The first thing to know about living in Lithuania is the language. The second is the light. The rest is pleasant detail: a country that celebrates the summer solstice with bonfires and the dead with thousands of candles, and that reserves the warmest welcome for people who try a few words of Lithuanian.
This is a practical introduction to daily life, built on official or institutional sources. Where a habit has no official source, we say so.
Which language will you use when living in Lithuania?
Lithuanian is the official language and the language of the administration. Russian and Polish are spoken by minorities, and some schools in Vilnius teach in them (Go Vilnius). English is common among younger people and in cities, but EURES advises learning at least the basics.
Do not count on English at the counter: forms and desks are often in Lithuanian, so bring a friend or a translator for official visits (moving to Lithuania). Foreign diplomas and references must be translated into Lithuanian, and for a CV, EURES recommends Lithuanian. Courses in Lithuanian are listed on the Go Vilnius site ("Learn Lithuanian").
What is everyday life like?
- Work: 40 hours a week in principle, at least 20 working days of leave, probation up to three months. The salary is paid twice a month, or once if you ask in writing (working in Lithuania). Older sources quote a two-month dismissal notice; the current rule is one month, or two weeks in the first year.
- Phone and internet: prepaid SIM from about €5 to €10 a month; contracts often require a residence permit and a deposit (Go Vilnius).
- Banking: mostly Nordic groups; bring ID and sometimes proof of your link with Lithuania. Opening fees for a non-resident go up to €200 depending on the bank (bank account in Lithuania).
- Tipping and shop hours: habits, not rules. No official source fixes a tip or common opening hours, and each shop displays its own. Check on site or online before travelling on a Sunday.
New to the country and unsure how to phrase a request in Lithuanian, or what to expect at a counter? Moovy can help you prepare the question and draft a short message with a Lithuanian version.
What are the holidays and traditions worth knowing?
- Joninės* or *Rasos (Midsummer, night of 23 to 24 June): the big summer solstice celebration. 24 June is a public holiday (EURES).
- Vėlinės (All Souls, 1 and 2 November): people visit graves and light candles, and cemeteries glow in the evening (Lithuania Travel). 1 November is All Saints' Day and 2 November All Souls' Day, both public holidays.
- Christmas Eve (24 December) is a public holiday.
- Kaziukas Fair in early March in Vilnius, and the Song Festival (Dainų šventė) every four years in Vilnius in midsummer (EURES).
The year 2026 has 16 public holidays on the EURES list (2025 page), some falling on a weekend, including 16 February, 11 March, Easter on 5 and 6 April, 1 May, 24 June, 6 July, 15 August, 1 and 2 November, and 24, 25 and 26 December. The official 2026 list, and any recent addition, should be confirmed in the Labour Code. Midsummer and 2 November, when they fall on a weekday, close administrations, so book your appointments around them.
How do you handle the Lithuanian winter?
Do not underestimate it. Days are short and the cold can be marked. Equip yourself, and if you drive, winter tyres are compulsory from 10 November, with garages saturated in the first week (driving in Lithuania). A practical tip: ask your landlord for last winter's heating bills before signing (renting in Lithuania).
What is worth knowing as a French or British person?
French citizens: an identity card "extended by five years" is not accepted as a travel document in Lithuania, so take a valid passport (French embassy). The embassy in Vilnius offers France Consulaire and honorary consuls in Kaunas and Klaipėda. British people may be asked for the Lithuanian residence permit to take out a phone contract or open a bank account (Go Vilnius).
What mistakes should you avoid?
- Relying on English for official procedures.
- Forgetting that holidays block offices.
- Underestimating winter.
- Using a guide that is out of date on notice periods or tax.
In emergencies call 112. For the rest, patience, a few Lithuanian phrases and a good coat go a long way.
What is it like living in Lithuania if you do not speak Lithuanian?
You can live in Lithuania in English in the big cities, especially in Vilnius and Kaunas, where English-language jobs, schools and services are concentrated. The limits appear at the public counter, in smaller towns and in jobs in contact with the public, which often require Lithuanian (working in Lithuania). A realistic plan is to learn the basics in your first year, enough for the shop, the doctor's reception and the neighbours. Go Vilnius lists Lithuanian courses in the capital.
How do you register for daily services?
Your declared address opens many doors: the family doctor, the school, the bank, taxes. Sort the paper first, then daily life gets easier (moving to Lithuania). Local offices (seniūnija) and the municipality handle address declaration and school or nursery registration. In Vilnius, International House Vilnius gives free advice by appointment.
What does a year in Lithuania look like?
- Winter: short days, cold, winter tyres from 10 November.
- Early March: the Kaziukas Fair in Vilnius.
- Late June: Midsummer, with 24 June a public holiday.
- 1 and 2 November: the cemeteries glow with candles.
- 24 to 26 December: Christmas Eve, then Christmas.
Every four years, the Song Festival (Dainų šventė) takes over Vilnius in midsummer.
Is living in Lithuania safe and easy for newcomers?
Our sources give no safety ranking, so we do not repeat one. What we can say from official pages is that the emergency number is 112, that the health system covers insured residents (healthcare in Lithuania), and that the administration is largely digital once you have your identification. The places where newcomers struggle are the first weeks, before the personal code, the address and the bank account line up.
What small habits help newcomers settle in?
Learn greetings and numbers first, since they open shop and market conversations. Book appointments around holidays. Keep a folder with your certificate, address declaration and lease. Check each official page for an English version before you assume there is none, and bring a Lithuanian speaker to the counters in your first weeks. Ask colleagues, neighbours and the municipality about local routines, because opening hours and tipping vary and no official source fixes them. Above all, give the first winter your full attention: with the right clothes, tyres and heating arrangements it is far easier to enjoy.