The rules since 22 May 2026
The Seimas, Lithuania's parliament, amended the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens in May 2026. The changes took effect on 22 May 2026 and set working hours by stage of study.
| Who | During the semester | Summer break and internships |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's, 1st and 2nd year | Up to 20 hours a week | Full time |
| Bachelor's, 3rd and 4th year | Up to 40 hours a week | Full time |
| Master's students | Up to 40 hours a week | Full time |
| Doctoral students and medical residents | Up to 40 hours a week | Full time |
No work permit is needed: the residence permit for studies is enough. The hour limits do not apply to study permits issued before 21 May 2026. They apply once you hold a permit issued under the new law.
The same amendments set other limits that matter for planning. Residence permits for studies can add up to no more than eight years in total. Master's and doctoral students can bring their families straight away. Graduates of Lithuanian universities keep easier access to work permits for five years after graduation instead of the previous ten.
What a part-time job pays
Lithuania's minimum wage in 2026 is €1,153 a month for full-time work and €7.05 an hour. From 1 January 2027 it rises to €1,245 and €7.61. Most entry-level student jobs pay at or slightly above the minimum.
| Hours a week | Gross per month (approx.) | In rupees |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | €305 | ₹32,400 |
| 20 | €610 | ₹64,800 |
| 40 (full time) | €1,153 | ₹1.2 lakh |
Figures are before income tax and social insurance, at €1 = ₹106.27 (European Central Bank reference rate, 23 October 2026). Twenty hours at the minimum rate covers a large part of a frugal student budget in Kaunas or Klaipėda, but it will not pay tuition. Plan to bring your first year's fees and living money from India; the Migration Department asks to see the living money anyway.
Where students find work
Without Lithuanian, the usual options are food delivery, restaurants and cafés, warehouses and logistics, retail, cleaning and hotel work. IT and engineering students with real skills find internships and junior roles in Vilnius and Kaunas, where international companies and shared-service centres work in English. University career centres post vacancies, and many programmes include a paid or unpaid internship.
Learning basic Lithuanian widens the choice a lot. Universities run free or cheap language courses for international students; see our Lithuanian language page.
Mistakes that cost students their permit
- Working instead of studying. Your permit exists because you study. Universities report students who stop attending, and in 2025 the Migration Department withdrew 780 study permits from students who had dropped out in practice.
- Exceeding the hours. Employers report working time to the authorities. Working beyond your limit during term breaks the conditions of your permit.
- Too few credits. You need at least 40 ECTS credits a year to renew the permit. A job that makes you fail courses can end your stay.
- Self-employment schemes. In October 2026 the Interior Minister proposed banning self-employment certificates for foreign students after checks found misuse. Treat any offer to "register as self-employed" with caution.
Read more in why permits are refused or revoked.