Lithuania Moves to Tighten Rules on International Students
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Lithuania is preparing new restrictions on international students following concerns that some have been using higher education as a pathway to extended residence and work rather than study.
A Bill amending the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners has been introduced in the Lithuanian parliament by Laurynas Kasčiūnas, leader of the conservative Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats. Backed by 85 lawmakers, the proposal includes reducing undergraduate work rights from 40 to 20 hours per week, preventing master’s students from bringing dependants, and creating an official list of institutions authorised to admit international students.
Kasčiūnas argued that too many students were exploiting their study status to prioritise employment. His comments follow inspections revealing that some Lithuanian universities admitted international students lacking English skills or sufficient credits, yet still supported residence permit renewals. In September 2025 alone, authorities cancelled 780 residence permits of students who had abandoned their courses.
The Migration Department has already urged universities to strengthen oversight amid rising enrolments from countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Belarus. Institutions, however, stress that delays in issuing residence permits – sometimes up to four months – leave students vulnerable and undermine Lithuania’s global reputation. Vilnius University warned that prolonged waiting times have forced some students to cancel their studies altogether.
Lithuanian universities say they are taking steps such as entrance exams and attendance monitoring to ensure academic readiness. They also call for closer collaboration with the state to build a sustainable, high-quality system that attracts genuine international talent.
The debate comes as other European countries, including Denmark, tighten student migration rules. While Lithuania hosts nearly 9,000 international students, the government insists that new measures are needed to protect the integrity of its education system and preserve the country’s identity and traditions.
Observers suggest that while such restrictions may cause disruption, they are unlikely to deter serious international applicants, given continued strong interest in European study destinations like Germany and Finland.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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