Last checked: October 2026
Lithuania student visa requirements confuse almost everyone, because most degree students do not actually get a visa. They get a temporary residence permit. This guide is for students in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Cameroon and elsewhere who have an offer (or are close to one) from a Lithuanian university.
You will get the full document checklist, the money you must show, the step-by-step MIGRIS process, where to submit from your country, real timelines, and the mistakes that lead to refusals. We are based in Vilnius, and both our founders moved to Lithuania as African students.
Lithuania student visa requirements: TRP or D visa?
Lithuania has two long-stay options for students. A national (D) visa is a sticker in your passport for stays over 90 days, up to one year. A temporary residence permit (TRP) is a plastic ID card that lets you live in Lithuania for one to two years and can be renewed.
Since 1 July 2023, Lithuania no longer issues D visas to full-time degree students. If you are doing a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD, you need the TRP. The D visa is now mainly for exchange students (for example, Erasmus or a one-semester exchange).
| Temporary residence permit (TRP) | National (D) visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Full-time degree students (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD) | Exchange students |
| What you get | Residence card | Visa sticker in passport |
| Validity | 1–2 years (up to 3 for PhD), renewable | Up to 1 year, not renewable |
| Health insurance minimum | €10,000 per most universities (see below) | €30,000, valid in Schengen |
| Where to apply | MIGRIS online, then VFS Global abroad or Migration Department in Lithuania | VFS Global / Lithuanian embassy, or Migration Department if already in Lithuania legally |
Two terms you will see a lot. MIGRIS is the Lithuanian Migration Department’s online system at migracija.lt, where you fill in and track your application. A mediation letter is your university’s official confirmation, sent electronically to the Migration Department, that it has admitted you. You only receive a number, which you type into MIGRIS.
Documents for the Lithuania student residence permit
This is the full checklist for a first-time study TRP. Your university may add one or two items, so compare it with their pre-arrival page. The language rule matters: Vilnius University states that everything except the health insurance, bank statement and police certificate must be in Lithuanian, so plan for certified translations.
| Document | Details | Language / legalisation |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid at least 6 months beyond the end of the TRP you are asking for; copies of all pages with stamps or visas | Original |
| Mediation letter number | From your university after admission (and often after you sign the study contract or pay a deposit) | Sent electronically by the university |
| Proof of funds | Bank statement showing at least €8,077 (see next section), usually covering the last 3–6 months | English or Lithuanian; EUR or USD accepted by VU |
| Health insurance | Covers at least the first year, emergency care and repatriation; minimum amount varies (see below) | English or Lithuanian |
| Police clearance certificate | From every country you lived in during the last 2 years; issued no more than 6 months before you apply; first TRP only | Apostille or double legalisation; translation into Lithuanian often requested |
| Proof of accommodation | Dormitory letter, lease, or owner’s consent for the address where you will live | Lithuanian (ask the dorm or landlord for a Lithuanian version) |
| Commitment to declare residence | Usually a tick box in the MIGRIS form | In MIGRIS |
| Digital photo | Recent, professional, plain background | Upload in MIGRIS |
| List of trips and stays abroad | Countries lived in or visited in the last 10 years, with addresses of any permits held | In MIGRIS |
| Previous visa or TRP | Copy, if you have held one | Copy |
| Parental consent | Only if you are under 18 | Legalised and translated |
| State fee receipt | Paid online with payment code 5740 | Upload in MIGRIS |
Apostille or double legalisation for your police certificate
An apostille is a single certificate from your government confirming a document is genuine. It only works if your country has joined the Hague Apostille Convention. If not, you need double legalisation: a stamp from your own foreign ministry, then a second stamp from the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a Lithuanian embassy.
Of the six countries in this guide, only South Africa appears on the Hague Apostille Convention status table when we checked. Applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Cameroon should expect double legalisation. Some universities (for example VMU and MRU) arrange the Lithuanian stamp for you, often for about €30 per document, and some routes need an extra stamp from your country’s embassy in or near Lithuania. Ask your university early, because this step alone can take 2–3 weeks.
Proof of funds: how much money you need
Money is the part of the Lithuania student visa requirements that trips up most applicants. The rule is half of Lithuania’s minimum monthly wage for every month of the permit, plus one full minimum wage for your return ticket. With the 2026 minimum wage of €1,153, Vilnius University puts it at €577 per month.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Living costs: €577 × 12 months | €6,924 |
| Return travel guarantee | €1,153 |
| Total to show for a 1-year TRP | €8,077 |
Universities round this differently. VMU quotes €8,071 (using €576.50 a month) and LSMU quotes €6,918, which seems to leave out the return amount. Our advice: show at least €8,100 so rounding never becomes a problem. If your permit is requested for two years, ask your university whether you must show funds for the longer period.
The money can be in your own account or a parent’s account (VILNIUS TECH accepts both). If a sponsor pays, VMU asks for a sponsor affidavit and the sponsor’s statements. Tuition you have already paid does not count towards this amount. For a realistic picture of what life actually costs, see our guide to living expenses in Lithuania for students.
