Do you need a visa?
Without a visa, a stay never goes beyond 90 days in 180. For a degree, outside the European Union, you need a temporary residence permit.
| Your passport | To enter and stay |
|---|---|
| Lithuanian passport | No visa and no permit: the law on aliens does not apply to you.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
| European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland | No visa. You stay 3 months freely; beyond that, you ask for a certificate of the right of residence: €10, a decision within 1 month, valid 5 years or for your planned stay. You need sufficient means and health insurance.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija; e-seimas — Vyriausybės nutarimas Nr. 1458, konkretūs valstybės rinkliavos dydžiai |
| Any other passport | A temporary residence permit for studies, granted by the Migration Department. You apply online on MIGRIS; from abroad, through the external service provider, where there is one. Once the permit is granted, a national (D) visa lets you enter.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija; e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS); Study in Lithuania — Visas and permits |
A visa-free stay never covers a degree. From 1 November 2026, a first-cycle student can apply for the permit from inside Lithuania only if already there with a Lithuanian permit, a Lithuanian national visa, a residence permit from another EU or Schengen country, or on a lawful visa-free stay.
e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija; e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties, redakcija nuo 2026-11-01
- National (D) visa
- €140
- e-seimas — Vyriausybės nutarimas Nr. 1458, konkretūs valstybės rinkliavos dydžiai
- when decided in Lithuania
Not verified
Official pages do not all agree on the order of the steps: one Study in Lithuania page asks for the D visa and the permit before you leave, another for the visa before and the permit after arrival. Check the route in force for your country with the Migration Department before you leave. The list of countries with an external service provider and its fees, the D visa fee at an embassy and the list of passports exempt from a short-stay visa could not be read on an official page.
The student residence permit
Outside the European Union, your first permit is a temporary residence permit. Your university sends you the letter that supports it once your first year is paid.
- State fee
- €160
- e-seimas — Vyriausybės nutarimas Nr. 1458, konkretūs valstybės rinkliavos dydžiai
- published rate; 2 times more for the urgent procedure
- Admitted student
- 50% off
- e-seimas — Rinkliavų įstatymas (VIII-1725)
- so €80 in the normal procedure (Unitlas calculation)
- Decision
- within 2 months
- e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
- Length
- 2 years at most per permit
- e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
- 8 years in total for your student permits, not counting medical residency and doctoral studies
- In-person appointment
- within 4 months
- e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS)
- after your MIGRIS application: documents, photos, fingerprints
- Passport
- valid 3 months beyond the permit
- e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS)
- Criminal record
- from the countries you lived in over the last 2 years
- e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS)
- issued less than 6 months before you apply
- Housing
- at least 4 m² per person
- e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
- for a student (7 m² in the general case)
The money to show: 50% of the minimum wage per month, for the whole permit, and for at least a year if the permit is longer. With the 2026 minimum wage of €1,153, that is €576.50 a month, or €6,918 for a year. We work this amount out from the texts: no official page prints it.
Source: e-seimas — Įsakymas A1-22, užsieniečio pragyvenimo lėšų dydis; VMI — Minimaliosios mėnesinės algos dydis 2026 metais; e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS)
Your university’s letter can confirm that your fees are paid and that you have enough to live on and to return home; otherwise, a bank statement is asked for.
Source: e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS)
A university can ask for more than the law: VILNIUS TECH asks for a bank account holding €7,500 a year. That is its rule, not the State’s.
| Your situation | Your permit |
|---|---|
| Final year of studies | The permit can run up to 6 months after the planned end of your studies.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
| Renewal | You need at least 40 credits passed over the last year, or a justified reason.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
| End of studies or dropping out | You must leave Lithuania, unless you have another ground for a permit, such as a job started during your permit.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
Not verified
Another provision of the fees law exempts some admitted full-time students; its scope is unclear, so we show the published rate. The price shown by the Migration Department (€160 or half) and the effect of the cut on the urgent procedure could not be read.
