Do I need a separate work permit to take a part-time job?

If you hold a temporary residence permit for studies, no — the permit itself gives you the right to work. Exchange students on a national (D) visa do not need a separate permit either, but their hours are usually capped.

How many hours can I work during term time?

Generally up to 20 hours a week during term, and up to 40 hours during your institution's official holidays. Doctoral students have no cap. A proposal to cut foreign students to 20 hours year-round was before the Seimas in spring 2026 but is not yet law — confirm your own current limit before you sign anything.

Will I pay tax on a student job?

Yes. Income tax (GPM) and social insurance (Sodra) are deducted from your pay by your employer. There is no special student exemption, but a non-taxable amount reduces tax on lower salaries.

Can I work right after I arrive?

You can only work once you legally hold your study residence permit or a D visa that allows work. Working before that — for example on a tourist stay — is not allowed.

Part-time jobs for students in Lithuania

Q: Can I stay and work after I graduate?

Yes. Graduates can apply for a temporary residence permit valid for up to 12 months to look for work or become self-employed.

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 hold a temporary residence permit (TRP) for studies, you can work in Lithuania without any extra work permit — the permit itself is your authorisation. Exchange students on a national (D) visa can usually work too, but with an hours cap. Your exact rights depend on which document you hold, so check yours before you accept a job.

Your right to work depends on your status

Lithuania treats the three main groups of international students differently.

EU/EEA & Swiss students. You can work freely, with no permit and no hours cap — the same rights as a Lithuanian.
Non-EU degree students (TRP for studies). Your residence permit gives you the right to work, with no separate work permit and no proof of your qualifications required. As a rule you can work up to 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours during your institution's official holidays. Doctoral students have no cap.
Exchange / Erasmus students (national D visa). Similar term-time limit applies, with more hours allowed during official holiday periods. No separate work permit is needed.

Hours cap: current rule vs a 2026 proposal

The current rule is generally up to 20 hours a week during term and up to 40 hours during official holidays, with no cap for doctoral students. A draft law to cut non-EU students to 20 hours a week year-round (and tighten attendance monitoring) was submitted to the Seimas and debated in the spring 2026 session — but as of 2026 it is a proposal, not yet law. Do not assume a single settled figure: before signing a contract, confirm your current limit with your university's international office or the Migration Department (migracija.lt). Working more hours than your status allows can put your permit at risk.

What counts as legal work

To work legally you must already hold the document that authorises it — your study TRP or a D visa that permits work. You cannot work while you are still on a tourist or visa-free stay waiting for your permit.

Most students work on a standard employment contract (darbo sutartis). Some short or one-off gigs use other arrangements, but an employment contract is the safest and most common for students. Always get the contract in writing.

Pay and minimum wage

Employers must pay at least the statutory minimum.

Figure (as of 2026)	Amount
Minimum monthly wage (MMA), full-time	€1,153unverified
Minimum hourly wage	around €7.05 (confirm on VMI)

Part-time pay is pro-rated to the hours you work.

Realistic student jobs

Most international students work in roles that do not need fluent Lithuanian:

Fast food and hospitality — cafés, bars, kitchens and chains; flexible shifts that fit around lectures.
Call centres and customer support — common for English speakers, especially for international companies; some hire by language (Russian, Polish, German, French).
Delivery and courier work — food-delivery and ride-hailing platforms; note the 2026 proposal would require these platforms to track foreign students' working hours.
Retail, events and warehouse/seasonal work — busiest over summer holidays, when your hours cap is higher.
Tutoring, IT and remote roles — better paid but usually need a specific skill.

A few realities to plan around:

Good English is the practical minimum. Many roles are open to non-Lithuanian speakers, but employers expect functional English, and the better-paid jobs (IT, support, tutoring) need real skills.
A part-time job will not fund a whole degree. At 20 term-time hours on or near the minimum wage, earnings cover part of your living costs, not tuition plus rent plus everything else. Treat work as a top-up, and still budget for ≈ €8,071unverified and roughly €576.50unverified a month in living costs.

To see what these jobs actually leave in your pocket after 20% income tax (GPM) and Sodra, read our guide on your real student take-home pay.

Tax and social insurance

There is no special student exemption — a student job is taxed like any other.

Income tax (GPM): 20% on most employment income.
Social insurance (Sodra): roughly 19.5% in employee contributions, covering pension/social insurance and health insurance.
A non-taxable amount (NPD) lowers the tax on smaller salaries, so low earners keep more of their pay.

Your employer handles registration with Sodra and deducts everything from your gross pay, so you do not normally file or pay these yourself. Figures change yearly — confirm current rates on VMI and Sodra.

A job can also keep your health cover active

When you work on an employment contract, your employer pays health insurance (PSD) contributions to Sodra, which keeps you covered in the public system. That can matter for non-EU students managing their insurance.

After you graduate

Finishing your degree does not mean leaving straight away. Graduates can apply for a temporary residence permit valid for up to 12 months to look for a job or set up as self-employed, and many can then switch to a work-based permit once hired. Start the application before your study permit expires.

Where to look for jobs

Your university career centre and international office often list student-friendly roles. National job boards (such as cvbankas.lt and cvonline.lt) and university job fairs are good starting points; many hospitality and retail employers also hire directly in person.