Post Study Work Visa In Lithuania
The Post Study Work Visa in Lithuania is a temporary residence permit issued to a non-EU/EEA and Swiss third-country national who has been the holder of a student visa. The post study work visa gives holders the right to work in any legal field (subject to certain limits) during up to 18 months after the end of their studies.
If you are one of the non-EU students who has finished study in UK and now looking for work visa in Lithuania, then there is some good news for you. Now, candidates from countries outside Europe willing to come to Lithuania for working on a post study work visa will be exempted from the threshold conditions.
Right here on Touriangle you can rest easy to obtain all the relevant information you need on unskilled jobs in Lithuania for foreigners, jobs in Lithuania with visa sponsorship, migration department Lithuania, part time job salary in Lithuania for international students, and so much more. You don’t want to miss this!
Post Study Work Visa In Lithuania
The government of Lithuania issued a comprehensive residence and work permit to non-EU nationals who have recently graduated from Lithuania universities or other higher education institutions in the country.
Students and graduates who have completed higher education in Lithuania are eligible to apply for a residence permit for employment. Post-graduate non-EU students are able to work in Lithuania after studies if they find a job appropriate to their profile, can prove their high command of the Lithuanian language and have good knowledge of the society and conditions in Lithuania.
Work In Lithuania For Foreigners
What has changed?
First of all, Master’s students are now allowed to work full-time (40 h/week) with no need to get an additional work permit. This means that a non-EU national with a temporary residence permit for studies in Lithuania will be able to join the job market just like the locals.
Another meaningful change will affect non-EU nationals graduating from Lithuanian universities. A student who wants to stay in Lithuania after graduating from his Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD studies will be able to apply for a temporary residence permit for job search. This permit will allow the student to stay in Lithuania for one year after graduation and start working immediately after finding a job. No additional permits will be required.
Lastly, there are changes in the procedure for declaring the place of residence. Non-EU students who want to receive a temporary residence permit have to declare their place of residence in Lithuania. From January 1, 2021, they can do this at the Migration Department’s office (having booked an appointment in advance), or in an eldership or municipality within 1 month from the date of collection of the issued residence permit. More information is available on the Migration Department website.
What stays the same?Non-EU Bachelor’s students who have a temporary residence permit for studies can work 20 h/week. However, they can work full-time (40 h/week) during the summer vacation period set by their higher education institution, when the work is carried out as part of an internship or during the first 3 months after graduation. Like previously, non-EU PhD students can work full-time – 40 h/week. Students coming from EU countries are also allowed to work full-time.
Students can look for work offers in Lithuania here: students.workinlithuania.lt/migration
Work In Lithuania For International Students
For centuries Lithuania was known as a land of endless lush forests, interrupted only by rivers. The traditional architecture in Lithuania is wooden. In smaller towns you can see buildings that were constructed before the 20th century made of wood. Wooden churches are common in villages, and even wooden mosques and synagogues.
Since declaring itself an independent state in 1990, Lithuania has been making the transition from an industrial to a knowledge-based economy, focused on high-value products and services. It’s now one of the leading European nations for biotechnology, communications and information technology.
The number of international students in Lithuania is constantly increasing. The Lithuanian government also noticed this trend and has passed provisions, which took effect in 2018, for international students who want to remain in the country after completing their studies, especially students from outside the EU. Provisions such as prolonged period in order to seek employment after completion of the studies from 6 to 12 months and the entire period of studies in Lithuania will be included when applying for permanent residence.
Lithuania is a member of the European Union so your permit to stay in the country is largely dependent on your nationality. Students of other EU member states do not need a work permit or visa to stay in the country after their studies. This is not the same for third-country students as non-EU/EEA or Swiss nationals need a residence permit to work in Lithuania.
It is not easy to decide to stay and work in a foreign country after your studies and we hope the options we have laid down below will help you with your decision. You can also check out other post-study options.
Work in Lithuania
Are you a foreign student in Lithuania eager to find a perfect job?
“Work in Lithuania” will help you to kickstart your career here!
Here you can browse jobs at international companies and startups located in Lithuania.
The website was launched by “Study in LT” partners “Work in Lithuania” – the initiative which encourages professionals living abroad to build their careers in Lithuania and helps international companies meet their potential employees.
- Temporary residence permit – grants third-country nationals the right to live in Lithuania for a certain time.
- Permanent residence permit – granted to individuals intending to live permanently in Lithuania and who have confirmed their foreigner–permanent resident status valid for five years.
