Document Recognition for Lithuania: SKVC and Your School Diploma

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

To start a bachelor's in Lithuania you need a secondary school certificate that gives access to higher education. If yours was issued abroad, it usually has to be recognised first. The national body for this is SKVC, the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (Studijų kokybės vertinimo centras), which is Lithuania's ENIC-NARIC centre.

Who decides

There are two cases, and they follow the two admission routes described in how to get into a university in Lithuania.

• Applying through LAMA BPO (Lithuanian, EU and EFTA citizens and other eligible groups): you need a recognition decision from SKVC or from a higher education institution authorised to recognise qualifications. LAMA BPO then converts your grades into the Lithuanian scale to calculate your competitive score.
• Applying directly to a university (most non-EU students): the institution assesses your documents as part of the application. Vilnius University, for example, says your documents are processed for academic assessment and recognition within its admission. Read each institution's instructions, because some may still ask you to apply to SKVC.

Who does not need it

LAMA BPO lists exceptions:

• the European Baccalaureate, which is recognised automatically;
• some school certificates from Latvia and Estonia obtained from 2019.

The International Baccalaureate does need recognition. LAMA BPO says IB graduates do not have to upload their grades separately for conversion.

How to apply to SKVC

Applications are made online in EPE, SKVC's electronic recognition system. You create an account, fill in the application and upload your documents.

• Upload colour scans of the originals, not of notarised copies. They must be clear and legible.
• You usually need your school-leaving certificate, the transcript of grades and your passport or ID card.
• SKVC may ask for more documents. If they do not arrive within three months, the application is closed.

According to SKVC, applications are reviewed and decided within 20 working days once the file is complete. Study in Lithuania advises allowing up to a month or more, so apply well before the LAMA BPO deadlines.

What the decision can say

SKVC can:

• recognise the qualification as equivalent to the Lithuanian one;
• recognise it with certain rights only, for example access to some fields of study;
• recognise it only together with extra requirements, such as exams or courses;
• refuse recognition.

You can appeal within 10 working days of receiving the decision.

Translations

LAMA BPO asks for official translations of documents that are not in Lithuanian, English, German or French. Universities that admit international students directly set their own rules; Vilnius University, for example, wants official translations of documents not in English or Lithuanian. See sworn translation of documents.

Apostille and legalisation

Rules for school certificates depend on the country that issued them and on the institution. Ask SKVC or your university whether yours needs an apostille. For the residence permit, the criminal record certificate must be apostilled or legalised. See apostille and legalisation of documents.

Step by step

1. Check whether your diploma is exempt, such as the European Baccalaureate.
2. If you apply through LAMA BPO, open an application in SKVC's EPE system early, ideally in spring.
3. Upload scans of the originals and any official translations.
4. Answer SKVC's requests for more documents quickly.
5. Upload the recognition decision to your LAMA BPO application so your grades can be converted.
6. If you apply directly to a university, follow its own document list.

Where to look next

• How to get into a university in Lithuania
• How much it costs to study in Lithuania
• All programmes in Lithuania
• IB diploma and universities in continental Europe
• Student visa for Lithuania
• Student housing in Lithuania

Official sources

• SKVC: EPE recognition system, FAQ: time limits and possible decisions
• LAMA BPO: Secondary education completed outside Lithuania
• LAMA BPO: International students and diaspora: exemptions and translations
• Study in Lithuania: Information for applicants with foreign education

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.