Can I open a Lithuanian bank account before I get my residence permit?

Usually not at a traditional bank — they ask for your TRP or visa plus a study certificate. A fintech like Revolut or Wise can be opened with just your passport, so most students start there and add a local bank later.

Do I need a local Lithuanian account at all?

Often a Revolut or Wise account is enough for daily life. But some universities pay scholarships only to a local IBAN, and a few landlords or services prefer one, so check what your specific situation requires.

Which bank is best for receiving a university scholarship?

Ask your international office which IBANs they accept. Many accept any SEPA (EU) account, but some insist on a traditional Lithuanian bank account. Confirm before you rely on a fintech.

How long does it take to get a card?

Fintech cards arrive in days and you can use a virtual card instantly. A traditional bank card typically takes around five business days after your branch appointment.

Is there a free option?

Yes — Revolut, Wise and Paysera offer free or near-free basic accounts. Traditional banks may charge a monthly plan fee and, for non-residents, an account-opening fee.

Which bank to choose as an international student in Lithuania

For most international students the quickest, cheapest start is a fintech account (Revolut, Wise or Paysera) you can open from your phone with just a passport. Add a traditional Lithuanian bank (SEB, Swedbank, Luminor) later if your scholarship or landlord needs a local account.

Two types of account

You're really choosing between two things, and many students end up with one of each.

Fintech / e-money accounts — Revolut, Wise, Paysera. Open online in minutes, free or near-free, great exchange rates, instant virtual card. Best for spending, splitting bills and sending money home.
Traditional banks — SEB, Swedbank, Luminor, Šiaulių bankas, Citadele, Urbo. Open in person at a branch, sometimes with a fee, but give you a fully "local" account that every Lithuanian employer, scholarship office and service recognises.

What you need to open one

Fintech (Revolut, Wise, Paysera)

A valid passport or national ID
A smartphone for the app and a selfie/ID scan
An address (your Lithuanian one is fine)

You generally do not need a residence permit, so this is the route if you've only just arrived or are here on a short Erasmus exchange.

Traditional bank (SEB, Swedbank, Luminor)

You'll need to book a branch appointment and bring:

Passport / EU ID card
Your residence permit (TRP) — non-EU students will almost always be asked for this
A study certificate from your university proving your "connection to Lithuania" (SEB and others require you to substantiate why you need a Lithuanian account)
Tax-residence details, and a short questionnaire they'll give you

The bank makes the final decision after reviewing your documents, so go prepared.

Get your study certificate first

Email your international office for an official study/enrolment certificate before your bank appointment. It's the document that unlocks an account at a traditional bank.

EU vs non-EU vs Erasmus

EU/EEA students can often open a traditional account on their passport/ID and a study certificate alone, and rarely face a non-resident surcharge.
Non-EU degree students will usually need the residence permit (TRP) in hand first, and may face a higher non-resident account-opening fee — so most open a fintech account to cover the gap.
Erasmus / exchange students here for one semester usually find a fintech account is all they need; opening a traditional account for a few months is rarely worth the effort or fee.

Quick comparison

Option	Open with	Speed	Typical cost	Best for
Revolut	Passport, app	Minutes	Free plan available	Daily spending, FX, sending money home
Wise	Passport, app	Minutes	Free account; pay per transfer	Cheap international transfers, EUR IBAN
Paysera	Passport, app	Minutes	Free / per-transaction	Low-cost SEPA payments
SEB / Swedbank / Luminor	Passport + TRP + study certificate, in branch	~5 business days for card	Possible monthly plan + non-resident opening fee	Scholarships, salary, anything needing a "local" account

Revolut is actually Lithuanian

Revolut Bank UAB is licensed in Lithuania, so your Revolut EUR account has an LT IBAN. In theory that's a normal SEPA account, but in practice some local employers, landlords or scholarship systems still reject non-traditional IBANs — see below.

When a fintech account isn't enough

A fintech account covers everyday life, but watch for these cases:

University scholarships. Some international offices only pay into a traditional Lithuanian bank account. Ask yours what IBANs they accept before you decide.
Salary from a Lithuanian employer. If you take a part-time job, payroll systems sometimes prefer a mainstream bank IBAN.
Direct debits and local services. A few providers still discriminate by IBAN format.

If any of these apply, open an SEB, Swedbank or Luminor account too.

Confirm fees before you commit

Non-resident opening fees and monthly plan prices at traditional banks change and vary by client, and reported figures online are often out of date. Don't rely on a number you read somewhere — confirm the current fee directly with the bank (e.g. on the SEB or Swedbank site) before your appointment.

A simple plan for most students

On arrival: open Revolut or Wise from your phone for instant spending and cheap transfers.
Once you have your TRP and study certificate: if your scholarship or job needs it, book an appointment at SEB, Swedbank or Luminor for a local account.
Keep both: use the fintech for day-to-day spending and FX, the traditional bank for anything official.