Do I need to register before I get sick?

Yes, ideally. You register once, in advance, by choosing a polyclinic and a family doctor. After that you simply book appointments with them. Sorting it out while you are already unwell is stressful and slow.

Is registering with a family doctor free?

The first registration is effectively free — there is only a tiny documentation fee (around €0.29). If you switch clinic again within six months you pay a slightly higher fee (around €2.90), but full-time students moving between their study city and home are exempt.

Can I get an English-speaking doctor?

Sometimes — it depends entirely on the individual doctor, not the clinic. Many family doctors, especially older ones, speak little English. Ask the clinic before you are assigned a doctor whether that specific doctor speaks English; if not, ask to be assigned to one who does, or choose a different clinic. Bringing a Lithuanian-speaking friend is a common backup.

Can I register and book appointments online via esveikata.lt?

Yes, but only once you have a Lithuanian personal code (asmens kodas) linked to Lithuanian e-banking, Smart-ID or Mobile-ID — the personal code is the gatekeeper and is not automatic with your visa. The esveikata.lt portal (and its mobile app) lets you book appointments, view e-prescriptions and see your records, with an English-language toggle. Without a personal code you register and book in person at the clinic reception.

Do non-EU students on a national (D) visa get a state family doctor?

No, not for free. Non-EU students on a national (D) visa are not in the state health insurance system (PSD) and have no free public healthcare — they need private cover (around €50–150/year). A non-EU student on a temporary residence permit (TRP) is usually also outside PSD unless they are legally employed and their employer pays PSD. EU/EEA students with an EHIC are covered for needed care.

How do I change my family doctor if I don't like them?

Changing the doctor within the same clinic is free. Changing to a different clinic costs the small documentation fee. You submit a new application at the reception of the clinic you want.

How to register with a family doctor in Lithuania

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.

In Lithuania, your family doctor (šeimos gydytojas) is your first point of contact for almost everything non-emergency — illness, repeat prescriptions, referrals to specialists, and sick notes. You register once by choosing a polyclinic (poliklinika) near where you live and filling in a short application. Doing this early, before you actually need care, saves a lot of stress.

Who can register, and what covers you

Whether the state pays for your care depends on your status:

Your situation	Insurance that covers you	What you do
EU/EEA student (short stay/Erasmus)	European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or form S1/E-form	Register and show your EHIC; needed care is covered
EU student living here long-term	Compulsory Health Insurance (PSD) once you work or declare residence	Register as a local patient
Non-EU student on a national (D) visa	Private insurance only — not in the state PSD system	Register, then pay via private insurance or out of pocket
Non-EU student on a temporary residence permit (TRP)	Usually private insurance, unless legally employed and your employer pays PSD	Register, then pay via insurance — or as a local patient if PSD applies
Holder of a permanent residence permit	State PSD (automatic)	Register as a local patient

Non-EU students: you are not automatically in the state system

A non-EU student on a national (D) visa is not in the state health insurance system (PSD) and has no free public healthcare — you need private cover (roughly €50–150/year). On a TRP you are usually still outside PSD unless you are legally employed and your employer pays PSD (the health part of Sodra). If you rely on employment for PSD, watch for coverage gaps between contracts: a gap can leave you uninsured and can endanger your TRP. EU/EEA students lean on the EHIC instead. Bring proof of whichever applies to you.

You can check whether you are covered by state insurance on the National Health Insurance Fund (VLK) website, vlk.lt.

How to register — step by step

Choose a clinic close to home. Most students pick the polyclinic nearest their flat or dorm, since you'll visit in person. Each city has several (in Vilnius: Centro, Šeškinės, Lazdynų and others).
Check the language — per doctor, not per clinic. Whether you get an English-speaking doctor depends on the individual doctor, not the clinic as a whole. Before you're assigned, ask reception whether that specific family doctor speaks English; if not, ask to be assigned to one who does, or pick a different clinic. Don't assume a big city clinic means English-speaking care.
Go to the reception desk to register — you fill in the application here in person. (The e-government portal epaslaugos.lt can also handle some health services if you have electronic ID.)
Fill in the application — a "statement of intent" to receive care at that clinic, naming a specific family doctor.
Show your documents (below). You're then registered to that doctor and can start booking appointments.

Booking and managing care online (esveikata.lt)

Once you are registered, you can manage much of your care through Lithuania's national e-Health portal, esveikata.lt (and its esveikata mobile app). Through it you can book appointments with your family doctor, view e-prescriptions, and see your medical records, and you can switch the portal to English (the EN toggle at the bottom of the screen).

The catch: logging in requires a Lithuanian personal code (asmens kodas) linked to Lithuanian e-banking, Smart-ID or Mobile-ID via the iPasas.lt / e-Government Gateway. Your visa does not automatically give you a personal code, so until you have one you'll register and book the old-fashioned way — by phone or in person at the clinic reception.

No personal code yet? Book in person

The esveikata.lt portal needs an asmens kodas plus a Lithuanian e-identity (Smart-ID, Mobile-ID or e-banking). New arrivals often won't have these for weeks, so plan to book your first appointments by phone or at the reception desk.

What to bring

A valid ID document: passport, national ID card, or your residence permit for foreigners.
Proof of insurance: your EHIC (EU students) or your private health insurance policy (non-EU students).
Your declared address in Lithuania helps, as access to care is linked to having a declared place of residence.

Ask the international office

Your university's international relations office can usually tell you which local clinics are student-friendly and have English-speaking doctors — ask them before you trek across town.

What it costs

Registration itself is essentially free. There is only a small documentation fee:

First time / normal switch: about €0.29 (as of 2026 — confirm on VLK).
Switching clinic again within 6 months: about €2.90 — but full-time school and university students moving between their study city and home are exempt from this higher fee.
Changing only the doctor within the same clinic: free.

Once registered, if you are covered by state insurance or a valid EHIC, GP visits and referrals are funded. Without that coverage, you pay (or claim through private insurance).

After you register

Book appointments by phone, in person, through the clinic's online system, or via esveikata.lt / its app once you have a personal code and Lithuanian e-identity.
Your family doctor refers you to specialists — you usually can't see a specialist for free without a referral.
Keep your insurance valid for your whole stay; non-EU students renewing a TRP must keep private cover going.
Moving cities? Re-register at a clinic near your new home — as a student you avoid the higher switching fee.

Confirm your coverage before you rely on it

Insurance rules and fees change, and the path differs sharply for EU vs non-EU students. Before you assume a visit is free, confirm your status with your clinic and on the official VLK page (vlk.lt). If you're a non-EU student, double-check your private policy actually covers GP visits in Lithuania, not just emergencies.