Getting a place
Two routes, depending on your situation. Most students coming from abroad apply directly to the university, for a fee-paying place.
| Your situation | Your application |
|---|---|
| Citizen of Lithuania, the European Union or EFTA, or a family member; holder of a Lithuanian permanent residence permit; person of Lithuanian descent | You can aim for a State-funded place or a grant through LAMA BPO, the joint admission system. Your school-leaving certificate must be recognised first.LAMA BPO — International students |
| Any other student | Direct application to the university, for a fee-paying place.LAMA BPO — International students |
| Master’s | Directly to the university, except at the Academy of Music and Theatre, Klaipėda University and Mykolas Romeris University, which go through LAMA BPO.LAMA BPO — Master’s studies |
- LAMA BPO, main admission 2026
- 1 June 2026 to 23 July 2026
- LAMA BPO — Key dates and deadlines
- bachelor’s; the 2027 dates are not confirmed yet
- Vilnius University, outside the EU
- until 1 May
- Vilnius University — International Business (bachelor)
- International Business bachelor’s; until 1 July for the EU and EFTA
- KTU (Kaunas), bachelor’s 2026-2027
- until 1 June 2026
- Kaunas University of Technology — Bachelor admissions
- Application fee
- €100
- Kaunas University of Technology — Bachelor admissions
- at Vilnius University, VILNIUS TECH and KTU
At Vilnius University, your application is assessed within 30 days. Once admitted, you pay your first year within 15 days; the university then sends the letter your permit needs. KTU and VILNIUS TECH also ask for the first year to be paid before that letter.
Source: Vilnius University — International Business (bachelor); Kaunas University of Technology — Bachelor admissions; VILNIUS TECH — Tuition and other fees
Many programmes are taught in English, others in Lithuanian: for those, LAMA BPO runs a language test. Recognition of a foreign diploma can take a month or more: start early.
Source: LAMA BPO — International students; Study in Lithuania — Application procedure
Not verified
Whether recognition of your diploma is required for a direct application: each university sets its own list of documents. Vilnius University’s page does not say which year its published fees and dates apply to.
Scholarships and funded places
Outside the European Union, public support comes through a master’s scholarship open to certain countries and through State-funded doctoral places.
- State master’s scholarship
- €592 a month
- Study in Lithuania — State scholarships for full-time master’s studies
- 8 times the 2026 basic social benefit (€74), plus tuition up to the national reference cost
- Scholarships in 2026
- 70
- Study in Lithuania — State scholarships for full-time master’s studies
- including 20 for Ukraine and at most 10 per other country
- Applications 2026
- until 20 April 2026
- Study in Lithuania — State scholarships for full-time master’s studies
- results by 15 June 2026 at the latest; arrival in Lithuania before 31 October
Countries open in 2026: Armenia, Azerbaijan, China and Taiwan, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, Ukraine, the United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and foreigners of Lithuanian descent. Selection weighs motivation and grades half each; A1 Lithuanian is required in the first year.
Source: Study in Lithuania — State scholarships for full-time master’s studies
| Your situation | Possible support |
|---|---|
| Doctorate, any nationality | State-funded places open to international students.Study in Lithuania — Tuition fees |
| European Union and EFTA | State-funded places, through LAMA BPO.Study in Lithuania — Tuition fees; LAMA BPO — International students |
| Master’s at Vilnius University, outside the EU | Tuition waivers for 5 students; application file and online interview.Vilnius University — Tuition fee waiver for full-time master’s studies |
| KTU | Partial or full waivers for excellent results.Kaunas University of Technology — Master admissions |
Not verified
The 2027 call for the State scholarship is not published: the 2026 call is closed and gives the benchmark. The website of the foundation that runs the scholarship could not be read.
From place to permit
- Choose your routeDirect application to the university, or LAMA BPO if you belong to the groups admitted to funded places.LAMA BPO — International students
- Get your placeVilnius University, outside the EU: until 1 May. KTU: until 1 June 2026.Vilnius University — International Business (bachelor)
- Pay your first yearThe university then sends you the letter that supports your permit. At Vilnius University, payment within 15 days.Vilnius University — International Business (bachelor)
- Apply for the permit on MIGRISFee of €160; from abroad, through the external service provider where there is one.e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS)
- Appear in personWithin 4 months: documents, photos, fingerprints.e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS)
- Get the decisionWithin 2 months. The national (D) visa is then issued so you can enter.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
- RenewBefore the permit ends, with at least 40 credits over the last year.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
Not verified
No official page read says how long before the start of term to file your application, or the deadline to collect your card or declare your address.
Tuition fees
Each university sets its fees, by programme and level of study. Here are the rates published by three major universities.
