Temporary Protection in Lithuania for Ukrainians: Document Translation Guide 2026

Over 53,000 Ukrainians now live in Lithuania under temporary protection - and the Migration Department still receives 30-40 new applications daily. If you’re one of them, or planning to be, you’ve probably already heard about MIGRIS, laikina apsauga, and the need to translate documents into Lithuanian. But here’s the thing that trips most people up: Lithuania and Ukraine have a bilateral legal assistance treaty, which means your Ukrainian documents don’t need an apostille. Just a translation into Lithuanian and notary certification. That alone saves you weeks of hassle and a chunk of money compared to most other EU countries.

This guide covers everything you need to know about temporary protection in Lithuania in 2026 - from filing your first application to renewing your permit, translating documents, and accessing social benefits. All with real numbers, official sources, and practical tips.

What is temporary protection and who qualifies¶

Temporary protection - laikina apsauga in Lithuanian - is an EU-wide mechanism activated after February 24, 2022 specifically for people displaced by the war in Ukraine. It’s not asylum. It’s not refugee status. It’s a separate, simplified procedure that gives you legal residence and a set of rights without the long individual assessment that asylum requires.

The Lithuanian government extended temporary protection until March 4, 2027 following the EU Council decision and a government resolution from September 24, 2025. If you already have temporary protection, your digital residence permit has been automatically extended - you don’t need to do anything extra for the extension itself.

Who qualifies¶

You’re eligible if you fall into one of these categories:

• Ukrainian citizens who lived in Ukraine before February 24, 2022
• Family members of Ukrainian citizens - spouses, minor children, and other close dependents who were living together as a family unit
• Stateless persons and third-country nationals who had permanent residence in Ukraine and can’t safely return to their country of origin
• Ukrainians who were legally staying in Lithuania (on a visa, residence permit, or visa-free stay) when the war started and can’t return to Ukraine

There’s no age limit. Children, adults, elderly - everyone who fits the criteria is covered. You don’t need to prove individual persecution or file a detailed case. The fact that you’re a Ukrainian citizen displaced by the war is enough.

How it’s different from asylum or a regular residence permit¶

Temporary protection is faster to get, simpler to apply for, and gives you immediate rights. Asylum (prieglobstis) involves interviews, individual case assessment, and can take months. A regular temporary residence permit (leidimas laikinai gyventi) requires a specific legal basis like employment, study, or family reunification - plus more paperwork and fees.

The downside? Temporary protection is, well, temporary. It runs until March 4, 2027, and what happens after that is still being worked out at the EU level. More on that later.

How to apply: MIGRIS system step by step¶

All temporary protection applications go through MIGRIS - Lithuania’s electronic migration information system, run by the Migration Department (Migracijos departamentas). The system is available at migracija.lt.

Step 1: Create a MIGRIS account¶

Go to migracija.lt and register. You can sign up with your email address. If you already have a Lithuanian personal code (asmens kodas) or use e-banking at a Lithuanian bank, you can also log in through the Electronic Government Gate (VIISP) - but email registration works fine for first-time applicants.

Use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox - the system works best with these browsers. The interface is available in Lithuanian and English. If you need it in another language, Chrome’s built-in Google Translate will do the job.

Step 2: Fill out the application¶

Once logged in, select the option for temporary protection (laikina apsauga). Fill in your personal details - name, date of birth, citizenship, passport number, contact information. You’ll also need to upload scans or photos of your documents (more on which documents below).

The form asks about your family members too. If you’re applying as a family, you can include your spouse and minor children in one application. Each adult family member still needs their own MIGRIS account for their individual permit.

Step 3: Book an appointment¶

After submitting the online form, you’ll need to visit a Migration Department office in person. Book your appointment through MIGRIS. The system shows available time slots at offices in:

• Vilnius - L. Sapiegos g. 1 (main office, highest capacity)
• Kaunas - A. Juozapaviciaus pr. 57
• Klaipeda - remote workplace of the Migration Department
• Panevezys - remote workplace

Vilnius has the most appointment slots, but wait times can be longer because of demand. Kaunas and Klaipeda sometimes have earlier availability. Check all locations before booking.

Step 4: Visit the office¶

At your appointment, you’ll go through biometrics - a photo, fingerprints, and a digital signature. Bring your original documents (not just copies). The officer will verify everything against what you submitted in MIGRIS.