Health insurance minimums
This is where official sources disagree most. Vilnius University and VMU say €10,000 cover for a TRP. The EU Immigration Portal says €6,000. VILNIUS TECH asks for €30,000, the same as the D visa rule.
The safe choice is a policy with at least €30,000 cover, valid in Lithuania for the whole first year, that includes emergency care, hospital treatment and repatriation (transport home for medical reasons). It satisfies every version of the rule, and the price difference is usually small.
How to apply: step by step
- Get admitted. Accept your offer, sign the study contract and pay any required deposit. Our guide to tuition fees in Lithuania for international students explains typical deposits.
- Request your mediation letter. Universities usually issue it within 3–7 working days. MRU warns that the letter expires if you do not submit your MIGRIS application within 2 months, so have your documents ready first.
- Order your police certificate and start legalisation. Do this as early as possible, but remember it must be no older than 6 months when you apply.
- Fill in the MIGRIS application. Create an account on migracija.lt, choose the temporary residence permit for studies, enter the mediation letter number, upload your documents and choose the branch (a VFS centre abroad, or a Migration Department office in Lithuania).
- Pay the state fee. Pay with payment code 5740 and upload the receipt. See the fees table below, because the amount quoted varies.
- Book your appointment in MIGRIS. Since 22 October 2025, VFS appointments are booked only in MIGRIS, not on the VFS website. When your status shows “Submitted to external service provider”, click “Book appointment”.
- Attend VFS or the Migration Department with originals. You must go within 4 months of submitting online. Your fingerprints and photo (biometrics) are taken, you sign the application, and you pay the VFS service fee if applying abroad. Your passport is returned the same day. Some universities report a short remote interview afterwards.
- Wait for the decision. It is sent to the email address in your application. Check MIGRIS regularly.
- Collect your card. If you applied through VFS, the card is delivered by VFS courier and only you can receive it. You then travel to Lithuania with it.
- Declare your residence. After arrival, register your address at the Migration Department or your local eldership (seniūnija). Vilnius University says within one month of collecting the card; VILNIUS TECH says 7 working days. Do it in your first week to be safe.
Where to submit from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Cameroon
Lithuania uses VFS Global as its “external service provider” for TRPs abroad. The general rule is that you apply at the VFS centre in your own country of citizenship. Ghana is one of three exceptions: the Accra centre also accepts other nationalities who are coming to Lithuania to study at an approved programme, for family reunification or for high-skilled work. Check the full list of VFS centres on the Migration Department site before you book.
| Your country | Lithuanian TRP centre at home? | Where to submit |
|---|---|---|
| Ghana | Yes, since 22 Oct 2025 | VFS Global, The Grand Oyeeman, Airport Area, Accra. Service fee €110. |
| Zimbabwe | Yes, since 22 Oct 2025 | VFS Global, Celestial Office Park, Borrowdale, Harare. Service fee €110. |
| South Africa | Yes | VFS Global, Brooklyn, Pretoria. Service fee €110. |
| Nigeria | No | Usually VFS Accra, Ghana (study is one of the grounds accepted there for non-Ghanaians). Confirm the branch MIGRIS offers you. |
| Cameroon | No | Usually VFS Accra, Ghana, on the same study exception. Confirm in MIGRIS. |
| Kenya | No | No centre in Kenya. Accra is the clearest option on study grounds; check whether MIGRIS also offers Pretoria or Harare before booking travel. |
Each centre page lists the nationalities it serves as an image, so the safest check is simple: when you book in MIGRIS, see which branches the system lets you choose. Budget for the trip itself (flights, a visa for Ghana or South Africa if your passport needs one, and 2–3 nights’ accommodation). You only need to travel for the biometrics visit; the card comes to you by courier.
Lithuania TRP fees for students
Fees are the most contradictory part of Lithuania student visa requirements online. The Migration Department’s own state fees page lists €80 for students under the general procedure, but several universities still quote €160. Always pay the amount MIGRIS shows you at the time.
| Cost | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| State fee, general procedure | €80 (official page) | LSMU and others quote €160; Vilnius University shows both €80 and €110. Verify on migracija.lt. |
| State fee, urgent procedure | €320 | Vilnius University also shows €440 in one place. Verify. |
| VFS service fee | €110 | Accra, Pretoria and Harare; paid at the centre |
| Police certificate legalisation in Lithuania | About €30 per document | Where the university handles the Lithuanian stamp |
| Certified translations | Varies | Per page, from a sworn translator |
| Health insurance | Varies | Buy €30,000 cover to be safe |
How long it takes: timeline
Start 5–6 months before classes. For a September intake, that means March or April, which is often only possible if you apply to universities early.
