Full-time international students

Develop your career from startup to big names by being a part of a close-knit community of enthusiastic professionals and entrepreneurs. 

Soak up the art in Vilnius’ theatres, galleries and street art places. 

Catch a beat at Vilnius’ festivals, open-airs and concerts. 

Take a breath of fresh air at Vilnius’ cozy courtyards, parks and terraces. 

IF YOU WANT TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACTIVITIES IN VILNIUS CITY, PLEASE CHECK HERE:  

https://www.govilnius.lt/visit-vilnius or Events | International House Vilnius (ihvilnius.lt)  

If you are a foreign student looking for an internship or a job, start by exploring ISM career partner companies and their offers.

At ISM University, we partner with 40+ TOP employers in Lithuania, who seek students for internship and full-time employment positions. Whether you are starting or advancing your career, join the internal career app to connect with your future employer!

Explore partner companies and job offers*

*The platform is used exclusively by ISM students and our business partners, so you need to create a student profile there to get access to companies, offers, career events and workshops.

If you wish to explore other companies, “Work in Lithuania” can help you access more opportunities in international companies. “Work in Lithuania” purpose is to encourage professionals living abroad to build their careers in Lithuania and to help international companies meet their potential employees. On the “Work in Lithuania” website you can research and browse jobs at international companies and startups located in Lithuania.

Access more information and resources to help your career planning on ISM career page.

International students have the right to work while studying in Lithuania as long as they are enrolled in a university. 

EU students can work full-time, meaning up to 40 hours per week.

International students from non EU countries can also work up to 40 hours per week after obtaining the temporary residence permit. The limitation of working time does not apply to international students.  

After graduating, you also have the possibility to apply for a temporary residence permit for 12 months for job search and self-employment purposes. 

! If you have a national visa (D) for your studies, you are NOT allowed to work during your studies (only after obtaining a temporary residence permit). 

We are pleased to welcome students at ISM and we are willing to help them find the accommodation during the study period. 

Please keep in mind that students sign the accommodation contract with properties directly. However, for the convenience of students ISM has signed contracts with some hotels/brokers.  

You can find our accommodation options here – ISM accommodation guide.

If you would like to find an accommodation on your own, please check the information below – Aruodas.lt: nekilnojamo turto skelbimai | NT skelbimai , the biggest and most popular website for real estate rentals is Aruodas. In addition to this, you may contact a real estate agency that will help you to find an apartment. Please contact them via e-mail: hello@urbanrent.lt (NB! Real estate agency takes service fee). 

TIPS ON RENTING IN VILNIUS can be found here: Step by Step Guide to Renting in Vilnius | Go Vilnius 

All international students are supposed to have medical insurance valid in Lithuania for the study period (it can be obtained each year). 

Health insurance for EU students

Students who are the citizens of European Union member countries are required to either have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or form E111 confirming that the student has EU health insurance, valid in Lithuania. 

Students who hold a European Health Insurance Card can get medical help by consulting their prescribed family doctor (GP) at any health care institution that has a contract with the Territorial Health Insurance Fund (THIF). Your family doctor could send you to a specialist if in need. Both – visiting your family doctor or a specialist are fully covered if the doctor has a contract with one of the territorial health insurance funds. 

The cost of dental treatment services is also covered for holders of EHIC who visit dentists that have contracts with THIF (although it is the patient’s obligation to pay for the materials). Such dentists usually work in national health care institutions. Most dentists in Vilnius work privately and payment for full treatment is usually needed. 

EU students who have private health insurance shall at first cover all of those health care expenses and then inform their health insurance company in order to get a refund – unless the insurance policy states otherwise. 

Medicines are usually only included in the hospitalization cost, while medicines prescribed by doctors have to be bought by patients. Prescribed subsidized medicines are partly covered by the national health insurance fund (Lithuanian: Valstybinė ligonių kasa – VLK) for EHIC holders. Any outstanding amount has to be paid by the patient. You will have to pay the full price for any pharmaceutical which is not listed in the national price list of subsidized medicines. 

Health insurance for non-EU students

All students who are citizens of non-EU member countries are required to obtain health insurance either in their home country or Lithuania. 

The cost of health insurance obtained in Lithuania may vary from around 50 to 150 EUR per year depending on the insurance policy (mainly on what part of the treatment cost is covered). This has to be done by contacting one of the private insurance companies if the student does not have a Permanent Residency Permit (if so, local THIF has to be contacted). 

Students from non-EU countries applying for the visa have to prove to the Migration Office that they have valid health insurance. The following requirements for the insurance contract (policy) have to be fulfilled: 

The health insurance contract (policy) shall guarantee that all basic medical assistance costs and travel expenses which may arise in connection with the return, for health reasons, of an alien to the homeland (medical transportation, including escort by medical brigade or a doctor) will be covered. 