This is also where they check your identity documents in detail. If there are any discrepancies between your online application and the originals, you’ll be asked to clarify on the spot.

Step 5: Receive your digital residence permit¶

After processing, your temporary residence permit is issued as a digital document - a PDF sent to your personal MIGRIS account. This is your proof of legal residence in Lithuania. You can download it, print it, and show it to employers, banks, and anyone else who needs to verify your status.

The first permit can take up to 3 months to process, though in practice it’s often faster - especially if your documents are in order and your case is straightforward. Renewals take up to 2 months.

The Migration Department’s information line: +370 5 271 7112 (from abroad) or 8 707 67000 (within Lithuania). Email: info@migracija.gov.lt.

Which documents you need and what to translate¶

Here’s where Lithuania stands out from many EU countries. The document requirements are relatively simple, and - crucially - you don’t need an apostille for Ukrainian documents.

Documents for the initial application¶

Identity document - a valid Ukrainian passport (biometric or regular). If your passport has expired or you don’t have one, the Migration Department accepts: - An expired Ukrainian passport - A Ukrainian ID card (internal passport) - A temporary travel document

For children under 14, a birth certificate serves as the identity document.

For families, you’ll need documents proving the family relationship: - Marriage certificate (for spouses) - Children’s birth certificates - Guardianship documents (if applicable)

Proof of previous residence in Ukraine - this is usually established by your Ukrainian passport or ID card showing a registered address. In most cases, the passport itself is sufficient.

What needs to be translated into Lithuanian¶

Here’s the key rule: any document that’s not in Lithuanian needs a translation. Your passport doesn’t need a translation for the initial application - the Migration Department handles passports in their original form. But birth certificates, marriage certificates, and other civil status documents do need to be translated into Lithuanian.

The good news is that this translation doesn’t need to be done by a “sworn translator” the way it works in Germany or France. In Lithuania, you need:

1. A translation into Lithuanian done by a qualified translator
2. The translator’s signature and details on the translation
3. Notary certification (notarinis tvirtinimas) of the translation - a Lithuanian notary confirms the translator’s signature

That’s it. No special state exam for translators, no register of sworn translators. The notary certifies the translator’s identity and signature, not the quality of the translation itself. This makes the process faster and cheaper than in many other EU countries.

The big advantage: no apostille needed¶

This is worth repeating because it saves so much time and stress. Lithuania and Ukraine have a bilateral Treaty on Legal Assistance and Legal Relations that exempts documents from both countries from apostille requirements. Ukrainian birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, and other official documents are accepted in Lithuania without an apostille.

All you need is a translation into Lithuanian with notary certification. Compare that to countries like Germany or France, where you need an apostille from Ukraine first, then a sworn translation - a process that can take weeks and cost significantly more.

This bilateral treaty also covers documents going the other way - Lithuanian documents used in Ukraine don’t need an apostille either.

Important exception: if you’re planning to use your Lithuanian-translated documents in a third country later (say, you move from Lithuania to the Netherlands), those documents may need an apostille for that country. The bilateral treaty only covers the Lithuania-Ukraine pair.

Document translation: practical details and costs¶

Let’s get into the specifics of what translation costs in Lithuania, how to find a translator, and what the notary certification process looks like.

Translation prices in Lithuania¶

Translation prices in Lithuania are among the most affordable in the EU. Here’s what you can expect for Ukrainian-to-Lithuanian translation:

Document type	Price range	Notes
Standard document (birth certificate, marriage certificate)	5-12 EUR	Per standard page (1,700 characters)
Complex document (diploma with transcript, legal documents)	10-17 EUR	Per standard page
Notary certification of translation	~5 EUR	Per page
Urgent translation (same day or next day)	+50-100% surcharge	Depends on the agency

A “standard page” in Lithuania is 1,700 characters without spaces. This is different from the 250-word or 1,800-character standards used in some other countries. Most civil status documents (birth certificates, marriage certificates) fit on one standard page.

For a typical family of two adults and one child, a basic document package might look like this:

Document	Pages	Translation cost	Notary cost	Total
Child’s birth certificate	1	~8 EUR	~5 EUR	~13 EUR
Marriage certificate	1	~8 EUR	~5 EUR	~13 EUR
One parent’s diploma (for employment)	2-3	~25 EUR	~15 EUR	~40 EUR
Total				~66 EUR

Compare that to Estonia, where a sworn translation costs 35-50 EUR per page, or Germany, where certified translation runs 30-60 EUR per page. Lithuania is significantly cheaper.

