Public Transport, ESN Lithuania & Working Rights

Urban networks are fully digitalized, and integration into the labor market is well regulated.
- TRAFI App: Download TRAFI for buying digital tickets and planning routes in real time.

- 80% Discount: Based on a valid LSP or ISIC card, the price of the monthly transport subscription drops by 80%, reaching only a few euros per month.

- Intercity connections: LTG Link: LTG Link is the national passenger rail operator in Lithuania, a subsidiary of Lithuanian Railways (Lietuvos geležinkeliai). For a student, the train is the safest, most comfortable and fastest way to travel between major cities and explore the Baltic region.

- Join ESN Lithuania: Get actively involved in the activities organized by the local ESN Lithuania (Erasmus Student Network). They organize Welcome Weeks, accessible trips to the Baltic countries, and cultural integration evenings.
- Buddy System: Sign up for the national Buddy System platform managed by ESN to receive a local mentor (a Lithuanian student) before your arrival. He or she will help you navigate your first days at the university and in the city.

- EU Students (Work): You can work full-time (40 hours/week) from the first day, without limitations.
- Non-EU Students (CRITICAL 2026 UPDATE): Your work rights depend strictly on the year of study:
- Bachelor's degree (Years 1 and 2): Strict legal limit of maximum 20 hours per week.
- Bachelor's degree (Years 3-4), Master's and Doctorate: You have the legal right to work 40 hours per week (full-time).

Integrated Urban Transport: Trafi App

The official Trafi App is the absolute gold standard for urban mobility in Lithuania. Unlike general navigation tools, Trafi is an advanced Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform deeply integrated with the official live municipal databases of major Lithuanian student hubs.

Geographic Coverage
Trafi operates officially across five major Lithuanian cities:
- Vilnius (Buses, trolleybuses, integrated express routes)
- Kaunas (Full city public transport network)
- Klaipėda (Coastal network links)
- Šiauliai & Panevėžys

Core Features for International Students

- Strict Real-Time Tracking: Buses and trolleybuses are tracked live via GPS. The app displays the precise arrival countdown down to the exact second, adjusting dynamically for unexpected traffic jams or winter weather conditions.
- Digital Ticket Purchasing: In Vilnius, you can buy, store, and activate single-trip or long-term public transport tickets directly inside the app using your linked credit card or fintech account. Note: The application requires a minimum purchase order of €5 for in-app ticket transactions.
- Smart Intermodal Routing: The route search engine calculates the fastest itinerary by combining multiple transport variants—showing you exactly where to walk, which platform to stand on, and where to switch lines.
- Universal QR Scanner: You can unlock integrated shared mobility vehicles directly from the home screen using the built-in QR scanner tool, eliminating the need to download multiple third-party transportation apps.

Activating the 80% Student Discount inside Trafi
Lithuania provides an exceptional 80% state discount on public transit for registered students. To use it inside the app safely, follow these steps:

1. Download the Official App: Get the app securely from the Google Play Store Trafi or the Apple App Store Trafi
2. Select the Student Category: When purchasing a ticket profile (e.g., a 30-day or 365-day pass), manually select the ticket variant marked with the 80% concession rate.
3. The Legal Validation Rule: Purchasing the discounted ticket is instant. However, the ticket is only legally valid when accompanied by your physical LSP or ISIC Card. When public transit inspectors board the vehicle to scan your digital Trafi QR code ticket, you must present your student card to prove your discount eligibility.

Intercity connections: LTG Link

LTG Link is the national passenger rail operator in Lithuania, a subsidiary of Lithuanian Railways (Lietuvos geležinkeliai). For a student, the train is the safest, most comfortable and fastest way to travel between major cities and explore the Baltic region.

Major routes used by students

- Vilnius ⇄ Kaunas: The most popular rail route, ideal for students commuting or visiting friends between the two largest university cities. The double-decker trains are modern, equipped with free Wi-Fi, electrical outlets and bike spaces. The journey time is approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Vilnius ⇄ Klaipėda: The route to the Baltic Sea coast. It takes you straight to the heart of the port city of Klaipėda, making it extremely popular on weekends or holidays.
- Vilnius ⇄ Riga (Latvia) & Warsaw (Poland): LTG Link operates direct international rail connections. You can reach the capital of Latvia or Poland quickly, using modern trains.

