Immigration of students

The system of higher education in Lithuania is highly favourable for students from foreign states. In the country, over twenty colleges and universities offer almost two hundreds study programmes in English and over fifty study programmes in Russian.

At Lithuanian higher education institutions, the extent of study programmes is assessed according to European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). One year of studies (that lasts for 9 months) is equated to 60 ECTS credits.

Lithuanian system of education is developed very well. The general education programme lasts for twelve years. It consists of primary education, basic education and secondary education.

In addition, the preschool education exists in Lithuania as well. It involves children from the birth until the age of 6 years. It is not compulsory and is provided at a request of parents of a child only. The said education is provided by state-supported and private institutions of preschool education.

In Lithuania, the opportunities for studies and acquisition of higher education are provided both for citizens of Lithuania and aliens. It should be noted that a diploma of higher education issued in Lithuania is recognized in other European Union Member States, so one should not be afraid that such a diploma will be recognized within the territory of Lithuania only.

Special study programme for students from foreign states are offered both by universities and colleges.  Studies in Lithuania may consist of several cycles: the first-cycle studies are bachelor’s studies, the second-cycle studies are master’s studies and the third-cycle studies are doctor’s studies. Lithuanian universities and colleges offer over one hundred of different study programmes for foreigners – from the humanities and social sciences to medicine and technologies.

An educational institution is an institution for education and studies. In Lithuania, educational institutions are divided to groups that form the national system of education. The following groups are singled out:

Preschool educational institutions
General education schools
Primary schools
Basic schools

If citizens of foreign states wish come to Lithuania for employment or studies, they shall pass a procedure of recognition of their diplomas issued abroad. The processes of recognition of qualifications are regulated by international and national legal norms.

On recognition a qualification acquired in a foreign state, two types of recognition are singled out – academic recognition and professional recognition.

In Lithuania, no special visa for studies exists. If an alien plans to study in Lithuania, he (she) shall, first of all, enter a higher education institution of Lithuania, i.e. to be admitted to studies in a certain study programme and obtain a Temporary Residence Permit on the base of studies in Lithuania.

Detailed information on issue a Temporary Residence Permit on the base of studies in Lithuania is provided in the Chapter A Residence Permit for a Student.

Students from third states may study and reside in Lithuania, if they are admitted to studies at a high education institution of Lithuania and are issued a Temporary Residence Permit on this base. The rights provided by the said Permit to third-country nationals are some narrower as compared to persons having a status of a permanent resident of Lithuania.

In a majority of cases, only social services on the base of accumulated contributions are accessible for third-country nationals having been issued a Temporary Residence Permit. 

The immigration programme STUDENT includes: legal consulting, support in obtaining a Residence Permit from the beginning to the end of the process, preparation of the required documents, preparation of inquiries, arrangement of translation and notarization of documents, presentation of the alien at institutions of Lithuania, accompanying of the alien on submission of the documents to the Migration Service as well as at other state institutions and private structures, other legal services.