Where to find a translator¶

You have several options:

Translation agencies in Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipeda - there are dozens of established agencies that handle Ukrainian-to-Lithuanian translations daily. Many of them have Ukrainian-speaking staff, which makes communication easier. Some well-known ones include Vertimo Guru (vertimuguru.lt), Baltic Translations (baltictranslations.lt), and Lingvobalt (lingvobalt.com). You can walk in, email, or submit documents online.

Freelance translators - often cheaper than agencies. Ask in Ukrainian community groups on Facebook or Telegram for recommendations. Many translators who work with Ukrainian documents in Lithuania are themselves Ukrainian and know exactly which terms Lithuanian officials expect to see.

Online translation services - if you need a preliminary draft or a quick understanding of what your document says, ChatsControl can help you prepare a translation that preserves the document’s formatting. This is useful before visiting a translator in person - they get a ready draft and can produce the final version faster.

For official submission, you’ll still need a human translator’s signature and notary certification. But having a clean draft ready can cut the turnaround time and reduce costs since the translator doesn’t start from scratch.

If you need a certified translation for government submissions - that’s something we can help with directly.

The notary certification process¶

Once your translation is done, take it to a Lithuanian notary (notaras). The process is straightforward:

1. The translator signs the translation and includes their name, contact details, and a statement that the translation is accurate
2. You take the signed translation to a notary office
3. The notary verifies the translator’s identity (or their signature, if the translator has a specimen signature on file)
4. The notary stamps and signs the certification - confirming the translator’s signature is authentic
5. You get back the original document + the certified translation, stapled together

Many translation agencies handle the notary step for you - they have working relationships with notaries and can deliver a ready-to-submit package. Ask about this when ordering.

Notary offices are available throughout Lithuania. In Vilnius alone there are over 30. Fees for certification are regulated and generally run about 5 EUR per page.

Documents you should translate ahead of time¶

Don’t wait until you’re asked. Based on what Lithuanian institutions typically request, here’s a priority list:

Translate first (you’ll almost certainly need these): - Birth certificates for all family members - Marriage certificate (if applicable) - Children’s school records (for school enrollment)

Translate when needed (depends on your situation): - Diploma and academic transcripts (for employment or qualification recognition) - Driver’s license (for exchange at Regitra) - Medical records (for ongoing treatment) - Employment record book (trudova knyzhka - for pension calculation)

Usually not needed in translation: - Passport (accepted in original at Migration Department) - Internal Ukrainian documents that you’ll only use within the Ukrainian community

What temporary protection gives you: work, healthcare, benefits, school¶

Temporary protection in Lithuania isn’t just a piece of paper that says you’re allowed to stay. It comes with a real set of rights that cover the essentials of daily life.

Work¶

You can work in Lithuania without any additional work permits. Your digital residence permit based on temporary protection is enough - show it to your employer, and you’re good to go. There are no Lithuanian language requirements for employment under temporary protection. The government specifically decided not to impose language requirements for TP holders.

This is a big deal. In many EU countries, language requirements create barriers to employment even when you have the legal right to work. Lithuania chose a more practical approach.

Your employer handles the standard employment contract (darbo sutartis) and registers you for social insurance. You pay the same taxes and receive the same labor protections as Lithuanian workers. The minimum monthly wage in Lithuania in 2026 is 924 EUR gross (before taxes).

If you’re looking for qualified work - IT, engineering, healthcare, accounting - your employer may ask for a translated diploma. But for most general employment, the residence permit alone is sufficient.

Healthcare¶

Healthcare access depends on your insurance status:

Emergency care - free for everyone, regardless of insurance status. Call 112 for emergencies.

Basic medical care - once you receive your temporary protection permit, you can register with the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (Privalomasis sveikatos draudimas). If you’re employed, your employer automatically registers you, and you get full access to the public healthcare system - GP visits, specialist consultations, hospital treatment, and reimbursed medications.

If you’re not employed - you still get access to a limited range of free medical services: emergency care, emergency dental care, and care for minors. Children with temporary protection have broader access to medical services than adults.

Vaccinations - free for all temporary protection holders. This includes routine vaccinations for children (required for school enrollment) and adult vaccinations.

Psychological support - available through various NGOs and municipal services. The IOM Lithuania office coordinates mental health support for Ukrainian refugees.