- Vilnius University, International Business bachelor’s
- €4,350 a year
- Vilnius University — International Business (bachelor)
- outside the EU and EFTA; €3,950 for the EU and EFTA
- VILNIUS TECH, management bachelor’s
- €3,950 a year
- VILNIUS TECH — Tuition and other fees
- outside the EU, 2026-2027
- VILNIUS TECH, engineering and computing bachelor’s
- €4,950 a year
- VILNIUS TECH — Tuition and other fees
- outside the EU, 2026-2027
- VILNIUS TECH, management master’s
- €5,450 a year
- VILNIUS TECH — Tuition and other fees
- outside the EU, 2026-2027
- KTU, management bachelor’s
- €3,250 a year
- Kaunas University of Technology — Bachelor admissions
- 2026-2027
- KTU, engineering and computing bachelor’s
- €4,201 a year
- Kaunas University of Technology — Bachelor admissions
- 2026-2027
The official Study in Lithuania portal gives prices from €1,300 a year for a bachelor’s, €2,300 for a master’s and €8,400 for a doctorate.
A student from the European Union or EFTA who wins a State-funded place pays no tuition; otherwise, they pay the university’s European rate.
Source: Study in Lithuania — Tuition fees; LAMA BPO — International students
| Residence permit fee | €160 |
|---|---|
| Application fee | €100 |
| Registration fee | €200 |
| Tuition, engineering and computing | €4,950 |
| Before the student cut on the permit, housing, insurance and living costs | €5,410 |
For your permit, you must also show €6,918 for a year of living costs (Unitlas calculation) and insurance of at least €5,792.
Source: e-seimas — Vyriausybės nutarimas Nr. 1458, konkretūs valstybės rinkliavos dydžiai; VILNIUS TECH — Tuition and other fees; e-seimas — Įsakymas A1-22, užsieniečio pragyvenimo lėšų dydis
Not verified
KTU does not split its rates between European and non-European students. No national list brings together the fees of every university.
Health
| Your situation | Your cover |
|---|---|
| European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, with the European Health Insurance Card | Public care after an accident; the card does not cover private care. The residence certificate asks for valid insurance.Study in Lithuania — Useful information; e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
| Any other passport | Private insurance of at least €5,792, valid for your whole stay, from an insurer in any country. It covers emergency care and repatriation.e-seimas — Vyriausybės nutarimas Nr. 230, užsieniečių sveikatos draudimas |
| You work and pay contributions in Lithuania | You join compulsory health insurance.e-seimas — Sveikatos draudimo įstatymas (I-1343); e-seimas — Vyriausybės nutarimas Nr. 230, užsieniečių sveikatos draudimas |
If your permit lasts more than a year, your insurance must cover at least a year. The €30,000 sometimes quoted applies only to a short-stay (C) visa.
Source: e-seimas — Vidaus reikalų ministro įsakymas 1V-329, prašymai išduoti leidimą gyventi (MIGRIS); e-seimas — Vyriausybės nutarimas Nr. 230, užsieniečių sveikatos draudimas
Not verified
Can an international student join public health insurance, and at what price? No official page read says.
Working while you study
| Your level | Work allowed |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, first and second year | 20 hours a week at most, outside the summer holidays and internships.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
| Bachelor’s from the third year, master’s, doctorate | The law sets no cap on hours.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
| European Union | No limit on hours.Study in Lithuania — Work in Lithuania |
The law gives the student permit holder the right to work directly; it does not mention a separate work permit.
Source: e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
Not verified
The Study in Lithuania portal says 40 hours a week after the second year, its FAQ 20 hours for everyone, and VILNIUS TECH full time. The law caps only the first two years.
Bringing your family
Your spouse, registered partner and minor children can get a temporary residence permit. It lasts as long as yours.
Source: e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
| Your level | Condition |
|---|---|
| Master’s, medical residency or doctorate | The length-of-stay condition does not apply: your family can join you.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
| Bachelor’s | You must have lived in Lithuania for 2 years, hold a permit valid for at least 1 year and have real prospects of permanent residence. In the first year, it is not possible.e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija |
Not verified
The price and documents of your family’s permit are not published separately. The portal’s FAQ speaks only of individual visas and tourist visits; the law, which is more complete, provides for this family permit.
After your degree
With a Lithuanian degree, you can ask for a 12-month permit to look for a job or start a business.
- Permit after the degree
- 12 months
- e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
- to apply for within 1 year of your degree; you can work during this permit
- Decision
- within 1 month
- e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
- Last student permit
- up to 6 months more
- e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
- after the planned end of your studies
If you start working during your permit and apply for a permit on another ground, you do not have to leave the country.
Source: e-seimas — Įstatymas dėl užsieniečių teisinės padėties (IX-2206), suvestinė redakcija
Not verified
The Study in Lithuania portal speaks of 15 months in total after your studies; the law gives up to 6 more months on the last permit, then the 12-month permit. The conditions of the work permits that follow are not covered here.