Working in Lithuania After Graduation: 12 Months to Find a Job

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

A non-EU student in Lithuania does not have to leave the day the diploma is issued. Graduates can apply for a further temporary residence permit (TRP) that lets them look for a job or start self-employment. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no permit to work. This guide covers everyone else, using the EU Immigration Portal and the pages of Vilnius University, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) and Vytautas Magnus University (VDU), as read in October 2026. The Migration Department's website could not be opened automatically, and some of the university pages are several years old, so confirm each point with the Department.

The last study permit and the weeks after

Vilnius University says the last study permit is usually issued for six months longer than the study period. VDU adds that the study permit remains valid for three months after studies actually end. KTU reported, after a change in the rules, that bachelor's students may work full time during the first three months after graduation, outside the usual 20-hour limit. Treat this as a reason to apply early, not as a reason to wait.

The 12-month job-search permit

The EU Immigration Portal states that after completing your studies you can apply for a temporary residence permit for 12 months for job search and self-employment. Vilnius University lists the documents:

an online application form;
your diploma, in place of the mediation letter from the university;
a valid passport and your valid temporary residence permit;
proof of funds of at least €1,245 per month for the whole period requested, which is about €14,940 for a full 12 months (our arithmetic);
health insurance with minimum cover of €10,000, valid until the permit expires.

Vilnius University applies these figures to its own graduates. Other institutions may refer to different amounts, so ask the international office, and see health insurance for students in Lithuania for how the insurance minimum varies.

The deadline for applying. The university pages we found give different application windows, from three months to up to one year after the qualification, and the Migration Department's current page was not available to us. Do not wait: apply while your study permit is still valid.

Working during the 12 months

KTU and VDU both say that holders of the job-search permit start work as soon as they find a job, with no separate work permit during these 12 months. They also say the permit allows self-employment. That is the practical advantage of this route.

Once the job continues past the 12 months, the rules change. VDU says the graduate should renew the permit on the basis of the employment contract and obtain a work permit from the territorial Employment Service office. Either the employer or the graduate can apply. The EU Immigration Portal describes the same step for employed workers: the employer notifies the vacancy to the local Employment Service, then applies for a decision that the work meets the needs of the Lithuanian labour market. Start talking to the employer about this well before the 12 months run out.

The Blue Card route

The EU Immigration Portal describes a residence permit for highly qualified workers, known as the Blue Card. The conditions it gives:

a higher education qualification, or five years of equivalent experience where Lithuanian law allows;
a monthly salary of at least 1.5 times the most recently announced average gross monthly earnings in the economy;
if the salary is below 3 times that average, a positive Employment Service decision on labour market needs; if it is higher, or the profession is on the list of shortage professions requiring high qualifications, the decision is not needed.

The permit decision takes up to two months, or one month for an additional fee, and is faster for the higher salary band or shortage professions. The Portal also says that if a highly qualified worker is unemployed for more than three consecutive months, or more than once during the permit, the permit is cancelled. Check the current average earnings figure with the Migration Department, because the thresholds are tied to it.

Staying long term

According to the EU Immigration Portal, five years of continuous and legal residence in Lithuania lead to the status of permanent resident. The Portal does not say here whether study years count towards that period, so ask the Migration Department before you count on them.

A practical plan

In your final year, find out the date your study permit ends and the diploma date.
Collect the funds proof and a policy that fits the amounts above.
Apply for the job-search permit before the study permit lapses.
Search in the 12 months with the Blue Card salary rule in mind.
When you get an offer, ask the employer which permit route applies and who files.

Where to look next

Official sources

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