To see a doctor, you’ll need your residence permit and, ideally, your health insurance card (draudimo pazymejimas). Register with a local polyclinic (poliklinika) near your home - they’ll assign you a family doctor (seimos gydytojas).

If you have medical records from Ukraine that you want to share with your Lithuanian doctor, you’ll need them translated into Lithuanian. Medical translation is more specialized and can cost 10-17 EUR per standard page.

Social benefits¶

Lithuania provides several social benefits to temporary protection holders. Here’s what’s available as of 2026:

Universal child benefit (vaiko pinigai) - 129.50 EUR per month per child under 18 (or until 23 if still in school). Every child gets this, regardless of family income.

Additional child supplement - 76.22 EUR per month on top of the universal benefit for: - Children with disabilities - Children from families with three or more kids - Children from low-income families This brings the total to 205.72 EUR per month for eligible children.

One-time childbirth payment - 814 EUR for every child born in Lithuania (increased from 770 EUR in 2025).

Cash social assistance (socialine pasalpa) - available to low-income individuals and families. The amount depends on your income and family composition. You apply through your municipal social services department (socialines paramos skyrius).

Housing compensation - partial compensation for rent and utilities, available to low-income TP holders. Apply at the same municipal social services office.

One-time arrival allowance - a one-off payment available when you first arrive. Check with the Migration Information Center for current amounts and eligibility.

To apply for social benefits, visit your municipal social services department. Bring your residence permit, proof of address in Lithuania, and any income documentation. Most municipal offices have experience working with Ukrainian applicants and some have Ukrainian-speaking staff.

Education for children¶

Lithuanian public schools accept Ukrainian children for free. Here’s what the enrollment process looks like:

Documents for school enrollment: - Child’s birth certificate (translated into Lithuanian with notary certification) - Residence permit (digital permit from MIGRIS) - Vaccination records (can be issued by a Lithuanian doctor after examination) - Previous school records from Ukraine (translated into Lithuanian - recommended but not always strictly required)

Lithuanian language support - schools provide additional Lithuanian language classes for children who don’t speak the language. This is mandatory in the first year and continues as long as needed. Don’t worry about your child not knowing Lithuanian - the system is set up to handle this.

Free school meals - available for students from families where the average monthly income per person is below 349.50 EUR. Many Ukrainian families under temporary protection qualify. Apply through the school administration.

Free school supplies - families with low income can receive support for purchasing school supplies at the beginning of the school year.

As of 2026, about 80% of Ukrainian children in Lithuania are enrolled in Lithuanian schools, with participation in extracurricular activities rising to 72% - according to UNHCR data. That still leaves about 20% of children not enrolled, often because families are combining Lithuanian schooling with online Ukrainian education.

You can absolutely do both - enroll your child in a Lithuanian school and continue with Ukrainian online classes in the evenings or on weekends. Many families find this gives their children the best of both worlds: integration into the local community plus continuity with the Ukrainian curriculum.

Extension to 2027 and permit renewal¶

Your digital residence permit based on temporary protection is valid until March 4, 2027. But there are situations where you’ll need to actively renew or replace your permit.

When do you need to renew¶

If your current permit was issued before the latest extension decision, your permit validity has been automatically extended to March 2027 in the MIGRIS system. Check your MIGRIS account to confirm.

However, the Migration Department recommends submitting renewal applications 4-5 months before your current permit expires. This gives enough processing time (up to 2 months for renewals) and avoids gaps in your legal status.

How to renew¶

The renewal process follows the same steps as the initial application:

1. Log into your MIGRIS account
2. Submit a renewal application
3. Book an in-person appointment at a Migration Department office
4. Visit the office for updated biometrics
5. Receive a new digital permit in your MIGRIS account

You’ll need the same documents as for the initial application. If anything has changed - new address, change in family composition, new passport - update this in the application.

What if your passport expired¶

Many Ukrainians arrived with passports that have since expired. Lithuania handles this practically:

• An expired Ukrainian passport is still accepted for temporary protection purposes
• If you’ve obtained a new passport since arriving, update your details in MIGRIS
• The Consulate of Ukraine in Vilnius can help with passport renewals and other consular services

What happens after March 2027¶

This is the big question. The EU has signaled that temporary protection in its current form won’t be automatically extended beyond March 2027. Instead, each member state will define transition arrangements.

For Lithuania specifically, no final decision has been made yet. But the trend is toward offering pathways to regular residence permits - especially for those who are employed, enrolled in education, or have integrated into Lithuanian society.

