Practical Information for Mobile Students

Currency and banking

The Lithuanian currency is litas (Lt.). At present, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 litas denomination banknotes, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 centas and 1, 2 and 5 litas denomination coins are in circulation. The exchange rate between Euro and Litas is 3,4528 Lt. to 1 Euro. Foreign currency in cash and cheques, etc. may be brought into the country and do not have to be declared. Foreign currency may be exchanged at banks, exchange offices, the airport, and the railway station.

All major credit cards, such as Mastercard, Eurocard, Globus, Visa, Visa Electron, Maestro, American Express are accepted in most restaurants and shops.

Banknote dispensers for cash withdrawal by credit cards are at the banks, the airport, and scattered throughout the main streets and residential areas of Vilnius.

Costs of living

A student is expected to spend approximately 600 litas per month for food.

The price for a meal at the VU canteen ranges from 5 to 12 litas and at cafeteria – 8-20 litas.

The price of a monthly ticket for public transport within the city is from 8,00 (for bus or trolleybus) to 12,00 Litas (combined ticket for bus and trolleybus).

According to recent calculations, the total monthly living expenses of a single student are around 1200 litas, accommodation included.

Type of expencies	Monthly expencies
Accommodation	200 Litas
Food	600 Litas
Books	200 Litas
Health care	50 Litas
Local transport	12 Litas
Miscellaneous	200 Litas
Total:	1262 Litas

*exchange rate see at Currency and banking.

National holidays

January 1	New Year's Day
February 16	Independence Day
March 11	Restoration of Lithuania's Independence
April 17 (in 2006)	Easter
May 1	Labour Day
May 7 (in 2006)	Mother's Day
July 6	Crowning of Mindaugas (day of Statehood)
August 15	Assumption
November 1	All Saint's Day
December 25	Christmas

Telephone

All public phones in Vilnius require telephone cards, which are available in the Central Post Office and kiosks.

For those who want to use a mobile phone in Lithuania may choose between three mobile phone companies: Omnitel, Tele2 or Bite GSM . It is much cheaper to use a pre-paid card of one of these companies than to use services of your home country.

Emergency call from mobile phone: 112

Transport

There is a convenient public transport system in Vilnius consisting of busses, trolley-busses and minibuses. In Vilnius a single ticket for trolleybus or bus costs 1,10 Litas if you buy it at kiosk or 1,40 Litas if you buy it at bus or trolleybus. Full-time students in Lithuania may use tickets with the discount. The single ticket price with the discount for the students is 0,55 Litas at kiosk or 0,70 Litas at bus or trolleybus. A monthly ticket costs from 8,00 Litas (for bus or trolleybus) or 12,00 Litas (combined ticket for bus and trolleybus). Students may get discount for the public transport just with the Lithuanian student card. Neither International student card nor student card of home university is valid for the discount in Lithuania. The student card must be presented together with the ticket in case of control.

Public transport in Vilnius usually starts around 5 a.m. and continues until 11.00 p.m.

After midnight the private taxi is always safe and the only transport in Vilnius. Taxi services:

Almir (+370 5) 215 24 24, (+370 699) 96 682
Gedrama (+370 5) 2402 000, (+370 5) 2403 000, (+370 5) 2444 777, (+370 5) 2444 888
Kabrioletas (+370 5) 213 23 32, 1445, (+370 5) 223 93 03
Mažasis kabrioletas (+370 5) 223 93 03
Tanagros taksi (+370 5) 271 05 81
Užupio taksi (+370 5) 261 11 11, (+370 5) 215 43 53, (+370 618) 618 61

Climate

Lithuania’s climate is transitional between maritime and continental. The average temperature is approximately +200C (sometimes it rises over +300C) in summertime and -50C (it also may fall to -15 or -200C) in winter.

Residence permits

All the international students coming for studies in Lithuania are required to have the temporary residence permit. The application procedure for the temporary residence permit differs for European Union citizens and non European Union citizens and for those who come from the countries whose citizens are required to have visas for travel to Lithuania.

Anyone who is coming to Lithuania must have a valid passport for at least one year.

As a rule, the actual temporary residence permit stamp can be obtained only on the territory of Lithuania but the students are encouraged to apply for it at the embassies in order to get it immediately upon their arrival. European Union citizens or students which are not required to have visa for coming to Lithuania may apply for the temporary residence permit after their arrival to Luithuania. However the students from the countries, whose citizens require visas for travel to Lithuania must apply for it just at a diplomatic mission or consular institutions of the Republic of Lithuania.

The list of countries whose citizens do not need visa for Lithuania.

It takes up to a month for EU citizens and up to six months for non EU citizens to process temporary residence permit and the consular fee for it is 50 litas for EU citizens and 450 litas for non EU citizens. The exchange students coming to Lithuania under the students exchange programmes are exempt from the consular fee.

The documents necessary to submit if one applies for the temporary residence permit:

university letter requesting residence permit - Letter of Mediation;
copy of the Rector’s order that you have been accepted at the university as an exchange student or the letter confirming that you are accepted at the university;
a passport and its copy;
application ( for EU citizens or for non EU citizens );
3 photos;
proofs of sufficient means of support at least 600 litas per month (for non EU citizens);
adequate medical insurance valid in Lithuania (for non EU citizens);
proofs of accommodation (for non EU citizens).

Requirements for medical insurance see Health insurance

Note: All the documents have to be in Lithuanian language!

Please, note that details of the procedure for application for the residence permit might be changed by the time you decide to visit the country therefore we suggest to consult the nearest Lithuanian embassy before the arrival or internet.

Vilnius University