If living in Lithuania is your next goal, this guide will definitely be helpful. Lithuania is famous for its abundance of historical monuments, high-quality amber, and the cult of basketball. Located in Northeastern Europe, Lithuania charms visitors with its ancient traditions, interesting cuisine and remarkable scenery. It is an excellent choice of home for both adventurers and career seekers.
Lithuanian language: First steps towards learning it
Lithuanian is recognised as the national language of Lithuania. It is spoken by the majority of the population. In the country, which has become home to both Polish and Russian communities, nearly 6.6% speak Polish and 5.3% speak Russian. Among the most popular foreign languages are English and German. 80% of young Lithuanians speak English, while in terms of the general population, it is spoken by nearly 30%.
Lithuanian and Latvian belong to the group of Baltic languages. This is what determines their similarity. Since Lithuanian is the oldest among the Indo-European languages, elements of Sanskrit can still be found in it today. German, Polish, Swedish and Russian were also influential in the formation of the Baltic languages.
Those living in Lithuania should know that there are two main dialects, the Aukštaičių and the Žemaičių/Žemaitiu, which are used in different ethnographic regions. There are four main regions in the country: Aukštaitija (Upper Lithuania), Žmud (Žemaitija or Lower Lithuania), Suvalkija, and Dzūkija. Žmud also includes the area of Memel Region, also called Little Lithuania (Lithuanian: Mažoji Lietuva).
Lithuanian courses are organised by various institutions. A free language course is initiated by the National Labour Office. Another alternative is private lessons in specialised language schools, many of which are also available online. Before settling down in Lithuania, we advise you to familiarise yourself with the most useful language expressions with the help of free internet resources. We wish you luck, or "Sėkmės!", as they would say in Lithuanian.
Finding a new home in Lithuania
A key step when migrating to Lithuania is finding a suitable home. You can search for it through a real estate agency, or home rental and purchase websites. Another option is signing a contract directly with a landlord.
Among the factors that determine the price of renting (or buying a home) in Lithuania are:
- the residential area
- the size of the place
- the availability (or the lack) of furnishings
- the year the property was built
In large cities, such as Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda, the monthly rent for a one-room apartment ranges between 300 and 700 euros. Usually, a deposit of one- or two-months rent is required in advance when signing a rental agreement. As for buying a home, the price of a one-bedroom apartment in bigger Lithuanian cities is between 52 000 and 76 000 euros. Housing prices in Lithuania are among the lowest in Europe.
Starting over in Lithuania: Job seeking
Life in Lithuania is also largely about finding a suitable job to cover your personal and family expenses. The working climate is influenced by the location of the country. Defined as strategically favourable, it attracts investors who encourage business development. The number of enterprises in Lithuania is growing. Globally, the country ranks 17th according to the 2022 Index of Economic Freedom.
The intention to live in Lithuania is certainly associated with the level of wages in the country. Among the most prosperous sectors are oil refining, food production, the chemical industry, the service sector, agribusiness, information and communication technologies, real estate, and the fashion and textile industry.
The highest wages are in aviation, communications and information technology, finance and insurance, health and social activities, and public administration. The minimum wage around 2023 is €840 in gross terms. The average gross salary in Lithuania around the third quarter of 2022 is around EUR 1,800.
Living in Lithuania with kids
Moving to Lithuania with your family requires you to look carefully into the possibilities of finding a school in the country. Here are the main types of educational institutions:
Pre-school education institutions
These are responsible for the care and education of children from birth to the age of 6. They include nursery-kindergartens, kindergartens and pre-primary schools, and may be municipal or private. Attendance at a preschool educational institution is optional at the discretion of the parents
General education schools
In them, education is divided into three main stages. The first is compulsory primary education, lasting 4 years. Parents can enrol their child in a state, municipal or private school. The next stage is middle school. It lasts 6 years and is again compulsory. At the age of 16, pupils in Lithuania start the third stage of their education – secondary school. Unlike the previous two stages, this one is not compulsory. It lasts for 2 years and aims at obtaining a vocational qualification or diploma that can be used to enrol in higher education. Those wishing to skip the secondary stage can enrol in a vocational school to acquire or improve their qualifications.
