How many hours per week can I work part-time while studying in Lithuania during the semester, and what is the typical hourly wage I can expect?

Lithuania's part-time work rules changed in 2026, and this matters because older guidance still circulating online says all non-EU students can work full time, which is no longer accurate for every student category.

Work Hour Limits by Study Level

For a temporary residence permit for studies issued after 22 May 2026, first and second year bachelor's students are capped at 20 hours a week during the study period, with official holidays and internship or practical training periods excluded from that calculation. Third and fourth year bachelor's students, along with master's and PhD students, can work up to 40 hours a week. Since the cap depends on your exact permit issue date and study year, check your own permit rather than relying on a blanket assumption from an older source.

What the Minimum Wage Pays

From 1 January 2026, Lithuania's minimum hourly wage is 7.05 euros gross for unqualified work, though skilled roles such as tutoring, IT support, or office work commonly pay somewhat above this floor, often in the 9 to 15 euro range depending on the role and city. At the 20 hour weekly limit and the legal minimum, that works out to roughly 611 euros gross a month; at 9 euros an hour it rises to roughly 779 euros a month.

This Information Is Also Available On

Migration Department Lithuania, State Labour Inspectorate Lithuania

My Advice

Confirm your exact permit issue date and study year with your university's international office before assuming which hour cap applies to you, since the 20 hour rule specifically targets newer first and second year bachelor's permits rather than every student uniformly. If you are limited to 20 hours, look for skilled campus or remote roles paying above the 7.05 euro minimum rather than the first available retail or hospitality job, since the pay difference compounds meaningfully across a full semester.