Temporary Residence Permit Lithuania
Temporary Residence Permit to Seek Employment
After completion of studies, third-country students may apply for a residence permit up to 12 months to seek employment. This permit allows you to only look for employment or process the start of your business therefore during this period you cannot be gainfully employed.
After you have found employment, you must apply for a residence permit on the ground of employment. If you have completed studies in Lithuania and intend to take employment in a qualification-related occupation, you are not subject to the general requirement to possess a one-year work experience and no market test is implemented.
Temporary Residence Permit for Employment
After landing a job contract, you can apply for a residence permit for employment. you must submit an application for the issuance or change of a temporary residence permit electronically via the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS).
After submitting the application and reserving the visit time through MIGRIS, within 4 months from the date of submitting the application through MIGRIS, you must personally apply for the issuance of a temporary residence permit and provide biometric data and supporting documents.
You will only be able to work legally once you have obtained a temporary residence permit.
You need to prepare the following required documents.
- application number
- a valid travel document
- a document certifying legal presence (a visa or residence permit)
- the number of the employer’s mediation letter (invitation)
- a document of sufficient means of subsistence
- a document of the place of residence
- certificate of (non) conviction
*Additional documents may be requested
During the temporary residence permit, you can only work for the employer who has undertaken to employ you. To change employer or job function with the same employer, you must apply to the territorial division of the Migration Department for permission from the central office of the Migration Department to change employer or job function.
The permit is for the period of employment but not longer than 2 years. With this permit, you will not be able to bring your family with you.
EU Blue Card
This is a temporary residence permit for highly skilled workers whose profession is included in the list of professions requiring high professional qualification and has more than above average monthly gross earnings of the national economy published by Statistics Lithuania.
To be qualified for this permit you need to meet the following conditions:
- a qualification attested by a higher education diploma
- at least five years’ professional experience equivalent to a higher education qualification required for the profession
You need to prepare the following documents:
- a valid travel document
- the number of the employer’s mediation letter (Invitation)
- if your professional activity is regulated, a document confirming that you meet the conditions established in Lithuania for carrying out regulated professional activity
- when you intend to work in a highly professional job as a company manager, a document issued by Invest in Lithuania confirming that the employer who intends to employ you in a highly qualified job as a company manager is a company established in the Republic of Lithuania
* Additional documents may be required
With this permit, you can bring your family members. This permit will be issued for 3 years, and if the employment contract is concluded for a period shorter than 3 years, for the period of validity of the employment contract and for another 3 months.
Family members includes:
- Spouse or registered partner or unmarried
- Dependent minors,
- Dependent parents if you have been supporting them for at least 1 year and cannot benefit from the support of other family members living abroad)
Temporary Residence Permit for Self-Employment or Starting a Business
A permit whether it is for self-employment or opening a business is fundamentally the same only the type of company you have established differs. The process will take four to six months.
Having established a company, a temporary residence permit for one year will be granted and can be renewed annually.
In the first year, the residence permit is granted almost automatically to every business owner but in the second and subsequent years the renewal may be rejected if the company is found to be dormant.
After successfully working as self-employed or running your business for five years, you will be eligible for a permanent residency permit.
Permanent Residence
To qualify for a permanent residence permit, you must live in Lithuania without interruption for 5 years with a temporary residence permit. This permit is valid for five years and can be renewed as long as you still meet the qualifications.
You need to prepare the following documents:
- application
- a valid travel document
- documents confirming that you have passed the examinations in the Lithuanian language and the basics of the Constitution
- documents confirming that you have been legally resident in the Republic of Lithuania for the last 5 years
- a document on sufficient means of subsistence;
- document on health insurance
* Additional documents may be required
With this permit, You can leave and return to Lithuania during the permit period. However, you will lose the right of permanent residence in Lithuania and your permanent residence permit may be revoked if you reside in a non-European Union country for more than 12 consecutive months or you leave Lithuania to live in another European Union member state for more than 6 years or you will acquire the status of a long-term resident in another European Union member state.
Naturalised Citizenship
If you have legally lived in the country for 10 years then you will be able to apply for Lithuanian citizenship. Once granted, you can freely move within the EU Member States, reside and work under the same conditions as nationals of those Member States.
You need to prepare the following documents
- identity document
- a document confirming that at the time of submitting this application you have the right of permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania
- documents confirming that you have been legally resident in the Republic of Lithuania for the last 10 years
- documents confirming that you have a legal source of livelihood in Lithuania
- documents confirming that you have passed the examinations in the Lithuanian language and the basics of the Constitution
- certificate of (un) conviction
*Additional documents may be required.
