How to Work While Studying in Lithuania: 2026 Rules and 7 Jobs

Last updated: October 2026

Can international students work in Lithuania?

Yes. If you are a non-EU student with a Lithuanian temporary residence permit (TRP) for studies, you can work while studying in Lithuania without a separate work permit, as Vilnius University’s career guide confirms. EU and EFTA citizens need no permit at all.

What changed in 2026 is how many hours some students may work while studying in Lithuania. Amendments to the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens, most of which took effect on 22 May 2026, cap work for first- and second-year bachelor’s students at 20 hours per week. The cap does not apply during the summer holidays set by your institution or during internships that are part of your study programme. That is how the law firms Sorainen and Triniti summarise the change.

Sorainen adds that the cap does not apply to study TRPs issued before 21 May 2026, though some cases around that date are unclear, so employers may apply the 20-hour limit anyway. Vilnius University notes that your study TRP usually stays valid for about three months after graduation, when you may work full-time.

Rules to work while studying in Lithuania: why sources disagree

The rules have changed several times. Vilnius University’s page says bachelor’s and integrated students may work 20 hours a week during semesters, without mentioning years; SMK and Ecovis say the limit covers only years 1 and 2; older pages say “no limit”. Before you sign a contract, confirm your limit with your university’s international office and the Migration Department. This is not a rule to test: Sorainen notes that breaching it can mean your permit is not renewed or is revoked.

How much you can earn: 2026 pay basics

Older guides, including the first version of this one, quoted €4–6 per hour for students who work while studying in Lithuania. That is out of date. For 2026, Lithuania’s minimum hourly pay is €7.05 gross and the minimum monthly wage is €1,153 gross, under a Government resolution published in October 2025. The Government has already approved a rise for 2027, to €7.61 an hour and €1,245 a month. Entry-level student jobs usually sit at or a little above the minimum.

Income tax and social insurance come off the gross figure, so your take-home pay is lower. Twenty hours a week at minimum pay can cover part of your rent and food, not your tuition. The TRP still requires you to prove you can support yourself (see our living expenses guide), so plan your budget as if your part-time income were a bonus, not the foundation.

7 ways to work while studying in Lithuania

These are the seven most common part-time jobs for students in Lithuania. Master’s and PhD students generally have more options, because they can work longer hours. It is competitive either way, so start early.

1. Cafés and restaurants

Hospitality is a classic way to work while studying in Lithuania. Cafés, fast-food chains and restaurants in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda hire for evening and weekend shifts, which can fit around lectures. The catch is language: serving customers now legally requires basic Lithuanian (see below). Kitchen roles can be more flexible.

2. Food delivery couriers (Wolt, Bolt Food)

Delivery is a popular way to work while studying in Lithuania because you choose your hours, but it has the most paperwork. Wolt’s Lithuanian courier guide says you must be at least 18, hold a Lithuanian residence permit card, and register individual activity (a sole proprietorship) through the State Tax Inspectorate’s “Mano VMI” portal, using activity code 532000. Wolt also asks food couriers for a hygiene training certificate and a personal health certificate, and says couriers serving local customers need Lithuanian from January 2026.

According to the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI), non-EU nationals need a temporary or permanent residence permit to carry out individual activity. The sources we read do not explain how the 20-hour cap is counted for self-employed students, so ask the Migration Department. Also, in October 2026 the Interior Minister proposed limiting non-EU students’ right to work on a self-employed basis. It was only a proposal when we wrote this, so check the latest news.

3. Retail

Supermarkets, clothing shops and kiosks hire students, especially for weekend and holiday cover. Retail is customer-facing, so Lithuanian is usually expected and now legally required at a basic level. Shelf-stacking and warehouse roles involve less talking, but they are often early-morning or night shifts, so check they fit your timetable.

4. Customer service and call centres

This is where many students who work while studying in Lithuania find their first office job. International companies run service centres in Vilnius and Kaunas and need English speakers. Vilnius University points out that other languages are an advantage in customer service and call centre roles, so if you speak French, Spanish or Portuguese, put that front and centre.

5. Freelancing online

If you write, design, code, translate or edit video, platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr let you work for clients anywhere. Freelance income in Lithuania is not invisible, though. You will generally need to register individual activity with VMI and declare and pay tax on what you earn, and your study hour limits still apply. Get this right from the start; undeclared income can affect your permit.

6. Jobs at your university

Universities hire students for library desks, admissions events, ambassador roles, administration and research assistance, often in English. If you want to work while studying in Lithuania without leaving campus, ask your faculty, international office and supervisor; many of these jobs are never widely advertised.

7. Internships and traineeships

Internships are the best bridge from study to career for anyone who wants to work while studying in Lithuania. Internships that are part of your study programme sit outside the 20-hour cap. Vilnius University also explains that voluntary internships for non-EU students are limited to 20 hours a week, and that most internships are unpaid; a paid internship needs an employment contract.