The following information shall be indicated in the insurance policy:

– Number of the Health Insurance Contract (policy);
– Particulars of the insurance undertaking (name, address of registered office, telephone and fax numbers);
– Full name of the insured person;
– The amount covered by the Health Insurance Contract;
– Duration of the Health Insurance Contract (at least by the end of the study period);
– The territorial coverage of Health Insurance Contract (policy);
– Non-insured events. 

Education Exchanges Support Foundation offers 100 Lithuanian state scholarships for full-time Master’s degree or integrated studies (a maximum of the two last years of the integrated studies) at Lithuanian higher education institutions every year. Funding under the Call is provided to the citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Georgia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Moldova, Ukraine and foreigners of Lithuanian origin from non-EU and EFTA countries.  

You can find all the information here: Full-Time Master Degree Studies – Study in Lithuania  

In case you have any questions relates to scholarships, please contact Education Exchanges Support Foundation by email: master.scholarships@smpf.lt  

Students in Lithuania receive discounts in various places from restaurants to museums, from public transportation to certain shops. 

 
In order to use ALL discounts, you will need to have: 
 
• Lithuanian Student Identity Card (LSIC); 
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC). 
 

LSIC is issued and administered by the Lithuanian National Union of Students (LSS) and is valid in Lithuania only. The card is mandatory for ALL students in Lithuania, including students of student exchange programmes. ISIC is an international student identity card. It is not mandatory, but it is recognized all around the world and it is a must if you plan to travel abroad. 

If you want to access as many student discounts as possible, we would recommend you to have BOTH. 

A Lithuanian Language Crash Course is organized during the Welcome Week for all new incoming international students.

If you are interested in learning more and showing off your skills while communicating with the locals you can sign up for a Lithuanian Language course for Beginners and attend the classes throughout the semester. The course is free of charge.

For more info please contact: international@ism.lt

In case you would like to check other options outside university, please have a look here: Learn Lithuanian – Study in Lithuania

University provides psychological counseling for students who want to overcome their present difficulties and learn to tackle similar problems in the future.  

The issues for counseling in most cases relate to:  

• Uncertainty caused by the need to take important decisions 
• Strong feeling of sadness, anxiety, fears
• Problems at work or studies 
• Stressful events (divorce, loss of the joy of life, and other unpleasant experiences) 
• Lack of self-confidence 

If you want to have a consultation, you can register through e-learning system or email. Consultations are provided in English, Russian and Lithuanian languages. 

Start your migration process if you are from a non-EU/EFTA country.

The email is hd.migration@ism.lt.

Start it as soon as possible. The best time to begin is NOW.

The migration process takes time—sometimes a lot of it. Migration depends on multiple institutions, not just ISM University and its team. Starting early increases your chances of completing it on time.

Once you submit your documents at the VFS, it can take up to 2 months for a decision to be made.

No, you cannot. Even if your TRP decision is issued, it will only be valid from the date mentioned in the decision. Additionally, you need to collect your TRP card. Only after having the TRP card in hand can you legally travel to Lithuania.

It usually takes up to 2 weeks for your TRP card to arrive at the VFS where you submitted your documents.

You will receive a notification from Migris informing you that your TRP card is ready for collection.

No, you must collect your TRP card in person.

You must collect your TRP card from the same VFS where you submitted your documents and biometric data. The card cannot and will not be sent to another VFS.

The migration process is highly individual. The Migration Department assesses each case separately. Be patient, and your decision will come in due time.

Be patient. TRP decisions are issued within 2 months of submitting your documents to the VFS.

1. Obtain a new passport.
2. Inform the Migration Department.
3. Renew your TRP card.

Citizens of the European Union (EU) may enter the Republic of Lithuania and stay there in for a period not exceeding three months starting from the first day of entry into the Republic of Lithuania. The same right is vested to the citizens of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Member States (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Lichtenstein). 

All full-time students coming to study in Lithuania for more than 90 days are required to register with the Migration Department within three months from the date of entering Lithuania. They must obtain a certificate of temporary residence in the Republic of Lithuania and declare their place of residence. 

To register with the Migration Department, you have to complete an online application form and upload the following documents: 

1. Valid travel document (passport or ID card); 

1. Proofs of sufficient means of support (at least 157 EUR per month); 

1. European Health Insurance Card (or Private Health Insurance); 

1. Certificate of Student Status (“pažyma apie studijas” can be ordered by sending an email to migration@international.ism.lt.) 

1. Commitment to declare the place of residence; 

1. State fee in the amount of 8.60 EUR (payment code 5740). 

You have an obligation to declare your place of residence (address) in Lithuania by choosing one of the following options: 

1. upon arrival to the Migration Department at the pre-booked time of your visit for submitting the originals of the documents attached to the application for issue of a temporary residence certificate and your biometric data. You will need to provide one of the following documents: 

• Consent to Settle-In at the Dwelling Belonging to the Owner (Co-Owner). 

