Foreigners guide to healthcare in Lithuania

This is your guide to accessing free or state-funded healthcare in Lithuania.

This guide explains what to do after arriving in Lithuania, how to check your health insurance, how to register with a family doctor, and how to access medical services without unnecessary costs. 

Important: Not every foreigner is automatically entitled to free healthcare. Your eligibility depends on your legal status, insurance coverage, employment or study situation, and the type of medical service you need. 

STEP 1 — Arrive in Lithuania and prepare your documents 

Start by collecting your essential personal and immigration documents. Keep paper copies and digital copies on your phone or in secure cloud storage. 

Prepare: 

• A valid passport or national identity card. 

• Your visa, if applicable. 

• Your temporary or permanent residence permit, if applicable. 

• Your Lithuanian personal identification number (asmens kodas), if you have one. 

• Your employment contract or proof of studies, if applicable. 

• Proof of your address in Lithuania. 

• Existing health insurance documents. 

• Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), if applicable. 

• Medical records, a list of medications and information about allergies or existing conditions. 

What to do first: If you have a health problem that requires immediate attention, do not wait until all your documents are ready. Call 112 in an emergency. 

STEP 2 — Check your immigration status 

Your right to live in Lithuania and your right to receive state-funded healthcare are separate matters. 

If you are an EU/EEA citizen 

Check whether you need to register your right of residence in Lithuania based on the length and circumstances of your stay. 

If you are working in Lithuania, keep your employment documents. If you are staying temporarily, check whether your existing health insurance covers your stay. 

If you are a non-EU citizen 

Check which visa or residence permit applies to your situation. Your healthcare rights may depend on whether you hold a temporary or permanent residence permit, whether you work in Lithuania, and which social insurance rules apply to you. 

If you are an international student 

Contact your university's international office. Ask which residence documents and health insurance arrangements are required for your particular programme and status. 

Official information: 

• Migration Department: https://migracija.lrv.lt/en/ 

• Migration information system (MIGRIS): https://www.migracija.lt/ 

STEP 3 — Find out whether you have a Lithuanian personal identification number 

The Lithuanian personal identification number is called an “asmens kodas”. You may need it when dealing with healthcare institutions, insurance authorities and other public services. 

Check whether an asmens kodas has already been assigned to you. 

• If you have one, keep it with your identification documents. 

• If you do not have one, ask the relevant authority whether one can be assigned under your immigration status. 

• If you are employed, ask your employer whether your personal and social insurance details have been submitted correctly. 

Important: Having an asmens kodas does not automatically mean that you are insured or entitled to free healthcare. Insurance eligibility must be checked separately. 

STEP 4 — Understand how health insurance works in Lithuania 

Lithuania has a compulsory health insurance system known as PSD (Privalomasis sveikatos draudimas). 

PSD provides access to eligible healthcare services funded by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF), provided you meet the relevant conditions and use a healthcare provider with the required agreement. 

There are three main situations to check. 

Situation A — You may be insured through Lithuania 

Depending on your legal status and circumstances, you may qualify for Lithuanian PSD if: 

• You are legally employed in Lithuania and the applicable insurance contributions are paid. 

• You belong to a category insured by the state. 

• You meet the applicable conditions for another insured category. 

• You have another qualifying basis for compulsory health insurance under Lithuanian law. 

If you are a non-EU citizen with a temporary residence permit, do not assume that the permit alone provides coverage. Employment, residence status and other statutory conditions may matter. 

Situation B — You are insured in another European country 

If you are visiting Lithuania temporarily and are insured in another EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may give you access to medically necessary state-funded healthcare during your temporary stay, under the applicable rules. 

If you are moving to Lithuania while remaining insured in another eligible country, ask your insurer whether you need an S1 document. Once appropriately registered, it may allow you to receive covered healthcare in Lithuania under the applicable arrangements. 

An EHIC is not a substitute for comprehensive insurance for a permanent move, private treatment or planned treatment that is not covered by the applicable rules. 

Situation C — You have private insurance or no confirmed coverage 

Private health insurance may cover certain medical expenses according to your policy, but it is not automatically equivalent to Lithuanian PSD. 

