Lithuania student visa: Complete guide 2026
What Is the Lithuania Student Visa?
The Lithuania Student Visa refers to two different documents used at different stages. The national visa covers your first year of study. The Temporary Residence Permit covers continuing years, applied for while you are already in Lithuania.
Applications are submitted electronically through the Migration Information System, known as MIGRIS. Before applying, the inviting higher education institution must submit a mediation letter through MIGRIS confirming the applicant's admission. The national visa is applied for at a Lithuanian embassy, consulate, or external service provider abroad. The Temporary Residence Permit is applied for at a Migration Department office.
Who Is It For?
Nationality: Non-EU/EEA nationals.
Study program: Enrollment as a full-time student at a science and study institution registered in Lithuania, or admission to a doctoral program.
Financial means: At least 0.5 times Lithuania's minimum monthly wage per month, plus one month's minimum wage held in reserve for return travel. As of 2026, that is EUR 576.50 a month, plus EUR 1,153 for return travel, totaling EUR 8,071 for a one-year permit.
What the Visa Allows
Residency: The national visa used for your first year of study is issued for up to 1 year and allows multiple entries. The Temporary Residence Permit, used for continuing years, is issued for the length of your study program, up to 2 years at a time, and renewed for as long as your studies continue. In your final year, it can be issued for up to 6 months beyond your expected completion date. Doctoral students are issued a Temporary Residence Permit valid for up to 3 years at a time.
Work: No limit on the hours you can work.
Family: You can sponsor family reunification only if you have lived in Lithuania for 2 years and hold a Temporary Residence Permit valid for at least 1 year. Master's and doctoral students are exempt from this waiting period.
Travel: The permit allows you to travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
After graduation: If you complete your studies, you can apply for a Temporary Residence Permit to seek employment, valid for 12 months.
Documents You'll Need to Prepare
Documents issued in a language other than Lithuanian need a certified Lithuanian translation. Documents issued abroad also need an apostille, except documents issued in an EU country, Russia, Moldova, or Ukraine. Items below are for the national visa; those marked "for the permit" are needed later, for the Temporary Residence Permit.
Application form: Completed electronically through MIGRIS, separately for the visa and later for the permit.
Passport: A travel document valid for at least 3 months longer than the requested visa or permit period.
Passport photo: One recent color photo.
Proof of financial means: A bank statement, proof of income, or a sponsor's declaration confirming the required amount.
Proof of health insurance: For the national visa, coverage of at least EUR 30,000, valid in Lithuania and across the Schengen area for the requested visa period.
Proof of accommodation (for the permit): A lease agreement, proof of property ownership, or a notarized letter from another person committing to house you, covering the full period of the permit.
Criminal record certificate (for the permit): Issued no earlier than 6 months before your application. Accepted in English, unless the Migration Department specifically requests a Lithuanian translation.
Step-by-Step Application Process
Step 1: Secure admission
Apply to a Lithuanian higher education institution. Once accepted, the institution submits a mediation letter through MIGRIS confirming your admission; you will need its reference number for your own application.
Step 2: Apply for the national visa
Complete the application through MIGRIS, book an appointment, then visit a Lithuanian embassy, consulate, or external service provider abroad to submit your biometric data and original documents. A decision is made within 15 calendar days.
Step 3: Travel to Lithuania
Enter Lithuania using your national visa.
Step 4: Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit
If your studies will continue beyond your national visa's validity, submit a Temporary Residence Permit application through MIGRIS, 1.5 to 3 months before the visa expires. Book an appointment at a Migration Department office to submit your biometric data and original documents. A decision is made within 3 months under the general procedure.
Step 5: Collect your Temporary Residence Permit card
Once your application is approved, collect the card from the office where you submitted your documents.
Step 6: Declare your address
If you already included your address in your Temporary Residence Permit application, this step is done. Otherwise, declare it at the local municipal ward office (seniūnija) within 1 month of collecting your card.
Costs and Fees
The national visa costs EUR 110, or EUR 80 if you were admitted under an international treaty or intergovernmental agreement. The Temporary Residence Permit costs EUR 60, a 50 percent reduction from the standard EUR 120 fee. If you apply through the external service provider abroad, an additional service fee applies, paid directly to the provider rather than the state. This fee varies by country. Fees are non-refundable.
Good to Know
Graduates get a one-time fee waiver: If you complete your studies or research in Lithuania, you can have one Temporary Residence Permit issued afterward without paying the state fee.
You must report certain changes within 7 days: If your identity documents, marital status, or address change while you hold a Temporary Residence Permit, you must report it to the Migration Department within 7 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a separate visa and residence permit?
Not at the same time. You need the national visa for your first year, then switch to a Temporary Residence Permit for continuing years, applied for once you are already in Lithuania.
How many hours can I work as a student?
There is no hour limit on work under a study-purpose Temporary Residence Permit.
Can my family join me?
Only if you have lived in Lithuania for 2 years and hold a Temporary Residence Permit valid for at least 1 year. Master's and doctoral students are exempt from this waiting period.
What happens after I graduate?
You can apply for a Temporary Residence Permit to seek employment, valid for 12 months.
