Where do I book my MIGRIS appointment now?

Since 22 October 2025, appointment slots are opened and booked through migracija.lt (the MIGRIS environment). The external service provider (VFS Global) no longer schedules appointments itself — booking moved to the official channel.

What is the 7-day deadline I keep hearing about?

Once your university issues its mediation letter, you typically need to submit your TRP application in MIGRIS within about 7 days, or the letter can expire. Confirm the exact window with your international office and on migracija.lt.

How long does a student TRP take to decide?

Plan for roughly 2 months (about 45-90 days standard). The expedited option is around 45 days for a higher fee. Times vary, so check the live figure in MIGRIS.

Can I stay in Lithuania while my TRP is processed?

Only if your current legal stay (visa or old permit) is still valid. There is no automatic interim visa — if your stay expires before a decision, you must leave until the TRP is granted. Applying is not the same as being covered.

How early should I start?

Start 5-6 months before your stay expires or your studies begin. Appointment slots are scarce, so the earlier you submit and book, the safer.

Booking your MIGRIS appointment & TRP timeline

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change — confirm anything important with the official source linked below and your university's international office.

Book your student TRP appointment through MIGRIS on migracija.lt — since 22 October 2025, slots are opened and reserved there rather than scheduled by the external service provider (VFS Global). Submit your application within about 7 days of getting your university's mediation letter, expect roughly 2 months for a decision, and start 5-6 months early because appointment slots are scarce. This guide is for non-EU/EEA degree-seeking students.

Applying is not the same as being covered

There is no automatic interim visa while your TRP is processed. You only keep lawful status if your current visa or permit is still valid. If your legal stay expires before a decision is made, you must leave Lithuania until the TRP is granted. Always confirm your live status in MIGRIS and check official rules on migracija.lt before relying on anything below.

What changed on 22 October 2025

The way you book an appointment changed — not the categories of who can apply.

Before: appointments at the external service provider (VFS Global) were scheduled through the provider's own system.
Since 22 October 2025: appointment slots are opened in advance and booked only through MIGRIS at migracija.lt. VFS Global no longer schedules appointments itself.

So the booking channel moved to the official Migration Department system. Student applications are handled as part of general temporary residence permit (TRP) booking — you still apply as a student, you just reserve the slot via migracija.lt.

migracija.lt can be slow to load

The Migration Department site is a single-page web app and sometimes loads slowly or times out, especially when slots are released. Try a different browser, clear the cache, or retry at off-peak hours rather than assuming the system is down.

The order of steps (this matters)

The sequence trips people up. You generally cannot book the in-person visit first.

Get a mediation letter / number from your university's international office (it confirms your enrolment).
Submit the online application in MIGRIS, entering the mediation number and uploading every document.
Pay the state fee.
Wait for the preliminary review. Only after MIGRIS notifies you that the preliminary check succeeded does the option to book the in-person appointment appear.
Book and attend the appointment to give biometrics (fingerprints, photo) and hand over originals.
Track the decision in MIGRIS and collect your permit card.

The 7-day mediation-letter deadline

After your university issues the mediation letter, you typically have about 7 days to submit your TRP application in MIGRIS before it expires. Don't request the letter until your documents and money proof are ready. Confirm the exact window with your international office and on migracija.lt.

Why appointment slots are scarce

Appointment slots are limited and are released in batches, so they can disappear within minutes. This is the single biggest reason students miss their window. To improve your odds:

Have everything ready before you trigger the mediation letter, so the 7-day clock doesn't run out.
Check MIGRIS often once your preliminary review clears — new slots are released periodically.
Be flexible on Migration Department location and date.
Don't pay an agent to "secure" a slot — agents (typically charging around €1,000) cannot get you slots the official system won't, and free help exists (see below).

Timeline and fees

Option	State fee (confirm on migracija.lt)	Decision time
Standard	≈€120 (€240 urgent)unverified	~2 months (about 45-90 days)
Urgent / expedited	EUR 240	~45 days

State fees go to the Migration Department, not an agent. The standard fee is around EUR 120, the urgent option around EUR 240 — check the live figure in MIGRIS when you apply.

Build your timeline backwards

Work back from when your current stay expires (or when studies begin):

5-6 months before: gather documents and proof of funds; line up the mediation letter.
~7 days before submitting: request the mediation letter only once you're ready.
On submission: apply in MIGRIS and pay the fee.
After the preliminary review clears: book the appointment as soon as a slot appears.
~2 months for the decision: keep your current visa/permit valid the whole time.

Start 5-6 months early

Set a calendar reminder for 5-6 months before your stay or studies begin. Slot scarcity, the 7-day letter deadline, and ~2-month processing stack up fast — early starters almost never get caught out.

Proof of funds and documents

Wrong or missing financial documentation is one of the top reasons applications are rejected, so prepare it carefully.

Valid passport (and current visa or old TRP).
Mediation letter number from your university.
Proof of enough money: ≈ €8,071unverified The funds do not need to be "blocked" — a bank statement or online-banking screenshot is generally accepted. The monthly subsistence reference is €576.50unverified.
Health insurance valid in Lithuania (confirm the current minimum coverage before buying).
A declared place of residence in Lithuania.

What if my stay expires before a decision?

This is the highest-stakes part of the timeline.

If your visa or permit is still valid, you generally keep lawful status while the TRP is pending — but avoid travel outside the EU until the new card is in hand.
If your legal stay lapses with no valid basis, there is no automatic interim visa. You must leave Lithuania and wait abroad for the decision.
A 7-day mediation deadline applies when submitting; a short mediation-letter deadline may also follow if the Migration Department asks your university to confirm something — respond fast.

Speak to your international office and the Migration Department immediately if your dates are tight. Don't gamble on "they'll sort it out at the appointment".

Where to get free help

You never need a paid agent for this.

Your university's international office — first stop for the mediation letter and document checklist.
Migration Information Centre "I Choose Lithuania" (renkuosilietuva.lt) — free guidance, toll-free 0 800 22922.
International House Vilnius — in-person support for newcomers.
The Migration Department (migracija.lt) and MIGRIS for the official process and live fees.