Study in Lithuania from Zimbabwe: Full Guide 2026

Last checked: October 2026

This guide walks you through every step in order, with costs in US dollars and the Zimbabwe-specific details that trip people up: ZIMSEC results, police clearance from the ZRP and getting documents legalised.

Why Zimbabweans are looking at Lithuania

Lithuania offers hundreds of English-taught degrees, tuition that is low by EU standards and a residence permit that lets you live in the Schengen area while you study. It is also a place we know well: one of our co-founders is from Zimbabwe and studied at KTU in Kaunas, so the route described here is one our team has walked.

The honest downsides: winters are long and dark, the African community is still relatively small, and part-time work will not cover all your costs. Go in with your full funding planned, not hoped for.

How to study in Lithuania from Zimbabwe: the process step by step

Step 1: Choose your programme and university

Start with what you want to study, then compare universities. The main options are Vilnius University, KTU, VILNIUS TECH, Vytautas Magnus University (VDU), LSMU for health sciences and several colleges offering professional bachelor’s degrees. Check each programme’s tuition, intake dates and specific subject requirements before you shortlist. Our guide to tuition fees in Lithuania for international students gives a broader picture.

As one example of deadlines, KTU set 1 June 2026 as its main deadline for international applicants for the September 2026 intake and the same is showing for September 2027. Many universities close earlier or have priority rounds, so aim to apply in the first months of the year.

Step 2: Check the entry requirements

Each university assesses foreign qualifications itself, sometimes with help from SKVC, the Lithuanian centre that evaluates foreign qualifications. Typical expectations for Zimbabwean applicants are:

• • Bachelor’s degree: ZIMSEC or Cambridge A Level results are usually what universities look at, with your O Level certificate supporting it. Some programmes ask for specific subjects, such as Mathematics for engineering. Applicants with O Levels only should ask the university directly, as it may not be enough for direct entry.
  • Master’s degree: a recognised bachelor’s degree in a related field, your full academic transcript and often a CV and motivation letter.
  • English: IELTS, TOEFL or similar is commonly required, but some universities accept proof that your previous studies were taught in English or run their own test. See our article on whether IELTS is mandatory to study in Lithuania.
  • Passport: valid for the whole period you need, with blank pages. Zimbabwean passport waiting times can be long, so sort this out first.

Step 3: Apply and pay the application fee

Applications go through each university’s online portal. You upload scans of your certificates, transcripts, passport and English proof and pay a non-refundable application fee. VILNIUS TECH, for example, charges €100 (about US$117). Scan everything in colour from the originals; poor scans are a common cause of delay.

If you are also chasing funding, apply for scholarships at the same time for Lithuanian universities. Our list of scholarships for Zimbabweans covers options worth checking for options aside from Lithuania.

Step 4: Accept your offer and pay the deposit

Once you receive an offer, the university will usually ask you to sign a study agreement and pay all or part of your first year’s tuition. Only then will it confirm your admission in MIGRIS, the Migration Department’s online system, which you need for the permit application. Check the university’s refund policy in case your permit is refused.

Step 5: Apply for your temporary residence permit in MIGRIS

Create an account on migracija.lt and fill in the application for a TRP on the basis of studies. Upload your documents and pay the state fee, which the Migration Department lists as €80 for students under the general procedure. Our checklist of documents required for a Lithuanian student visa covers the full list.

Step 6: Book and attend your biometrics appointment in Harare

This is where things changed for Zimbabweans. From 1 December 2024, Lithuania limited most applicants to the external service centre in their own country of nationality. Nationals of countries without a centre could only use another country’s centre for certain purposes, including study under approved programmes. For Zimbabweans, that meant travelling to Pretoria or another country, which was costly and uncertain.

Since 22 October 2025, there is a VFS Global centre in Harare for Lithuanian residence permits and national visas. According to the Migration Department’s Zimbabwe page, it is at Celestial Office Park, Borrowdale, Harare, and opens Monday to Friday, 8:00 to 16:00. The VFS service fee is €110 (about US$129).

Also since 22 October 2025, appointments are booked only through MIGRIS, not on the VFS website. When your application shows “Submitted to external service provider”, click “Book appointment”, choose Harare and pick a time. Bring your original documents; VFS takes your photo and fingerprints and returns your passport the same day. If you live in South Africa or elsewhere, check that country’s Migration Department page to see whether you can apply there instead.

