How long can I stay in Lithuania after I graduate to look for a job?

If you're a non-EU graduate, you can apply for a temporary residence permit valid for 12 months specifically to search for a job or start a business. EU/EEA graduates can simply stay and look for work under freedom of movement, registering their residence once they've been here over three months.

Can I work straight away during the job-search year?

Yes. During the 12-month job-search permit, no separate work permit or labour-market decision is needed, so you can start working the moment you find a job. Once you land permanent employment, you switch to a work-based permit.

Do I need to have a job lined up before I apply?

No. The whole point of this permit is that you don't yet have a job — it gives you time to find one or to set up as self-employed. You apply on the basis of your completed Lithuanian degree, not an employment contract.

What happens if I find a permanent job during the year?

You apply to change to a temporary residence permit on the basis of your employment contract, which usually requires a work permit decision from the Employment Service. Submit it before the job-search permit expires — start the paperwork 2-4 months ahead.

I'm an EU student — do I need any permit to stay and work?

No permit. EU/EEA and Swiss nationals can stay and work freely. After three months you must obtain a residence certificate and declare your address with the Migration Department.

Staying on after graduation: the job-search permit

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.

If you've just finished a degree in Lithuania and want to stay, the path depends on your nationality. Non-EU graduates can apply for a temporary residence permit valid for 12 months to look for a job or start a business — and you can work the moment you find something. EU/EEA graduates simply stay under freedom of movement and register their residence.

Non-EU graduates: the 12-month job-search permit

After completing a recognised Lithuanian degree (bachelor's, master's or PhD), you can apply for a new temporary residence permit (TRP) for job search and self-employment purposes. It lets you stay for up to 12 months after graduation while you find work or set up a business (EU Immigration Portal; Migration Department).

The big advantage: during these 12 months you need no separate work permit and no labour-market test from the Employment Service. You can start working as soon as you're hired (KTU).

The same permit also covers self-employment, so you can use the year to set yourself up as a freelancer rather than (or alongside) job-hunting. If you go that route, see our guide to freelancing in Lithuania via individuali veikla for how the self-employment certificate, taxes and Sodra contributions work.

Your old student permit buys you time

Your study-based TRP typically stays valid for a window after your expected graduation date, during which you can already work full-time. Apply for the job-search permit before it lapses so you never fall out of legal status.

What you need

A valid TRP at the time you apply (apply before the old one expires).
A completed full-time degree from a recognised Lithuanian institution.
Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself for the period of the permit (you no longer have student status, so you must show you can cover your own living costs while you search).
Valid health insurance covering the whole permit period.

The subsistence threshold is tied to official minimums and changes yearly — check the current figure rather than relying on an old number. €576.50unverified is the kind of monthly amount this is benchmarked against.

Mind the health-cover gap

As a job-seeker (not yet employed), you are not in the state PSD health system, so you need your own private cover for the full permit period — and you must keep it unbroken. If you later sign a job contract and your employer starts paying PSD (the health part of Sodra), you join the state system, but any gap between losing private cover and the employer's contributions starting can leave you uninsured and put the permit at risk. Confirm the current proof-of-funds and insurance requirements with the Migration Department before you submit.

How to apply (MIGRIS)

Fill in the request to issue or change a residence permit online via MIGRIS, the Migration Information System.
Within 4 months of submitting online, book an appointment to give your biometric data and hand over original documents in person.
Pay the state fee (see below).
Collect your permit once approved.

Fees and timing

The state fee depends on how fast you need it. Standard processing is cheaper; an expedited service costs more.

Service	Reported fee (confirm before relying)
Standard residence-permit processing	~€160
Expedited / urgent processing	~€320

Confirm the figures before you rely on them

Fee amounts, the exact subsistence threshold and processing times are set by law and change. Secondary sources report roughly €160 standard / €320 urgent (as of 2026 — confirm on the Migration Department fee page). The migracija.lt portal loads dynamically and can be hard to read; verify the current numbers directly in MIGRIS or with your university's international office before you submit.

When you find a job: switching to a work permit

The job-search permit is a bridge, not a destination. Once you land lasting employment, apply to change your TRP to an employment basis. This route normally requires a work permit decision from the Public Employment Service, and either you or your employer can start it.

Apply at least 2 months before your current permit expires, and no earlier than 4 months before (Work in Lithuania).
A work-based TRP is generally issued for the duration of your contract, capped at two years at a time, then renewable.
Notify the Migration Department's territorial division if you change employer or position.

Skip the job-search step?

If you already have a firm job offer at graduation, you may be able to go straight to a work-based permit and skip the job-search permit entirely. If you're a high earner in a qualified role, ask about the EU Blue Card, which has its own faster track.

EU, EEA and Swiss graduates

There's no job-search permit to apply for — freedom of movement covers you. You can stay and work full-time without any work authorisation. The one administrative step: after three months in Lithuania you must obtain a residence certificate and declare your place of residence with the Migration Department.

Erasmus and exchange graduates

If you came on a short exchange rather than a full degree programme, the job-search permit (which rewards a completed Lithuanian qualification) generally won't apply to you. Non-EU exchange students usually return home or move to a different permit basis when their study permit ends. If you want to stay on to work, talk to your international office and the Migration Department about your specific options before your current status expires.

Don't let your status lapse

Falling out of legal residence — even briefly — can complicate or block your next permit. Whatever your path, start the next application while your current permit is still valid, and keep written confirmation of every submission.