 16–25 | Fashion and advertising, markets abroad |
| New faces | As for fashion boards | Usually 14–18 | Test shoots, development, first trips abroad |
| Kids | No requirement | From babies to teenagers | Advertising, catalogues, online stores |
| Curve | Flexible; fashion work often from about 173 cm | Any | E-commerce, advertising, brand campaigns |
| Commercial | No requirement | Any, including mature models | Advertising, TV, online stores, events |
The runway has the strictest requirements, explained in our guide to the runway model. For a comparison of all kinds of modeling, see types of modeling, and if you wear a larger size, read how to become a plus-size model. You can filter the catalogue by board: new faces, kids, curve, commercial.
How to choose an agency
We do not rank agencies: the best one is the one that works with models of your type, age and goals. Before you sign, check:
- that the agency has a board that fits you;
- that it is a registered company, which you can confirm in the public Lithuanian Register of Legal Entities;
- which agencies abroad it works with and where its models are working (visible on the foreign agencies' websites);
- that applying, the casting and the meeting are free;
- that you can take the contract home and show it to a lawyer;
- that the commission, term, termination procedure and any costs that may be advanced are written in the contract as numbers;
- that you will receive a statement for every job and expense;
- who will accompany a minor to shoots and on trips.
A longer list of questions is in our guide on how to choose a modeling agency. If you are weighing up a beauty pageant as well, we explain the difference in pageant vs modeling.
Models under 18
Many Lithuanian models start as teenagers, and kids' boards work with very young children too. Lithuanian law answers two questions here: who signs the contract, and on what terms a child may work.
Who signs
For a child under 14, the parents or guardians enter into contracts on the child's behalf (Civil Code, Article 2.7). From 14 to 18 a minor signs personally, but only with the consent of a parent or guardian, given in the same form as the contract (Article 2.8) – a written contract needs written consent. In practice a parent also signs an agency contract with a minor.
Working conditions
Under Article 21 of the Labour Code, a person can work independently under an employment contract from the age of 16. A child aged 14–16 may be employed only with written consent from one parent, a medical certificate confirming the child is fit for the specific work and, during the school year, written consent from the school (Government Resolution No 518). Working time is limited by Article 36 of the Law on Safety and Health at Work:
- children aged 14–16 may work up to 12 hours a week during the school year: up to 2 hours on school days and up to 6 hours on other days, never during lessons;
- during school holidays, up to 6 hours a day and 30 hours a week;
- teenagers aged 16–18 may work no more than 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, including school hours;
- children may not work between 8 pm and 6 am, teenagers between 10 pm and 6 am, and everyone under 18 must have at least two days off a week.
These rules apply to work under an employment contract. Modeling is often arranged differently, through a service or representation agreement, so parents should agree the same limits in writing: no shoots during lessons or late in the evening, with breaks and days off.
For parents, before signing
- Go to the first agency meeting together with your child.
- Take the contract home and read it without hurry.
- Find out who the chaperone will be at shoots and on trips.
- Never let a minor go alone to a "casting" in a hotel or private flat.
- Ask to see every booking confirmation and statement.
- Do not agree to unlimited usage rights for your child's photos.
Tax and income
Most models in Lithuania work under an individual activity certificate registered with the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) and invoice the agency or client themselves. Some clients instead use a copyright or service contract and withhold the tax. Before your first job, ask the agency how it pays and what documents it needs from you.
| Individual activity, 2026 | Amount |
|---|---|
| Income tax on annual profit up to €20,000 | Effectively 5% |
| Income tax on profit of €20,000–42,500 | Rises gradually from 5% to 20% |
| Profit above €42,500 | Added to other income and taxed at 20%, 25% or 32% |
| Social insurance (VSD) to Sodra | 12.52% of 90% of taxable profit |
| Health insurance (PSD) | 6.98% of 90% of taxable profit |
| Expenses | Actual, with receipts, or a flat 30% of income without receipts |
The flat 30% is often simpler for models, as you do not have to keep expense records. Put part of every fee aside for tax so the annual return holds no surprises. Lithuanian tax residents also declare income earned abroad; how to avoid double taxation and what is withheld in different countries is explained in our guide to model taxes. Rates change, so check the current figures on the VMI and Sodra websites each year.
If you come from abroad to work in Lithuania, the 183-day rule decides your status: spend 183 days or more in the country in a calendar year and you become a Lithuanian tax resident. As a non-resident, income for work done in Lithuania is still taxable here and is usually withheld by the Lithuanian company that pays you.
Working abroad through a Lithuanian agency
Lithuanian citizens need no work permit in other EU and EEA countries. Outside the EU, for example in Japan or the United States, a work visa is required, and the foreign agency usually arranges it together with the mother agency. In practice:
- The foreign agency often prepays flights, the model apartment and comp cards, and gives you pocket money. This is an advance that is later deducted from your earnings.
- Everything appears on your statement: fees, commission, tax and costs. If costs exceed earnings, you end up with agency debt, and the contract should say who covers it.
- Some markets, especially in Asia, offer a guaranteed contract – an agreed minimum amount for the length of your stay.
- The country where you work often withholds part of the tax on the spot, and you declare that income in Lithuania.
Explaining these terms in advance and negotiating them is the mother agency's job. Before you leave, ask for the apartment cost, the advances, the commission and who pays your return ticket if the season does not work out, all in writing.
Scams and warning signs in Lithuania
As anywhere, Lithuania has its share of fake agencies and "castings" whose real aim is to sell a photo shoot or a course, or to collect photos of young people. The most common signs:
- you are asked to pay for registration, a place on the board or a portfolio as a condition of representation;
- work and earnings are promised straight away, before anyone has seen plain photos and measurements;
- you are invited to a "casting" in a hotel room or private flat, or asked to come without your parents;
- you are asked for lingerie or nude photos, especially as a minor;
- contact happens only on social media, with no company details, address or website;
- you may not take the contract home and are pushed to sign on the spot;
- the contract runs 5–10 years, with penalties for turning down work and no obligations on the agency.
A modeling school and a modeling agency offer different things: a school teaches for a fee, an agency earns from your bookings. Some businesses do both, so before paying, ask whether representation depends on buying a course. If an offer feels wrong, look the company up in the Register of Legal Entities and ask another agency for a second opinion; if money was taken or you were threatened, go to the police.
How to apply
Most agencies accept applications online. They usually ask for your name, age, height, measurements and a few digitals – plain photos without make-up or filters.
- Take the photos in daylight: face from the front and in profile, full length from the front, side and back, in simple fitted clothes.
- Measure your height, bust or chest, waist and hips accurately, and add your shoe size.
- Choose agencies by board: the catalogue above can be filtered.
- If you are under 18, include a parent's contact details; a parent comes with you to the meeting.
- If you are invited, prepare for the casting: what to wear and what to bring is covered in model casting: how to prepare.
You do not need comp cards or a professional portfolio to start; the agency helps you put them together once it takes you on. If you want to book a test shoot yourself, see what a model test shoot costs in Lithuania.
International models usually approach Lithuanian agencies through their own mother agency, which also agrees the terms of the stay. If you apply directly, send the same digitals and measurements and say which dates you are available.
Jurgita.com is owned by the modeling agency Supermodels. Applying and its open call are free; how the open call works and what kind of models it looks for is described in Supermodels open call.