Step 7: Wait for the decision and your card

The Migration Department can take up to 3 months to decide a TRP application submitted abroad, so do not leave this until July. If approved, your residence card is delivered by VFS courier, and you can travel to Lithuania on it.

Police clearance from the ZRP and getting it legalised

Lithuania asks for a certificate showing you have no criminal record. In Zimbabwe, this comes from the ZRP Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The process, according to the ZRP:

1. 1. Buy the clearance vetting forms from a stationery shop (they are not the police Form 14).
   2. Have your fingerprints taken at a police station.
   3. Pay the fee and submit the forms to CID Headquarters at Morris Depot, Harare. If you are outside Zimbabwe, the fee is US$75, paid by bank deposit, and the forms go by courier.

Next comes the step many people miss. Zimbabwe is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (you can check the HCCH status table), so you cannot get an apostille. Instead, your police clearance needs to be legalised: usually authenticated by Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Lithuanian MFA, meaning, you have to send your document via courier to Lithuania. Ask your university’s international office early, as some help students with this step. Leave several weeks for it.

Documents other than your bank statement, insurance and criminal record certificate shouldn’t need a Lithuanian translation since they are in English. Ask your university which of your academic documents need legalising for enrolment as well.

Proof of funds in US dollars

You must show you can support yourself. Lithuanian universities quote at least €577 per month for 12 months, plus €1,153 for a return ticket, which comes to about €8,077 (roughly US$9,450). This is on top of your tuition if it is not already paid.

A bank statement in your own name is the simplest proof. If a parent or sponsor is funding you, ask the university and the Migration Department what supporting documents they accept. Make sure the statement clearly shows the balance and the account holder, and that the money has not appeared in a single last-minute deposit with no explanation.

Costs table in US dollars

Figures are converted at about €1 = US$1.17; check the current rate before you budget.

Month-by-month timeline for a September intake

• • October to December: shortlist programmes, renew or apply for your passport, book your English test if needed.
  • January to March: apply to universities and scholarships.
  • March to May: receive offers, sign your study agreement, pay the deposit; get your police clearance legalised and documents translated.
  • May to June: submit your TRP application in MIGRIS, pay the state fee and book your Harare appointment.
  • June to August: wait for the decision (up to 3 months), arrange accommodation and book flights once your card arrives.
  • Late August: travel, register with your university and attend orientation.

If you are late in the cycle, ask whether your university has a later deadline or a February intake rather than rushing your permit.

Arriving in Lithuania

Most routes from Harare connect through Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Doha, Dubai or Istanbul, often with a second change in Europe. Carry your residence card, passport, admission letter and insurance in your hand luggage. Our guide for Zimbabwean travellers covers practical tips for the journey and transit.

In your first weeks, collect your student card, open a local bank account and get a Lithuanian SIM card. Book university dormitory accommodation as early as possible, as places go quickly. If you are thinking about working in Europe after graduating, our article on the European work visa for Zimbabweans is a good next read.

FOUNDER NOTE: Flying from Harare to Lithuania through Istanbul requires strength. For whatever reason, the layover in Istanbul is always long and the WiFi situation is not great. If you can get through Frankfurt, I’d recommend that. 

Frequently asked questions

Do Zimbabweans need a visa to study in Lithuania?

Yes. For a degree, you need a temporary residence permit for studies. You apply in MIGRIS and give biometrics at the VFS centre in Harare.

Can Zimbabweans apply for a Lithuanian residence permit in South Africa?

Since the Harare centre opened, Zimbabwean citizens are expected to use it. If you live legally in South Africa, check the Migration Department’s South Africa page or ask the department whether you can use Pretoria.

Is an apostille accepted from Zimbabwe?

No. Zimbabwe is not in the Apostille Convention, so documents need legalisation through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Lithuanian MFA.

How much money do I need to study in Lithuania from Zimbabwe?

Plan for tuition of about US$4,200–10,500 a year for a bachelor’s degree, plus about US$9,450 in proof of funds for living costs and a return trip.

Are ZIMSEC A Levels accepted in Lithuania?

Generally yes for bachelor’s programmes, but requirements vary by university and programme. Check subject and grade requirements on each programme page before applying.

Planning to study in Lithuania from Zimbabwe is very doable if you start early and keep your documents in order. If you would like someone to check your plan or your paperwork, book a free consultation with our team.