If you have neither PSD nor another applicable entitlement, you may need to pay for consultations, tests, medicines and other services yourself. Emergency care arrangements are discussed in Step 10. 

Check your insurance status with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF): 

https://ligoniukasa.lrv.lt/en/ 

You can also contact the NHIF by phone at +370 5 232 2222 to ask which rules apply to your circumstances. 

STEP 5 — Confirm that your insurance is active 

Do not rely only on an employment contract, residence permit or insurance card. Confirm that your entitlement is valid and that your records are correct. 

Follow these steps: 

Contact the NHIF if you believe you should be covered by Lithuanian PSD. 

• If you are employed, ask your employer to verify that the applicable contributions and employment information have been handled correctly. 

• If you are insured in another country, contact that country's health insurance institution. 

• If you have an EHIC, check that it is valid and that you remain insured in the country that issued it. 

• If you have an S1 document, ask whether it needs to be registered in Lithuania. 

• If you have private insurance, check its start date, exclusions, reimbursement rules and the providers it accepts. 

Before making an appointment, ask the clinic to confirm whether your insurance is accepted for the service you need. 

Official information: https://ligoniukasa.lrv.lt/en/sector-activities/about-compulsory-health-insurance/chi-participants/ 

STEP 6 — Check whether you need to declare your place of residence 

Depending on your immigration status and circumstances, you may need to declare your place of residence in Lithuania. 

Residence declaration and health insurance are separate administrative matters. 

Check whether your status requires you to declare your address. 

Ask the relevant municipality or migration authority which documents are needed. 

Keep any confirmation of your declared address. 

If you live in rented accommodation, ask your landlord what address-related documentation they can provide. 

Do not assume that signing a rental agreement or receiving a residence permit automatically completes every residence registration requirement. 

For practical guidance in Vilnius, visit International House Vilnius:  https://ihvilnius.lt/ 

STEP 7 — Register with a family doctor 

A family doctor (šeimos gydytojas) is usually your first point of contact for routine healthcare in Lithuania. 

If you have Lithuanian PSD or another recognised healthcare entitlement, choose a provider that can provide the services covered by your insurance. 

1. Džiaugsmo klinika  

We accept new patients and consult in English and German.

Primary healthcare services are free for our patients - reimbursed by the health fund. 

• Family medicine

• Child healthcare services

• Related health checks and tests

• Prevention programmes

Paid services: 

• Dental care

• Psychiatry

• Echoscopy

• Trauma care and consulting

• Infusion therapy

• Extensive tests

2. Other clinics in Vilnius 

If Džiaugsmo klinika cannot register you or does not provide the services you need, contact these alternatives: 

• Centro Poliklinika 

• Antakalnio Poliklinika 

• Karoliniškių Poliklinika 

• Šeškinės Poliklinika 

Confirm each provider's registration requirements, NHIF agreement and applicable charges before choosing. 

Important: A clinic's inclusion in this list does not guarantee free treatment for every foreigner. Your insurance entitlement and the services covered must be confirmed individually. 

STEP 8 — Learn how to get a medical appointment 

After registering with a family doctor, you can begin using the healthcare services covered by your entitlement. 

For routine health problems 

1. Contact your family doctor's clinic. 

2. Describe your symptoms and explain how long you have had them. 

3. Ask whether you need an appointment or whether the clinic can advise you by telephone. 

4. Bring your identification and insurance documents. 

5. Ask about any tests or prescriptions and whether they are covered. 

If you need a specialist 

Your family doctor can assess your condition and, where appropriate, issue a referral to a specialist. 

For state-funded specialist care, you generally need to use a provider that has the required NHIF agreement and follow the applicable referral rules. Some services and circumstances have different requirements. 

Before booking a specialist, confirm: 

1. Whether a referral is required. 

2. Whether the specialist works under an NHIF agreement. 

3. Whether your particular appointment is covered. 

4. Whether there are waiting times or any patient charges. 

Do not assume that a private appointment is free simply because you have PSD. 

STEP 9 — Understand which healthcare services may be free 

If you are insured through Lithuanian PSD or have another applicable entitlement, the following services may be covered when the relevant conditions are met. 