| Stage | Typical time | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Mediation letter | 3–7 working days | Expires if you do not apply within 2 months (MRU) |
| Police certificate + legalisation | 2–6 weeks | Must be under 6 months old at submission |
| MIGRIS application + fee | 1–2 days | Typos in names or passport numbers |
| VFS or Migration Department visit | Within 4 months of applying online | Book as soon as MIGRIS lets you |
| Decision | Up to 2 months (general) or 1 month (urgent) | Migration Department advises planning for up to 3 months |
| Card delivery | Varies | Delivery abroad can take longer |
| Declare residence | Within 7 working days to 1 month of collecting | Do it in week one |
Common refusal reasons and mistakes to avoid
Vilnius University’s business faculty reported a Lithuanian study visa refusal rate of 12.8% in 2023, much lower than many Schengen short-stay visas for African applicants. Most refusals and delays come from not meeting the Lithuania student visa requirements exactly, and almost all are avoidable.
- Funds that look borrowed. A large deposit a week before applying raises questions. Keep the money in the account for at least 3 months and be ready to explain its source.
- Police certificate problems. Not legalised, older than 6 months, or missing for a country where you lived in the last 2 years.
- Insurance below the minimum or without repatriation cover.
- Untranslated documents. Accommodation letters and other papers usually need Lithuanian versions.
- Inconsistent details. Names, dates of birth or travel history that differ between your passport, MIGRIS form and documents.
- Missing the 4-month window for your VFS visit, or letting the mediation letter expire.
- Doubts about genuine study. The Migration Department has asked universities to watch for people using studies as a route to residence. Know your programme, why you chose it, and your plans.
- Entering on another country’s Schengen visa to apply in Lithuania. From 1 November 2026, applications inside Lithuania require a valid legal basis for stay, so apply from home.
- Paying “agents” who promise guaranteed approval. Nobody can guarantee a Lithuanian TRP. Read our guide on how to spot study abroad scams.
If you are refused, the decision explains why. You can appeal to the administrative court within 14 days of receiving it, or fix the problem and apply again.
After arrival: work, renewal and graduation
Can you work on a student TRP?
Yes, you do not need a separate work permit, but the hours limit has changed and sources disagree. Under amendments reported to apply from 22 May 2026, first- and second-year bachelor’s students may work up to 20 hours a week, except during summer holidays and compulsory internships. Older guides (including our previous articles) said 40 hours. Check with your university’s international office before signing a contract.
Renewing your TRP: the 40 ECTS rule
To renew, you must have earned at least 40 ECTS credits (a full year is 60) in the last academic year. Apply in MIGRIS at least 2 months and no earlier than 4 months before your card expires, then book a Migration Department visit in Lithuania. You do not need a new police certificate, and renewal cannot be done through VFS. If your permit expires, you must leave and reapply from home.
After you graduate
Your final study TRP usually runs about 6 months past the end of your programme. You can then apply for a 12-month TRP to look for work or start a business, showing at least €1,153 a month. Our guide to the Lithuania post-study temporary residence permit covers this in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for a Lithuanian student permit from Nigeria?
Not inside Nigeria. There is no Lithuanian VFS TRP centre there, so Nigerian students fill in MIGRIS online and usually attend the VFS centre in Accra, Ghana, which accepts non-Ghanaians coming to study at approved Lithuanian programmes. Confirm the branch MIGRIS offers you before booking flights, and check whether you need anything extra for your police certificate legalisation.
How much bank balance do I need for a Lithuania student visa?
For a one-year TRP, show at least €8,077: €577 for each of 12 months plus €1,153 for return travel. Some universities round this slightly differently, so showing about €8,100 avoids problems. The money can be in your own or a parent’s account, and paid tuition does not count towards it.
How long does the Lithuania TRP take for students?
The decision takes up to 2 months under the general procedure or 1 month if you pay the urgent fee, counted from your biometrics visit. Add time for the mediation letter, police certificate legalisation, booking a VFS slot and card delivery. The Migration Department advises allowing up to 3 months, so start 5–6 months before classes.
Do I need IELTS for the residence permit?
No. English proof is an admission requirement set by your university, not a migration document. Once the university admits you and issues a mediation letter, the Migration Department does not ask for IELTS. Some universities accept other proof, such as English-taught secondary school, so check with them directly.
Can my spouse or children join me in Lithuania?
Usually not for bachelor’s or master’s students. The EU Immigration Portal says family members of students cannot accompany them, except for doctoral students, and recent amendments tightened family rules further. Rules depend on your level of study and change often, so confirm with the Migration Department before making plans.
What happens if my TRP is refused?
You receive the decision by email with the reasons. You can appeal to the Lithuanian administrative court within 14 days, or correct the problem (for example, funds or a legalised certificate) and apply again. Tell your university straight away, because it may need to reissue your mediation letter or move you to a later intake.
Once your permit is sorted, the next big task is housing; our student accommodation in Lithuania guide helps you get the address you need for MIGRIS.
Want someone in Vilnius to check your documents before you submit? Our student visa and residence permit support starts with a free first consultation, so book a slot and bring your questions.
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