Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In Lithuania

Checked on 23 October 2026

How to be covered by compulsory health insurance (PSD) when you move to Lithuania

In Lithuania, public healthcare is largely free if you are covered by compulsory health insurance (privalomasis sveikatos draudimas, PSD); without PSD, you pay for your care yourself. Employees, minors, retirees, registered unemployed people, students and a few other groups are covered automatically; other residents pay a monthly contribution themselves. With your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), you are only entitled to urgent or necessary care: routine consultations are covered only with PSD.

Costs: Employees: PSD contribution of 6.98% withheld from salary. People who insure themselves: at least 6.98% of the minimum wage of €1,153, i.e. €80.48 per month in 2026 (TEDB 2026; IOM)
Timeframes: Employee: covered by your employment contract. Self-employed: the month's contribution to be paid no later than the last day of the month; with a temporary residence permit, you are only insured once the month has been paid in advance (Sodra)

Steps

Before you leave, ask for your EHIC from your health insurance fund: it covers necessary care during a temporary stay, as long as you are insured in your home country.
Get your residence document and declare your residence (sheet LT-SEJOUR-TOUS-001): the declaration of residence opens access to public services, including health.
If you are an employee with an employment contract, you are covered automatically: the PSD contribution (6.98%) is withheld from your salary.
If you are in none of the automatically covered groups (self-employed, inactive, etc.), pay the PSD contribution yourself every month. Then check your insured status with the health insurance fund (Ligonių kasa).
If you are a retiree or insured in another country, ask your home fund for an S1 form and have it registered in Lithuania with a territorial health insurance fund (teritorinė ligonių kasa, TLK), the Lithuanian body responsible for the S1 (European Commission guide, July 2026).
Register with a primary care establishment (polyclinic, medical centre or family doctor's practice) of your choice. You can only be registered with one establishment at a time; basic dental care also goes through it.
Book an appointment online through the patient pre-registration system (esveikata.lt) or directly with the establishment.

Documents

EHIC from your home country (transition).
Residence document and declared residence.
Employment contract (employees) or proof of payment of PSD contributions (others).
Where applicable: S1 form.

Costs and timelines

Employees: PSD contribution of 6.98% of salary.
People who insure themselves: at least 6.98% of the minimum monthly wage (MMA) per month: the annual contribution cannot be less than 6.98% of 12 minimum wages (TEDB 2026), i.e. €80.48 per month in 2026 with a minimum wage of €1,153 (same amount for the IOM). For a self-employed person, to be paid to Sodra no later than the last day of each month (Sodra).
Care with PSD: free in public establishments and in private establishments under contract with a territorial fund, except for certain examinations or procedures not covered. Dental care: materials may remain at your expense.
Emergencies: hospital emergency services treat you 24 hours a day, whether or not you are insured.

Common pitfalls

Relying on the EHIC for routine follow-up. It only covers urgent care and necessary hospitalisation; the family doctor and specialists for routine follow-up require PSD.
Thinking you are covered without paying. If you do not work under a contract and fall into no covered group, it is up to you to pay the contribution every month.
PSD debt after leaving. If your residence remains declared in Lithuania after you leave, PSD contributions may accumulate: declare your departure (more than 180 days abroad, IOM).
Choosing a private establishment without a contract. Outside a contract with a territorial fund, private care is paid for.

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: EHIC during the transition; then PSD through work, a covered group, your own contribution or an S1 registered with a territorial fund (European Commission guide, July 2026).
Swiss citizens: same rules (EFTA); Swiss EHIC for necessary care.
British citizens: newcomers first need a residence permit. With a temporary residence permit and a job in Lithuania, the employer registers them for PSD; without a job or State coverage, a temporary permit holder cannot contribute themselves and must take out private insurance or pay for their care. A permanent permit holder pays PSD themselves if they do not work. Third-country students are not covered by public PSD (IOM).