Colleges and universities
In terms of higher education, institutions are divided into universities and colleges. Higher education can be private or state-funded. A characteristic of college education is the predominance of practical training, while universities rely on the acquisition of extensive theoretical knowledge. Both types of learning can lead to a master's degree program, but college graduates are required to acquire additional knowledge and work experience for this purpose. Master’s programmes in Lithuania usually last between one and a half and two years.
The total number of educational institutions in the country is close to 2 000. Among the advantages of studying in Lithuania are the relatively low cost of living (Vilnius ranks 148th according to the Mercer Index 2022, ranking cities according to costs of living), the accessibility of services in the country (in terms of transport and leisure activities, for example) and the favourable geographical location, allowing young people to be flexible about potential travel around Europe.
What about your pets when moving to Lithuania?
If you are planning to live in Lithuania with a pet, make sure you have completed the following checklist:
- The animal has proof of rabies vaccination
- It has a 15-digit ISO compliant pet microchip
- You are entering the country within 3 months of the rabies titer test (the test is done no earlier than 30 days after the vaccine is administered)
- You enter the country within 5 days after the animal arrives in Lithuania
- The animal has a non-commercial EU certificate for Lithuania issued within 5 days prior to travel
- The animal enters the country via Vilnius International Airport, where it should be examined
- You have notified the airport of the pet 24 hours before its arrival
It is important to note that dog breeds (including crossbreeds) such as American Pit Bull Terrier (all breed under this classification), American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Kangal, Caucasian Shepherd and South Russian Shepherd are allowed a short stay in Lithuania provided they are leashed, muzzled in public, and do not pose a threat to other animals or people.
Long-term stays of breeds of the American Pit Bull Terrier family (and their crossbreeds) in Lithuania are prohibited. The rest of the listed breeds need a permit to stay from a local municipality.
Living in Lithuania and driving in the country
If your licence was issued in an EU or EEA country, you do not need to renew it. It is equivalent to a licence issued in Lithuania and is valid until the date stated at its issuing.
Driving licences issued in non-EU and non-EEA countries are subject to replacement. The procedure is carried out at a so-called Regitra office after the presentation of a valid health certificate and identity document, and payment of the required fee.
Licences issued in third countries (not belonging to the EU or the EEA) are valid until permanent Lithuanian citizenship is obtained. Permanent residents of the country are obliged to replace their licences through Lithuanian personal code (asmens kodas).
The right to exchange their driver's licence for a Lithuanian one is also available to people whose residence is declared in Lithuania and their stay in the country exceeds 185 days, and people who have established personal or professional relationships, which are proved by means of an employment contract, a self-insurance certificate, a document from an educational organisation, etc.
How to take care of your health after migrating to Lithuania?
Health care in Lithuania is based on compulsory health insurance. This means that all permanent residents of the country, as well as those who reside temporarily but are legally employed in Lithuania, must pay monthly health insurance contributions. If the amounts are paid regularly, the National Health Insurance Fund covers the medical care to be provided in case of a health problem. The State provides insurance for members of vulnerable groups.
Insured and uninsured citizens have equal access to public and private health services, but the uninsured pay their own costs. The prices of different health services are not strictly regulated and depend on the institution offering them.
Lithuanian nature
The climate would be particularly important if you decide to live in Lithuania. Under the influence of the Baltic Sea, it can be described as transitional - from maritime to continental. Temperatures are lowest in January and February - around -6 °C, and highest in July and August (22 °C).
One of the historical sights to visit after moving to Lithuania is the old part of the capital Vilnius. It has preserved buildings in various styles, including Gediminas Tower, Vilnius Cathedral, Presidential Palace and Vilnius University, built as early as the 16th century. Vilnius Old Town, recognised as a World Heritage Site, is under the auspices of UNESCO.
We believe that the beauty of nature is one of the first things that will make you feel truly welcome when living in Lithuania. There are 5 national parks in the country, preserving a number of plant and animal species. There are also preserved historical settlements related to the lifestyle, culture and local folklore.
Becoming a resident of a foreign country is definitely not an easy task. Even the greatest adventurers can find it difficult to adapt to a foreign culture, language and customs. However, we are sure that with the right preparation and the necessary dose of optimism, the emotional challenges of living in Lithuania could be overcome. And as for the practicalities of relocating, the specialists at Movega Removals, a company with years of experience in transport services in Europe, are just a few clicks away. Contact us for expert advice via the available contact form and chatbot feature.