50% state discount for students
Unlike urban transport where the discount is 80%, the Lithuanian government subsidizes intercity train travel by offering a 50% discount:

- Universal applicability: The 50% discount applies to all students (both EU and non-EU citizens) enrolled in a higher education institution in Lithuania or any other European Union member state.
- Digital Tickets: Buy your ticket with the student discount directly online through the official sales portal. You select the type of discounted ticket during the trip configuration.
- Train control rule: When checking tickets in the carriage, you are required by law to present your digital (or printed) ticket together with your national LSP student card or valid international ISIC card.
Is it safe to buy a ticket?
To avoid unsafe intermediary platforms or additional costs, purchase tickets exclusively through the official centralized portal:
Official LTG Link Portal

Social Integration & Network Support - ESN Lithuania (Erasmus Student Network)

The official national network dedicated to supporting, integrating and guiding international students throughout their academic experience in Lithuania.

- Extended Community: ESN Lithuania is an official non-governmental organization made up of student sections active in major universities in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipėda.

- Welcome Weeks: They organize official welcome events at the beginning of each semester, including city tours, international theme nights, karaoke and social events to help you instantly form a circle of friends.
- Trips and Getaways: Through direct administrative partnerships, the network offers affordable student trips, theme camps (such as ESN Escape Camp) and nature adventures in the Baltics or the Nordic regions.

Visit the official ESN Lithuania Hub
- The National Buddy System
A centralized and secure digital platform that connects you directly with a local mentor before you set foot in the country.

- Personal Arrival Assistant: Through the Buddy System, you receive a dedicated “Buddy” (a volunteer Lithuanian student) who can assist you with airport pickup, guidance around the university campus, and explanation of local routes.
- Human Administrative Support: Your local mentor will help you translate or understand the necessary documents at the beginning, offering practical advice on transportation, shopping, and avoiding real estate market pitfalls.
- Secure Digital Profile: Login and matching are based on an official algorithm implemented at European level, where you enter your interests, university, and spoken language, guaranteeing a secure connection and efficient communication.

Legal Guide to Employment - Your Student Rights in Lithuania

Legislative changes in Lithuania have completely reconfigured the way in which foreign students can get a job during their studies. This section sets out clear rules to prevent any violation of the conditions of their study visa.
EU/EEA Students (Total Freedom)
If you are a citizen of a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area, the employment process is identical to that of Lithuanian citizens.

- Full-time: You can work full-time (40 hours per week) from the first day of your arrival.
- No special permits: Local employers can register you directly in the national system using only your European ID card or passport.
- Standard contracts: You have no restrictions on the type of work or the periods during academic semesters.

Non-EU Students (Critical Update)
For students from outside the European Union, the right to work is directly integrated into the Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) issued through the government electronic system MIGRIS. The changes that have entered into force establish a system of ceilings depending on the year of study:
- Bachelor (Years 1 and 2): There is a strict legal limit of a maximum of 20 hours per week during semesters. 
- Bachelor (Years 3 and 4): The part-time limit is automatically removed. You are legally entitled to work 40 hours per week (full-time). 
- Master and Doctorate (All years): You benefit from full full-time work rights (40 hours per week) from the beginning of the program, without any time restrictions. 
- Official Vacation Rule: The 20-hour limit for first-year students is completely suspended during official summer vacations or mandatory internships included in the university curriculum, during which all students can work full-time.

Official Recruitment Platform
To avoid unverified job posting platforms where speculation may occur, international students should search for jobs exclusively through the official government portal:
Official Work in Lithuania Portal

- Why it's safe: This is the official platform developed in partnership with the government's Study in LT program. It contains exclusively verified job vacancies from multinational companies and start-ups in Vilnius or Kaunas that offer legal employment contracts and fully English-speaking work environments.