• Lease or loan-for-use agreement is concluded with the natural person or legal entity. 
• Letter issued by the legal entity confirming the right to settle-in the premises belonging to the legal entity or the document confirming accommodation at the hotel, or the granted hostel. 

1. at eldership or municipality within 1 month after collection of the temporary residence certificate. You will need to provide the following documents: 

• Copy of the temporary residence permit (from both sides). 

• Proof of accommodation (rental agreement, confirmation from the hotel, dormitory, etc.). 
• Completed and signed declaration form. 

Please note that administrative liability may be applied for non-compliance with the requirement to declare residence in Lithuania.   

You can be insured with Compulsory Health Insurance covered by the Government of Lithuania only after your temporary residence certificate is provided to the university administration (faculty administration or IRO). 

All international students from Non- EU/EFTA countries coming for studies to Lithuania are required to get a multiple entry national visa (D) or Temporary Residence Permit (TRP). 

Please note that from 01.01.2023, it is recommended to submit applications for issuing residence permits through external service providers, therefore national (D) visa for arrival to Lithuania will not be needed. 

• The decision to issue TRP – within 2 months, however, sending the document abroad will take extra time and the time it takes the external service provider will contact the foreign national to serve him document. 

• The NON-EU / EFTA CITIZENS will come to Lithuania with TRP (no additional visas will be required). 

• To the Migration Department’s external service provider in a specific location all foreigners can apply in the state, it depends on whether they are there resident in the state or not. 

Important: 

! From 07/01/2023, applications for issuing national D visas abroad are only accepted at the external service providers of the Migration Department. Issue decisions visas will be accepted by the Migration Department, not the Lithuanian diplomatic offices, representative offices. 

! Applications for Schengen visas will continue to be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to selected external service providers or diplomatic missions. Decisions to issue Schengen visas will continue to be made by Lithuanian diplomatic missions 

! You cannot obtain a national visa (D) upon arrival in Lithuania. 

! A multiple entry national visa (D) can be issued for the period not exceeding one year (new visa for the next 12 months can be issued not earlier than 180 days after the expiration of the last visa or the total validity period of all visas you had). 

! If you have a national visa (D) for your studies, you are NOT allowed to work during your studies (only after obtaining a temporary residence permit). 

! Only doctoral and master students (residence permit holders) can bring their family to Lithuania. 

National visa D is issued on for ERASMUS and EMMIE students

All international students from non EU/EEA countries coming for studies to Lithuania according to student exchange programme are required to get a national visa (D).

The application documents for the issue of visa D should be submitted to:

• An external service provider if you are abroad (Temporary residence permit and national visa services – Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania);
• The Migration Department if you are legally in Lithuania.

The decision to issue a national visa is made within 15 calendar days from the date of the request. This period may be extended by up to 45 calendar days.

Important:

• if you want to apply for national visa after coming to Lithuania, you need to have legal basis to come to Lithaunia, for example Schengen visa. Keep in mind that you need to be in Lithuania legally while submitting the documents, while waiting for the decission and when collecting your national visa.
• Visa might be issued very quickly, but the process might take up to 45 days, so be ready to have a possilibility to be in Lithuania legally for 45 days till national visa is issued for you.
• the national visa is issued for a maximum of 1 year;
• if you applied for national visa and submitted documents to external service provider, you will have to collect national visa also from the same external service provider. You can not submit documets to external service provider and collect national visa in Lithuania.

Other remarks:

• if you have been issued with a national visa for 1 year or several national visas with a total validity period of 1 year, you may be issued with another national visa if more than 180 days had elapsed from your previous visa or the total validity period of all visas you had. The total period of validity of several national visas must be counted from the date of issue of the previous national visa, if less than 180 days have elapsed since the expiry of its validity;
• if you are holding a national visa, valid for 1 year or several national visas with a total validity of 1 year, and intending to apply for a temporary residence permit, in order to stay in Lithuania during the consideration of the application will have to submit this application in advance – 1,5 to 3 months before the expiry of the actual national visa.

Required documents to obtain national visa D:

• EPIS mediation number (university will provide it to you);
• Completed application form in MIGRIS system (go tohttps://www.migracija.lt/, choose EN language, choose “For foreigners” and follow the steps) Please fill it in online and submit it to Migris).
• A valid travel document (passport) issued within the last ten years, that validity period is at least 3 months longer than the validity period of the requested visa and containing at least 2 blank pages;
• Proofs of sufficient funds* – please see below for details:
  • The subsistence amount is 0,5 minimum monthly salary (462 €) per month, the amount for return to the country of origin or a foreign country to which you are entitled to travel, the amount of funds – 1 minimum monthly salary (924 €). For example, if you apply for visa of 6 months, you need to have in your account 462 € x 6 months + 924 € = 3696 €.

