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Overview

Lithuania, the largest and southernmost of the three Baltic States, boasts a lively cultural and intellectual scene. It is a member of the European Union and a NATO ally. Because of the large Lithuanian diaspora, many Lithuanians have ties to the United States or experience living and working there. English is widely spoken and understood. Still, many Americans know little about Lithuania. Below are some misleading stereotypes about Lithuania that we wish to debunk as you consider applying to be a Fulbrighter in this great country. 

History: Lithuania is a very new country. 

Lithuania is in fact a very old country! Lithuanian lands were united in 1236; over the next century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its territory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union, led by a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795 when it was partitioned by surrounding countries. Lithuania regained its independence following World War I but was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the United States and many other countries. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until September 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew from Lithuania in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004. In 2015, Lithuania joined the euro zone, and it joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2018.  

Language: The Lithuanian language is a version of Russian. 

Wrong! The Lithuanian language is one of the oldest and most archaic languages in Europe. It belongs to the Baltic language group (together with Latvian) and has always used the Latin alphabet.  

Geography: Lithuania is in Eastern Europe and is land-locked. 

Many call Lithuania an “Eastern European” country because of the former political division of Europe (Western Europe versus those located behind the Iron Curtain). In fact, the geographical center of Europe is located 26 km from Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. The country is on the Baltic Sea and is proud of its sandy beaches, large commercial seaport, cruise terminal, and coastal resort towns. The scenery is breathtaking and the forests enchanting. Lithuania is also rich in mineral water and fresh drinking water (you can drink straight from the tap!). 

Safety: Lithuania is a dangerous country. 

Lithuania is a relatively safe country with very little anti-American sentiment. However, visitors should take standard precautions, as in any other country. It is important to note that while the law prohibits discrimination, forms of intolerance still persist. For more information on safety in Lithuania,  we recommend you read: 

Lithuania Country Information Page 

Lithuania - United States Department of State

We hope that now you have a clearer picture of Lithuania and what life is like here! 

Additional Information

People:

Generally, Lithuanians may seem to be reserved, cold, and distant. The locals are naturally quiet which is sometimes mistaken to be an unwelcoming attitude. It takes time to understand Lithuanians and make friends with them. But once you get to know the Lithuanians, you will see that they are friendly, warm, and kind people.  

Housing: 

Fulbrighters are advised to work with real estate agents or online resources (e.g., AirBNB or similar) to find housing based on their own priorities. Sometimes host institutions can offer their guest houses. In Lithuania, only furnished apartments are offered for rent. Most prices you see in advertisements do not include the 15% personal income tax, so be ready to pay more.  Internet access is usually not included in the rent, but is inexpensive. The rental deposit (advance payment) in Lithuania is approximately 2-3 months of the rent price. At the end of the rent period, the deposit is returned if an apartment is not damaged or there are no debts. 

Education system:  

General education providers can be state-funded or private. Current types of general education include primary school, pre-gymnasium or basic secondary school, and gymnasium. The general education system lasts 12 years and consists of the following stages: 

• Primary education: this is compulsory and lasts for four years, from ages seven to 11 (in exceptional cases from six to ten). 
• Basic secondary education: this is compulsory and lasts for six years (ages ten/eleven to sixteen/seventeen). Basic secondary education consists of two stages: the first stage is four years long (5th to 8th grades), and the second stage is two years long (9th to 10th grades, I-II grades in gymnasium). Basic secondary education is offered by basic secondary schools, pre-gymnasiums, and specialized schools (e.g., art and music schools).  
• Upper secondary education: this is available to anybody who has successfully completed basic education. It lasts for two years (ages seventeen/eighteen to eighteen/nineteen). Upper secondary education is offered by gymnasiums and specialized schools (e.g., art and music schools).  

Higher education is provided by state-funded and private higher-education institutions. The Lithuanian university system has three major types of institutions: universitetai (research universities); kolegijos (cooperative universities with joint four-year bachelor’s and professional degrees); and research academies. The framework of the degree system in Lithuania is a four-year bachelor’s degree that is strictly discipline-based (no general education, no broad liberal arts curricula), followed by a two-year master’s degree in the same discipline. Doctoral programs are usually completed in four years. The nation's leading universities are located in Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda. Academic exchanges between the United States and Lithuania started in 1992. Since then most Lithuanian universities have sought to establish long-lasting partnerships with U.S. institutions of higher education. The Lithuanian university system is embedded in European efforts to harmonize structures and improve mobility and options for Europeans and Americans alike. The academic year runs from September to June, with the second semester beginning in February. Visiting lecturers conduct all teaching in English.  

Schooling for dependents: There are four international baccalaureate schools in Lithuania, located in Vilnius, Kaunas, Siauliai, and Klaipeda, along with several schools with English as the language of instruction in Vilnius and Kaunas. At universities, studies in English are available in classes typically shared with international Erasmus program students. 