• Family doctor visits: Covered consultations at an eligible primary healthcare provider. 

• Specialist consultations: Covered when the relevant referral and provider requirements are met, subject to applicable exceptions. 

• Medical tests and examinations: Tests ordered as part of covered healthcare may be funded when the applicable conditions are satisfied. 

• Hospital treatment: Medically indicated inpatient care may be covered when provided under the relevant arrangements. 

• Prescription medicines: Certain prescribed medicines may be reimbursed, fully or partially, depending on the medicine, the reimbursement rules and your circumstances. 

• Preventive services: Some preventive examinations, screening programmes and vaccinations may be covered for eligible people. 

• Maternity care: Eligible pregnancy, childbirth and related healthcare services may be covered under the applicable insurance and healthcare rules. 

• Mental healthcare: Certain mental health consultations and treatment may be available through covered public healthcare providers. 

• Dental care: Coverage depends on the type of treatment, the patient's age and eligibility, and the healthcare provider. Do not assume that all dental procedures are free. 

Important: Coverage is not the same as a guarantee that every service, medicine, test or procedure will cost nothing. Some services may involve legally permitted charges, exclusions, reimbursement limits or additional costs. 

Before treatment, ask the healthcare provider to explain any expected payment. 

STEP 10 — Know what to do in an emergency 

Call 112 if someone has a life-threatening condition or needs immediate emergency assistance. 

Examples include severe difficulty breathing, signs of a stroke, severe chest pain, major bleeding or a serious accident. 

112: Emergency services in Lithuania. 

You do not need to wait to register with a family doctor before seeking emergency help. 

Hospital emergency departments provide emergency assessment and treatment around the clock. 

The rules on who pays for emergency treatment and any subsequent care depend on your circumstances and the type of services provided. Do not assume that all hospital care will be free if you are uninsured. 

For urgent but non-life-threatening problems, contact your family doctor or the relevant healthcare provider for guidance. 

STEP 11 — Get prescriptions and medicines 

After your consultation, your doctor may issue an electronic prescription (e. receptas). 

• Ask whether the prescription has been issued electronically. 

• Ask whether the medicine is reimbursed under your insurance. 

• Visit a pharmacy (vaistinė). 

• Provide the identification information or other details requested by the pharmacist. 

• Before paying, ask whether a reimbursed alternative is available and whether any patient contribution applies. 

Not every medicine is reimbursed, and a reimbursed prescription does not always mean the medicine is completely free. 

If you regularly take medication, bring your existing prescription, medication packaging or a medical summary from your previous doctor. 

STEP 12 — What exemptions there are to free healthcare services? 

You may need to pay for healthcare if: 

• You do not have PSD or another applicable entitlement. 

• You visit a provider that does not have the required agreement with the NHIF. 

• You choose a private service outside your insurance coverage. 

• The service is not covered by the applicable rules. 

• You need a medicine or treatment that is not reimbursed. 

• You receive a service for which a lawful patient payment applies. 

If you are asked to pay, request an explanation of the charge before proceeding where circumstances allow. Ask whether the same service is available through an eligible state-funded provider. 

Keep invoices, receipts, medical reports and prescriptions if you intend to seek reimbursement from a private insurer or another responsible institution. 

STEP 13 — Ask for help if you do not understand the system 

If you are unsure which documents you need or which institution to contact, start with the following organisations. 

National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) 

For PSD eligibility, insurance status, covered healthcare services, referrals and reimbursement rules. 

https://ligoniukasa.lrv.lt/en/ 

Telephone: +370 5 232 2222 

International House Vilnius 

For practical guidance on settling in Vilnius, including administrative questions relevant to newcomers. 

https://ihvilnius.lt/ 

Migration Department 

For immigration status, residence permits and related migration procedures. 

https://migracija.lrv.lt/en/ 

Your employer or university 

Ask for help verifying employment-related insurance arrangements or student insurance requirements. 

Your healthcare provider 

Ask about registration, language assistance, referral requirements, appointment procedures and possible patient charges. 

You can also always call or write us and ask about your healthcare situation. We will be more than happy to guide you.