Some schemes pay. In 2026, Vilnius University offered internship scholarships of €650 a month for two months to final-year international master’s and integrated students placed with Lithuanian organisations (that round has closed). Ask your international office about Erasmus+ traineeships too.

Quick comparison: ways to work while studying in Lithuania

The 2026 Lithuanian language rule for customer-facing jobs

From 1 January 2026, foreigners who sell goods or provide services to customers must show Lithuanian at A1 level during their first two years of residence, then A2 to keep working. The Government approved this in November 2025, as LRT reported, and employers are responsible for making sure staff meet it. Proficiency is shown by passing a state exam run by the National Education Agency.

The good news is that A1 is a beginner level, and Vilnius University, for one, offers Lithuanian courses for degree students. If you plan to work while studying in Lithuania, start early: even in an English-speaking job, basic Lithuanian shows employers you are serious about staying. Our article on learning a new language has practical tips.

Employment contract or self-employment?

When you work while studying in Lithuania, your job will usually take one of two forms, and the difference matters for tax and for your permit:

• Employment contract. Your employer registers you, withholds income tax and social insurance, and pays you a salary. Vilnius University notes that the contract must be in writing and in a language you understand.
• Individual activity (self-employment). You register with VMI, invoice clients or platforms yourself, and declare income and pay taxes and contributions. Couriers and freelancers usually work this way.

Keep copies of every contract and payslip. If anyone offers you cash work “off the books”, say no: it puts your residence permit at risk.

Where to find student jobs in Vilnius and beyond

Student jobs in Vilnius are the easiest to find because the capital has the most international employers, but Kaunas and Klaipėda have openings too. Vilnius University’s job-search guide lists these places to look:

• Lithuanian job portals: cvonline.lt, cvbankas.lt and cvmarket.lt
• Work in Lithuania (workinlithuania.lt), run by Invest Lithuania for international candidates
• MeetFrank, Glassdoor and LinkedIn
• AIESEC, for young people up to 30
• Company career pages, career days and your university career centre

Walking in with a printed CV still works for cafés and shops, and student jobs in Vilnius often come through classmates and alumni, so tell people you are looking. Be careful with anyone who asks you to pay for a job or wants to keep your passport; our guide on spotting scammers covers the warning signs. For more on the market, read our article on job opportunities in Lithuania for students.

Keep your studies, and your permit, safe

Your TRP is a study permit, so your studies come first. Vilnius University tells students that at least 40 ECTS credits must be earned in the last academic year to renew a TRP. Mykolas Romeris University’s rules also require regular attendance and at least 20 credits each semester, and the international office reports students who stop taking part to the Migration Department. Rules vary by university, so check yours. Failed modules can cost far more than a job pays.

Habits that help you work while studying in Lithuania without falling behind:

• Share your timetable with your employer before you accept, and block out exam weeks early.
• Keep track of your weekly hours yourself, especially if you have more than one job.
• Choose shifts that leave you enough sleep before morning lectures.
• Use the summer holidays, when the bachelor’s cap does not apply, to earn and save more.

Why it pays to work while studying in Lithuania

Here is our honest view: if you can work while studying in Lithuania, do it. It is one of the best ways to get a job after graduation. You learn how Lithuanian workplaces operate, build references and show employers you can handle responsibility. An employer who already knows you is far more likely to hire you, and some will help with your next permit.

Finding a job after graduation is harder when you start from zero. Vilnius University explains that non-EU graduates can apply for a 12-month TRP to look for work or be self-employed. Graduates of Lithuanian institutions are also outside the annual foreign-worker quota for five years after graduation, according to Ecovis and Triniti. Our guides to the post-study residence permit and getting a job after your studies cover the next steps.

Frequently asked questions

Can international students work in Lithuania without a work permit?

Yes, if you hold a Lithuanian temporary residence permit for studies. You do not need a separate work permit, but you must stay within the hour limit for your study level and year.

How many hours can I work while studying in Lithuania?

As reported for 2026, first- and second-year bachelor’s students may work up to 20 hours a week during term, with no cap in summer holidays or programme internships. Master’s and PhD students may work full-time, and most sources say later-year bachelor’s students can too. Confirm your limit before signing.

What is the minimum wage for part-time jobs for students in Lithuania?

In 2026 the minimum hourly pay is €7.05 gross and the minimum monthly wage is €1,153 gross. Your take-home pay is lower after tax and social insurance.

Do I need to speak Lithuanian to get a job?

Not for every job: English-language customer service, university jobs and freelancing often do not require it. But since January 2026, foreigners who serve customers directly must have at least A1 Lithuanian.

Can I work while studying in Lithuania as a delivery courier?

Many students do, but couriers are self-employed. You need a residence permit, individual activity registered with VMI, hygiene and health certificates and basic Lithuanian. A proposal to limit self-employment for non-EU students was under discussion in late 2026, so check the current rules first.

Planning to work while studying in Lithuania and wondering how it fits your budget and your permit? We made the move ourselves and are happy to talk it through. Book a free consultation and we will help you plan your next step.