Residence permit, not a visa
Lithuania separates two documents that are both called a "student visa" in India. A national visa (type D) is for exchange students and stays of up to a year that do not lead to a degree. A temporary residence permit (TRP) for studies is what you need for a full bachelor's, master's, integrated (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy) or doctoral programme. Vilnius University states it plainly: a national visa cannot be issued for full-time study.
The TRP is a plastic card. It is issued for one to two years and renewed for the rest of the course; doctoral students can get up to three years at once. The last permit of your studies is usually issued for six months longer than the course, which gives you time to apply for the post-study permit described on our after graduation page.
Documents you need
The Migration Department checks every item. A missing paper is the most common reason for a delay.
- Valid passport with at least two blank pages, issued within the last ten years and valid for at least three months after the permit would end.
- Mediation letter number from your university (the university enters it in MIGRIS).
- Proof of funds: bank statements in euros or US dollars, or the equivalent in your own account, showing the amount below.
- Health insurance with cover of at least €10,000.
- Proof of accommodation in Lithuania, for example a dormitory confirmation or a rental agreement.
- A signed commitment to declare your place of residence after arrival.
- Police clearance certificate (PCC) from India. It must carry an apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Payment of the state fee.
The health insurance, bank statements and police certificate can be in English. Other documents must be in Lithuanian, or translated, so ask your university which papers it prepares for you. How to get the apostille is explained on our apostille and attestation page.
Proof of funds in rupees
The amount is linked to Lithuania's minimum monthly wage. You must show half of it for every month of the permit period up to twelve months, plus one full minimum wage for the return journey. The wage is €1,153 in 2026; the government has approved €1,245 from 1 January 2027. Most students starting in September 2027 will file in 2027, so plan with the second column.
| Item | Application filed in 2026 | Application filed in 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Living costs, 12 months | €577 × 12 = €6,924 | €622.50 × 12 = €7,470 |
| Return to India: one minimum wage | €1,153 | €1,245 |
| Total for a one-year permit | €8,077 (₹8.6 lakh) | €8,715 (₹9.3 lakh) |
Rupees at €1 = ₹106.27 (European Central Bank reference rate, 23 October 2026). When the minimum wage changes, the requirement changes with it from the same date. Tuition you have already paid is not counted towards this sum; the money has to be available for living costs.
Funds in a parent's account are a common question. Ask your university's international office which documents the Migration Department accepts in that case, because the rule is applied case by case. An education loan sanction letter alone is usually not enough; the loan has to be disbursed or the funds shown in an account.
How to apply, step by step
- Get admitted and pay what the university asksSign the study agreement. Most universities ask for the first tuition instalment before they issue the mediation letter.
- Receive the mediation letterThe university registers you in MIGRIS and gives you the mediation letter number you will need in the application.
- Fill in the MIGRIS applicationCreate an account at migracija.lt, complete the temporary residence permit form for studies and upload your documents.
- Visit VFS Global in New DelhiBook a slot, give fingerprints and a photo, hand in original documents and pay the state fee and the VFS service fee.
- Wait for the decisionThe standard time is up to two months. In 2025 some students waited closer to four, so apply as soon as you have the letter.
- Collect the permit and travelYou are told where to collect the card. After arrival you declare your Lithuanian address within one month.
Fees and timelines
| What | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|
| First permit, filed from India through VFS | €110 state fee + €110 VFS service fee (₹23,400) | Up to 2 months |
| Renewal in Lithuania, standard | €110 | Up to 2 months |
| Renewal in Lithuania, urgent | €440 | Up to 1 month |
| Post-study permit (job search), standard | €220 | Within 1 month |
Universities quote two to three months as typical. During 2025 the Migration Department checked student files more closely and some applicants from India waited up to four months. With a September start, file by June if you can.
To renew the permit you must have earned at least 40 ECTS credits in the previous academic year. Students who fail too many courses cannot extend their stay.
Applying from inside Lithuania
From 1 November 2026 a foreigner can file a residence permit application inside Lithuania only while holding a Lithuanian residence permit, a national visa, a residence permit of another EU country, or when visa-free. Indian passport holders are not visa-free in the Schengen area. A first-time student from India therefore applies from India, through VFS in New Delhi.
After you arrive
- Declare your address within one month of collecting the card, at the municipality or eldership, or when you give biometric data at a Migration Department office.
- Keep your health insurance valid for the whole stay. Your university's international office tells you which policies it accepts for renewals.
- Open a bank account and get a local SIM card. The card and your student ID are enough at most banks.
- Attend classes. Universities report absent students to the Migration Department, and permits are withdrawn when someone stops studying. Read why permits are refused or revoked.