Keep in mind that the amount of minimum montly salary may change from 1st of January 2025.

• Funds or received regular income must be sufficient to live in Lithuania for the entire period of validity of the visa. These documents may be submitted in English or a certified-by-the-interpreter’s-signature translation to English from a different language may be submitted.
• A document confirming health insurance that will be valid during the stay in the Republic of Lithuania (the minimal health insurance sum comprises EUR 30 000) that covers urgent medical care costs and costs that may occur because of applicant‘s return to a foreign state due to health causes (transportation, including personal health care specialist (specialists) escort), and shall be valid during the period of applicant‘s stay or residence in the Republic of Lithuania or a document confirming that the applicant has compulsory health insurance in cases stipulated in the Law on Health Insurance of the Republic of Lithuania. It must be valid in all states of Schengen Area.

If you are coming for degree studies and intend to study at ISM university for more than one year, you have to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) to stay in Lithuania. This permit may be issued for a maximum period of 2 years and can be renewed later, but it cannot exceed the period of study. 

The application must be submitted after your arrival in Lithuania or after the first semester spent at ISM University, but no later than 4 months before the expiration of your visa. 

The decision to issue a TRP shall be made: 

• within 2 months in general order (urgently- 1 month) after the application for the issuance/ extension of the TRP is submitted to the Territorial division of the Migration Department. 
• within 3 months after the application for the issuance of the TRP is submitted to the external service provider (VFS Global). 

To obtain the TRP you have to complete an online application form and upload the following documents: 

1. Valid Travel document (passport); 

1. Document confirming the legal stay (e.g., valid visa, TRP); 

1. Proofs of sufficient amount of funds for subsistence (at least 420 EUR per month/ 5040 EUR per year);   

1. Health insurance  (the insurance amount comprises 6000 EUR); 

1. Document concerning the place of residence in the Republic of Lithuania; 

1. Commitment to declare the place of residence; 

1. Certificate of Non-Criminal Record/ Police Clearance certificate (NOT required for TRP extension); 

1. Number of Mediation Letter - Request form; 

1. State fee in the amount of 60 EUR (in general order) / 120 EUR (in urgent order).  

You can choose a convenient date and time from the calendar available after submitting an online application to visit the migration division to submit your biometric data, as well as original documents. 

Note1: The health insurance, the bank account statement (in EUR or USD) and the certificate of non-criminal record/PCC may be issued in English or Lithuanian. All other documents must be in Lithuanian. 

Note2: The certificate of non-criminal record must be legalized and (or) certified by an Apostille. To legalize documents in Lithuania, you have to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania. 

Note3: The decision does not grant the right to be within the Republic of Lithuania without a visa or exceed the period of visa-free stay!  

Note4: The fee for VFS Global services shall be paid additionally (courier service fee is included). 

The TRP application can be rejected if: 

• You have collected less than 40 ECTS credits during the last academic year. The Migration Department can reject your application if you cannot provide a valid reason (e.g. sickness, death of a family member/relative or other) along with the supporting documents. 
• You have financial debts to Lithuanian state institutions (SODRA, VMI, and etc). 

• You did not provide all the necessary documents, the documents are not properly prepared (no translation, no Apostille, etc.). 
• Your place of residence is not declared (when applying for a TRP extension). 

! Your TRP will be revoked within a few weeks if your studies are suspended, you go on academic leave or your study agreement is terminated. You have to go back to your home country. You will be able to apply for a new national visa and return to Lithuania as soon as your student status is regained. 

When applying for the last TRP for the study purpose, it is usually issued by the Migration Department for a period of 6 months longer than the period of study. 

After graduation, you also have the right to obtain the TRP for 12 additional months in order to look for a job in Lithuania and self-employment purposes. 

To obtain this TRP you have to complete an online application form and upload the following documents: 

1. Diploma instead of the mediation letter; 

1. Valid travel document (Passport);  

1. Valid temporary residence permit; 

1. Proofs of sufficient amount of subsistence funds (at least 840 EUR per month); 

1. Health Insurance (Minimum coverage amount – 6000 EUR. Must be valid till the expiration date of TRP); 

1. Document about a place of residence in the LR (place of residence declared for the whole period of requested TRP); 

1. State fee (120 EUR/within 2 months. 240 EUR/within 1 month). Foreigners who have completed their studies in Lithuania may not pay the state fee for issuing or changing a temporary residence permit for one time. 

NOTE. Such a TRP is not issued to visa holders, only to holders of a valid study permit.