Official sources (9) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in Lithuania.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

For a Schengen short-stay visa, you must show travel medical insurance covering urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment and repatriation (including in case of death), valid in all Schengen countries, with at least €30,000 of cover (Visa Code, Article 15). For long stays, the EU directives ask for sickness insurance covering the risks normally covered for nationals of the destination, for example for students, family members, Blue Card holders and long-term residents. The exact proof, and whether you must buy private insurance or can join the public system, depend on the destination.

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

In Lithuania

Checked on 23 October 2026

How to be covered by compulsory health insurance (PSD) when you move to Lithuania

Costs: Employees: PSD contribution of 6.98% withheld from salary. People who insure themselves: at least 6.98% of the minimum wage of €1,153, i.e. €80.48 per month in 2026 (TEDB 2026; IOM)
Timeframes: Employee: covered by your employment contract. Self-employed: the month's contribution to be paid no later than the last day of the month; with a temporary residence permit, you are only insured once the month has been paid in advance (Sodra)

Steps

Before you leave, ask for your EHIC from your health insurance fund: it covers necessary care during a temporary stay, as long as you are insured in your home country.
Get your residence document and declare your residence (sheet LT-SEJOUR-TOUS-001): the declaration of residence opens access to public services, including health.
If you are an employee with an employment contract, you are covered automatically: the PSD contribution (6.98%) is withheld from your salary.
If you are in none of the automatically covered groups (self-employed, inactive, etc.), pay the PSD contribution yourself every month. Then check your insured status with the health insurance fund (Ligonių kasa).
If you are a retiree or insured in another country, ask your home fund for an S1 form and have it registered in Lithuania with a territorial health insurance fund (teritorinė ligonių kasa, TLK), the Lithuanian body responsible for the S1 (European Commission guide, July 2026).
Register with a primary care establishment (polyclinic, medical centre or family doctor's practice) of your choice. You can only be registered with one establishment at a time; basic dental care also goes through it.
Book an appointment online through the patient pre-registration system (esveikata.lt) or directly with the establishment.

Documents

EHIC from your home country (transition).
Residence document and declared residence.
Employment contract (employees) or proof of payment of PSD contributions (others).
Where applicable: S1 form.

Costs and timelines

Employees: PSD contribution of 6.98% of salary.
People who insure themselves: at least 6.98% of the minimum monthly wage (MMA) per month: the annual contribution cannot be less than 6.98% of 12 minimum wages (TEDB 2026), i.e. €80.48 per month in 2026 with a minimum wage of €1,153 (same amount for the IOM). For a self-employed person, to be paid to Sodra no later than the last day of each month (Sodra).
Care with PSD: free in public establishments and in private establishments under contract with a territorial fund, except for certain examinations or procedures not covered. Dental care: materials may remain at your expense.
Emergencies: hospital emergency services treat you 24 hours a day, whether or not you are insured.

Common pitfalls

Relying on the EHIC for routine follow-up. It only covers urgent care and necessary hospitalisation; the family doctor and specialists for routine follow-up require PSD.
Thinking you are covered without paying. If you do not work under a contract and fall into no covered group, it is up to you to pay the contribution every month.
PSD debt after leaving. If your residence remains declared in Lithuania after you leave, PSD contributions may accumulate: declare your departure (more than 180 days abroad, IOM).
Choosing a private establishment without a contract. Outside a contract with a territorial fund, private care is paid for.

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: EHIC during the transition; then PSD through work, a covered group, your own contribution or an S1 registered with a territorial fund (European Commission guide, July 2026).
Swiss citizens: same rules (EFTA); Swiss EHIC for necessary care.
British citizens: newcomers first need a residence permit. With a temporary residence permit and a job in Lithuania, the employer registers them for PSD; without a job or State coverage, a temporary permit holder cannot contribute themselves and must take out private insurance or pay for their care. A permanent permit holder pays PSD themselves if they do not work. Third-country students are not covered by public PSD (IOM).

Official sources (9) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in Lithuania.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

In Lithuania

How to be covered by compulsory health insurance (PSD) when you move to Lithuania

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics

Healthcare

In Lithuania

How to be covered by compulsory health insurance (PSD) when you move to Lithuania

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics