(LITHUANIA) Lithuania is moving to sharply tighten its migration policy for international students, with lawmakers advancing a bill that would cut on-campus and off-campus work rights, restrict family reunification, and create a government-controlled list of universities allowed to admit foreign students. The draft, introduced by conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas, cleared an initial vote with support from 85 MPs and no opposition, signaling strong momentum for passage in the coming weeks.
At the heart of the bill are work hour limitations. Foreign bachelor’s students would be capped at 20 hours per week, down from the current 40 hours, a shift meant to discourage people from using study status mainly to access the labor market. Lawmakers argue the tighter cap would push a clearer line between genuine study and full-time work and reduce abuse of residence permits tied to education.
The legislation would also limit family reunification for international students. Under today’s rules, master’s and doctoral students can bring family members; the new bill would curb that benefit, especially for master’s students. In a third plank, the government would set up an authorized university list, allowing only selected institutions to enroll foreign students. Officials say the aim is to ensure quality control and reduce admissions at programs that attract applicants more for residency rights than academics.
Policy changes and government rationale
Lithuania’s Migration Department has reported rising misuse of student pathways. About 9,000 foreigners hold temporary residence permits for studies, and the agency says a subset enrolled with little academic activity.
Director Evelina Gudzinskaitė said:
“Some universities let students continue even if they haven’t earned a single credit and should have been expelled, simply because they paid tuition.”
In 2025, authorities revoked 780 residence permits for students who abandoned studies, part of tougher checks after enrollment.
The bill introduces new language requirements tied to residence extensions and family reunification:
- Foreigners who have lived in Lithuania for five years and want to extend a temporary residence permit would need to show Lithuanian proficiency at a government-set level.
- Foreigners who have been in Lithuania for at least two years on a one-year residence permit would need to prove their family members’ Lithuanian knowledge when applying to bring relatives.
Officials frame these rules as steps toward stronger integration through language.
University admissions and oversight changes
Universities are already tightening oversight ahead of the law. Many now use entrance exams, interviews, and stricter attendance checks. Some admit only about one-third of applicants.
Examples of current institutional changes:
- Kaunas University of Technology requires applicants from certain countries to take standardized math tests, followed by interviews.
- The Lithuanian University of Health Sciences says it seeks to “select the best and identify those who would use the university as a gateway to Europe.”
These shifts reflect a broader change in admissions culture for international students.
Demographics and recent permit trends
The demographic picture helps explain the policy focus. Lithuania currently hosts nearly 8,000 international students on temporary residence permits, with large groups from:
- India ~1,400 students
- Belarus 959
- Pakistan 709
In 2025, new permits went most to:
- India: 668
- Pakistan: 552
- Bangladesh: 355
At Klaipėda University, foreign students now make up about 12% of the student body.
Impact on applicants, students, employers, and universities
Key immediate changes if the bill passes:
- Bachelor’s students: 20-hour weekly work cap (was 40 hours).
- Master’s students: tighter family reunification options.
- All students: additional language proof obligations for extensions and family applications.
Potential effects:
- Students working 40 hours will need to scale back to part-time, affecting budgets and study plans.
- Employers relying on student labor—especially service-sector employers with evening/weekend shifts—may face staffing challenges.
- Universities will likely increase screening: closer document checks, more interviews, and attendance monitoring.
- Family reunification applicants will have to plan for language-proof requirements for relatives after two years of residence.
The bill sets policy direction, but the exact language level and proof methods will be determined by government implementing rules.
Broader immigration context
These student rules sit inside a larger recalibration of Lithuania’s migration policy:
- In 2024, Lithuania processed 67,175 residence permit applications and rejected 20,410 for compliance issues.
- Nearly 36,000 foreign nationals were denied residency and work permits that year as screening tightened.
- For 2025, Lithuania cut its immigration quota for third-country nationals to 24,830, down from 40,250.
That quota drop will make early planning more important for all categories, including students moving from bachelor’s to master’s status or transitioning from studies to work.
Regional perspective and analysis
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the proposed package reflects a regional trend: governments want to keep attracting high-performing international students while closing gaps that allow low-engagement enrollment or covert work.
Lithuania’s approach combines:
- Work hour limitations
- Language tests tied to residence
- An authorized university list
This strategy places control points throughout the student journey—from admission to renewal.
Practical steps and recommendations
Practical actions for students and universities include:
- Students on bachelor’s programs:
- Budget for a 20-hour weekly work limit.
- Check whether employers are ready to adjust schedules.
- Master’s students planning family reunification:
- Monitor the final text for eligibility changes and any transition rules.
- Students aiming for extensions after five years:
- Begin Lithuanian language study early to meet the government-set level.
- Universities:
- Continue robust screening—entrance exams, interviews, and attendance checks—to align with the anticipated authorized-list model.
Enforcement and risks
The Migration Department’s enforcement stance suggests that continued non-attendance or lack of academic progress will carry real risk. Students who stop studying or fail to earn credits can expect closer review and possible loss of status. Universities that allow prolonged non-performance without action may face scrutiny as the authorized list takes shape.
For official guidance on residence permits, application steps, and policy updates, consult the Lithuanian Migration Department’s website at the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior. The agency posts procedural notices and rule changes as they take effect, which is essential reading for students planning renewals or family applications.
Debate and next steps
Supporters of the bill argue the changes will protect education quality, deter misuse, and encourage real integration through language.
Critics in the academic community worry that stricter rules could:
- Deter genuine applicants
- Strain family life for postgraduate students
- Reduce campus diversity
The final balance will depend on implementing rules—especially how the government defines the language thresholds and manages the authorized university list.
For now, prospective students should proceed with careful planning:
- Verify that chosen programs are likely to be on the authorized list.
- Prepare for 20-hour work limits if entering a bachelor’s track.
- Build a Lithuanian language study plan well ahead of residence extensions.
Universities should continue raising admission standards and monitoring student progress, as the policy environment signals lasting change.
This Article in a Nutshell
Lithuania’s parliament has moved a draft law proposing stricter migration controls for international students: reducing bachelor students’ permitted work from 40 to 20 hours weekly, narrowing family reunification—especially for master’s students—and creating an official list of universities allowed to admit foreign students. The Migration Department reports roughly 9,000 study-related residence permits and 780 revocations in 2025, citing misuse of study routes. The bill also ties residence extensions and family applications to Lithuanian language proof for residents after two to five years. Universities are preemptively tightening admissions and attendance monitoring. The bill’s implementing rules will define exact language levels and operational details; if enacted, students, employers, and universities must adapt to reduced work hours, new language obligations, and stricter oversight.