Transportation:  

Lithuania has an extensive public transportation system. It is relatively cheap, reliable, and safe. It includes buses and trains. Each Lithuanian city has a central bus station that most buses depart from. Buses between the main cities are very frequent, with Vilnius-Kaunas buses leaving each terminal station every 30 minutes. Bus routes connecting the main cities to regional towns usually run at least two to three times a day. If you are traveling from one small town to another, it may be wise to connect through a larger city. You can buy bus tickets in advance on-line or in the bus station. It is also possible to purchase them from the bus driver. Many buses have Wi-Fi. Food is not served on board.  

Lithuanian railroads are not on par with those in Western Europe. Before planning to go somewhere by rail, you should first check the map of Lithuanian railroads to confirm that both your origin and destination have a rail connection and whether there is a relatively straight route. The Vilnius-Kaunas route is operated by modern double-decker trains that are significantly faster than buses. The comfort in buses and trains is about the same. There are no significantly different rail classes, but Vilnius-Klaipėda train seats are better than those on the shorter routes. Tickets are available on-line and in train stations. 

Since late 2023, a direct train service from Vilnius to Riga has run once daily. The journey, operated by Lithuanian Railways (LG), takes about 4 hours and 13 minutes. The Rail Baltica project, scheduled for completion by 2027, aims to connect Tallinn, Riga, Kaunas, and Vilnius with high-speed, standard-gauge rail, extending to Poland and Europe. Supported by the EU, it is expected to reduce travel times, improve connectivity, and support regional integration through sustainable rail infrastructure.

Lithuania has three international airports. Vilnius International Airport (VNO) is the largest one, frequented both by the regular and low-cost carriers. Kaunas International Airport (KUN) is a Ryanair hub with few other services. Palanga International Airport (PLQ) offers several routes to Scandinavian countries, London, and Frankfurt. All the Lithuanian airports are connected to the city centers and to each other by public transport. Each of the Lithuanian international airports has a car rental facility within its arrival hall. Generally, Western Europe and Southern Europe are both well-served by air routes from Lithuania. A few Eastern European cities are also served but going anywhere beyond that (e.g. the Balkans, America or Asia) you'll need a transfer via such major European hub airports as Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, convenient for Middle East, Asia and Africa), Helsinki (Finnair, convenient for Asia), Frankfurt (Lufthansa, convenient for America), Copenhagen (SAS, convenient for Europe and North America) Warsaw (LOT, convenient for Europe and the former-USSR) or Riga (Air Baltic, convenient for Europe and the former-USSR). 

Medical/health care: 

Medical care in Lithuania has improved, but facilities may be limited outside urban areas and medical facilities do not always meet Western standards. While public facilities provide essential services, they often face challenges such as outdated equipment and lengthy wait times, especially in rural areas. On the other hand, private healthcare offers modern amenities and shorter waiting periods but can be costly. Lithuania boasts highly trained medical professionals, though workforce shortages remain a concern. At the in-country orientation, the Embassy Health Unit will provide a briefing about accessing health care in Lithuania. 

For emergency services in Lithuania, dial 112 (English-speaking operators are available). Ambulance services are widely available, but training and availability of emergency responders may be below U.S. standards. All foreigners from non-European Union countries seeking entry into Lithuania must carry proof of a medical insurance policy contracted for payment of all costs of hospitalization and medical treatment valid in the Schengen zone. For Fulbrighters, the Accident Sickness and Prevention (ASPE) policy covers this requirement, and they may opt to purchase other health insurance to cover other costs.  

Visa: 

Fulbright grantees must apply for and receive a National D visa before departure to Lithuania. Navigate to https://visa.vfsglobal.com/usa/en/ltu. Follow the instructions to apply for the National a D-type visa, including filling out the electronic application form at https://visa.vrm.lt/epm/pages/applications/applicationEdit.xhtml and scheduling an appointment as soon as possible at the nearest VFS application center at https://www.vfsglobal.com/Lithuania/USA/schedule-an-appointment.html (all applications will then be forwarded to the Lithuanian Consulate in Chicago). All grantees must work with the host institution to get an invitational letter, which will be uploaded as a mediation letter in the electronic visa system. 

Additional information about Lithuania: 

Lithuania - The World Factbook (cia.gov) 

For additional information about Lithuania, Fulbrighters may wish to log on to www.inyourpocket.com and select the appropriate city (e.g. Vilnius, Kaunas, Siauliai, etc.). 

U.S. Embassy in Lithuania website and social media accounts: 

Website: http://lt.usembassy.gov  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vilnius.usembassy 

Instagram: @usembassyvilnius 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-embassy-vilnius-lithuania