Amazon FBA from Lithuania: how it works, fees and how it differs from dropshipping
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Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is often mentioned alongside dropshipping, but the model is the opposite: you buy the goods in advance and send them to an Amazon warehouse, and Amazon stores them, packs them, ships them to the buyer and accepts returns. You get fast delivery and access to Amazon’s buyers, and in exchange – a long list of fees and money tied up in stock.
This part of the guide covers whether you can sell on Amazon from Lithuania, which fees are listed in Amazon’s official price list, when VAT obligations arise in other countries and who this model suits.
In short
- Lithuania is on the list of countries from which seller registration is accepted.
- The Professional selling plan in the European stores costs 39 € per month excluding VAT; the Individual plan – 0.99 € per item sold.
- Amazon takes a referral fee on every sale – most often 8–15% – and separate FBA fees for fulfilment and storage.
- Keeping goods in an Amazon warehouse in another country creates an obligation to register for VAT in that country.
FBA and dropshipping: the differences
| Dropshipping | Amazon FBA | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock | You do not buy in advance | You buy a batch and send it to an Amazon warehouse |
| Initial investment | The shop and advertising | A batch of goods, transport, fees |
| Delivery to the buyer | Often weeks | At the speed of Amazon’s warehouses |
| Buyers | You bring them in yourself through advertising | They search in the Amazon store |
| Returns | You handle them yourself | Amazon accepts them, but you pay for it |
| Control | Your shop and your customers | Amazon’s rules; the customers belong to Amazon |
Can you sell from Lithuania
Yes. In Amazon’s seller help centre, Lithuania is included in the list of countries from which registration is accepted. The same page states that when selling as a business or a sole proprietor you need proof of business establishment in one of the listed countries, a local phone number and a credit card suitable for international payments.
There is no Lithuanian Amazon store, so you sell in other countries’ stores, for example Germany’s, and send the goods to a warehouse abroad. Listings, customer questions and documents will be in that country’s language.
Fees according to Amazon’s price list
Below are figures from Amazon’s price list for sellers in Germany, checked in October 2026. All amounts exclude VAT.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Individual selling plan | 0.99 € for each item sold |
| Professional selling plan | 39 € per month, regardless of the number of sales |
| Commission on the sale (referral fee) | Depends on the category; most are between 8% and 15%; the minimum fee in many categories is 0.30 € per item |
| FBA fulfilment fee | A fixed amount per unit based on product type, dimensions and weight |
| Storage, standard-size items (most categories) | 27.54 € per cubic metre per month in January–September; 52.20 € in October–December |
| Storage, clothing, footwear, handbags | 19.99 € per cubic metre in January–September; 29.23 € in October–December |
| Surcharge for long-stored stock | Applies to units that have been in the warehouse for more than 241 days |
| Refund administration fee | The lesser of: 5 € or 20% of the referral fee charged |
The referral fee is calculated on the total amount the buyer pays, including delivery and gift wrapping. For clothing the fee depends on the price: 5% for items up to 15 €, 10% from 15 to 20 €, 15% for items costing more than 20 €.
The exact FBA fulfilment fee for a specific product is shown by Amazon’s calculator – you must check it before buying a batch, because for small cheap products it can make up a large part of the price.
VAT: when obligations arise in other countries
Amazon’s help centre says it plainly about the Pan-European FBA programme: storing goods in a country that is not the country of your home store creates additional VAT registration and reporting obligations, as well as Intrastat and other reporting requirements. “Storing” also covers cases where Amazon itself moves your stock between warehouses in different EU countries. You are responsible for collecting and paying the taxes and for filing the returns.
What this means in practice
- If your goods sit in a warehouse in Germany, you need to register for VAT in Germany.
- If you switch on a programme that distributes stock across several countries, you need registration in each of them.
- Registration, returns and an accountant’s services cost money in each country – this has to be factored in before you start.
Exactly how this applies to your situation must be confirmed by an accountant who works with international trade. The general VAT rules for trade in the EU are discussed in the part of the guide on taxes, and the forms of activity in the ACS.lt article “Self-employment: registration certificate or business certificate”.
What else you need before the first sale
- A product and a supplier. Most often a batch from a manufacturer. When importing from a non-EU country, you become the party responsible for the product’s safety on the EU market.
- Product identifiers and labelling according to Amazon’s requirements – every unit must be labelled so that the warehouse can recognise it.
- Transport to the Amazon warehouse abroad – at your expense.
- A listing in that country’s language: title, description, photos according to Amazon’s rules.
- Advertising inside Amazon. A new listing without reviews finds it hard to compete with old ones, so you need an advertising budget here as well.
Who FBA suits and who it does not
| Suitable | Not suitable |
|---|---|
| You have your own product or brand and the capital for a batch | You want to start with no investment |
| The product is small and light, with a sufficient margin | The product is cheap – fixed fees eat up the margin |
| You are prepared to handle VAT abroad | You do not want to hire an accountant |
| You want to sell in large markets, not only in Lithuania | Your buyers are in Lithuania |
FBA is not “passive income”. It is an import and trading business with stock, in which you hand the logistics to the buyer over to Amazon.
Frequently asked questions
What is Amazon FBA?
A service in which the seller’s goods are kept in an Amazon warehouse, and Amazon packs them, ships them to the buyer and accepts returns.
Can you sell on Amazon from Lithuania?
Yes, Lithuania is on the list of countries from which seller registration is accepted.
How much does a seller account cost?
The Individual plan is 0.99 € per item sold, the Professional plan 39 € per month excluding VAT. Referral fees and FBA fees are added to that.
Do you need to register for VAT in Germany?
Amazon states that storing goods in another country creates an obligation to register for VAT in that country. The specific situation must be assessed by an accountant.
Can you do dropshipping through Amazon?
Amazon has a separate dropshipping policy with strict conditions – read it in the seller help centre before trying.
Sources
- Amazon Seller Services DE. Pricing
https://sell.amazon.de/en/preisgestaltung - Amazon Seller Central Europe. Countries accepted for seller registration
https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/gp/help/external/200405020 - Amazon Seller Central Europe. Pan-European FBA: How it Works
https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/external/G201855460 - EUR-Lex. Reglamentas dėl bendros gaminių saugos (2023 m.): santrauka
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LT/legal-content/summary/general-product-safety-regulation-2023.html
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