Migration Department Announcement on Student Inspections
The Migration Department reports that, after carrying out inspections in Lithuanian universities and colleges, it has identified numerous violations and is urging higher education institutions to tighten control of foreign students. In a statement released on 4 September 2025, it was noted that studies in Lithuania are increasingly being used merely as a means to obtain a temporary residence permit and gain access to the Schengen area.
According to the Migration Department, inspections revealed that some higher education institutions acted as intermediaries in issuing permits even in cases where a foreign national had started studies remotely, which does not require a permit. Such cases create an opportunity to enter the Schengen area and engage in activities unrelated to studies.
Prolonged Studies in Lithuania as a Means of Legalizing Stay
According to the Department’s data, some institutions provide foreign students with particularly favorable conditions to change their field of study. As a result, a program that is normally completed in four years may be extended to six years or even longer. Surveys indicate that the true aim of such students is not education, but the legalization of residence in Lithuania or the Schengen area.
The Department recorded cases where foreigners, without earning the required number of credits, were nevertheless promoted to higher courses or changed study programs. It is believed this is done to retain students who pay tuition fees.
Admission Gaps and Superficial Interviews
The Migration Department also found that some institutions admitted foreign nationals solely on the basis of documents, without conducting interviews. Such students are usually not properly familiar with the study programs in Lithuania, and their knowledge of the country and its living conditions is fragmentary or misleading. They often do not know basic facts, provide template answers, and have poor English skills, which raises doubts about their ability to study.
The inspections also revealed cases of document forgery. For example, one student was awarded a master’s degree even though the thesis had been written by another person.
Statistics held by the Migration Department show that stricter inspections have led to an increase in the number of temporary residence permits revoked: 104 permits in 2023, 525 in 2024, and already 780 by September 2025.
There has also been a rise in cases where permits were revoked because the student never came to Lithuania at all – 6 such cases in 2023, and 107 in 2025.
The Migration Department indicates that at the beginning of September 2025, there were 9,009 foreign nationals registered in Lithuania holding a temporary residence permit on the basis of studies. The number of students from some countries has grown particularly rapidly: from India – from 568 (in 2023) to 1,539 (in 2025), from Pakistan – from 100 to 1,039, and from Bangladesh – from 32 to 557.
Many students also come from Belarus (924) and Ukraine (725).
Recommendations of the Migration Department and Their Consequences
- In its announcement, the Department recommended that higher education institutions:
- check the identity of applicants more responsibly,
- pay attention to possible cases of document forgery,
- accurately report students who have not arrived or who have discontinued their studies,
- provide data on the academic performance and credit accumulation of foreign students,
- maintain the Student Register responsibly.
In addition, representatives of higher education institutions were informed about planned updates to the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS), which will simplify technical procedures. In practice, this means that foreign students must take greater responsibility in handling migration documentation procedures; otherwise, those intending to study in Lithuania will not be able to fully take advantage of this opportunity.
Practical Observations from Experienced Lawyers Working in the Field of Migration
The tightening of control has both positive and negative consequences. Some foreign students who study legally and do not intend to break the law are nevertheless affected, as they sometimes fail to complete certain migration procedures or formal requirements due to lack of experience. There are also cases where students use the services of unreliable intermediaries, who, by misleading their clients, further complicate their situation.
Professional legal advice helps to avoid more serious consequences and ensures that procedures are carried out properly.
Contact us – we will help.