What you can do now to prepare:

• If you’re working - keep your employment contract active and your taxes paid. Employment is the strongest basis for a regular residence permit
• Learn Lithuanian - even basic proficiency helps with integration and future permit applications. Free Lithuanian language courses are available through municipal education centers
• Keep your documents in order - have translations ready, keep your MIGRIS profile updated, save all residence and employment records
• Consider applying for a regular temporary residence permit (leidimas laikinai gyventi) before TP expires. If you have a job, study place, or family tie to Lithuania, you can apply for a status change while TP is still active

The Migration Information Center (micenter.lt) publishes updates on policy changes. Bookmark it and check regularly.

If your documents were lost or destroyed due to the war and you need to restore them before you can proceed with any transition, we have a detailed guide on restoring documents lost during the war.

Practical tips¶

A few things that’ll save you time and frustration, based on what people who’ve been through the process actually report.

Don’t translate everything at once¶

Start with only the documents you need right now. For the initial TP application, you barely need any translations. Birth certificates for school enrollment come next. Diplomas are only needed when you start job hunting for qualified positions. Translating your entire document archive on day one is a waste of money if you end up not needing half of it.

Keep digital copies of everything¶

Scan or photograph all your original documents AND their translations. Store them in cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, whatever you use). If something gets lost or damaged, you’ll have backups. MIGRIS also stores your application documents, but having your own copies is always smart.

Translation turnaround times¶

A standard document translation in Lithuania takes 1-3 business days. Add another day for notary certification. If you need something urgently, most agencies offer express service for a surcharge (usually 50-100% extra). Plan ahead - especially before school enrollment deadlines or job interview document submissions.

Use the Migration Information Center¶

The Migration Information Center (MIC) is a free government resource specifically for foreigners in Lithuania. They provide consultations in multiple languages (including Ukrainian and Russian), help with paperwork, and can explain your rights. Offices are in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai, and Panevezys.

Phone: +370 5 213 5814 Website: micenter.lt

Community resources¶

The Ukrainian community in Lithuania is well-organized. Facebook groups like “Ukrainians in Lithuania” and Telegram channels for specific cities are excellent sources of practical, up-to-date information. People share translator recommendations, warn about delays at specific offices, and help each other with paperwork. Don’t underestimate peer advice - it’s often more current than official guidelines.

Useful contacts¶

Organization	Contact	What they do
Migration Department	+370 5 271 7112 / 8 707 67000	TP applications, MIGRIS, permits
Migration Department website	migracija.lrv.lt	Official info and news
MIGRIS system	migracija.lt	Online applications
Migration Information Center	+370 5 213 5814 / micenter.lt	Free consultations
Embassy of Ukraine in Lithuania	lithuania.mfa.gov.ua	Consular services
IOM Lithuania	lithuania.iom.int	Integration support
Emergency	112	Medical, police, fire

FAQ¶

Do Ukrainian documents need an apostille for Lithuania?¶

No. Lithuania and Ukraine have a bilateral Treaty on Legal Assistance that exempts documents from both countries from apostille requirements. Your Ukrainian birth certificate, marriage certificate, diploma, and other official documents are accepted in Lithuania without an apostille. You only need a translation into Lithuanian with notary certification. This is a significant advantage compared to countries like Germany or France, where an apostille is required before translation.

How much does document translation cost in Lithuania?¶

Lithuanian translation prices are among the lowest in the EU. A standard document (birth certificate, marriage certificate) costs 5-12 EUR per page to translate from Ukrainian to Lithuanian. Notary certification adds about 5 EUR per page. A full package for a family of three - birth certificate, marriage certificate, and one diploma - typically runs 50-70 EUR total. Compare that to 35-50 EUR per page in Estonia or 30-60 EUR per page in Germany.

Can I work in Lithuania with temporary protection?¶

Yes, and there are no extra permits or language requirements. Your digital residence permit from MIGRIS is all your employer needs. You work under the same conditions as Lithuanian citizens - same labor protections, same tax obligations. The minimum wage in 2026 is 924 EUR gross per month. For qualified positions (healthcare, engineering, IT), your employer may request a translated diploma, but for general employment the permit alone is enough.

How long does it take to get temporary protection in Lithuania?¶

The initial application can take up to 3 months to process, though it’s often faster if your documents are complete. Renewals take up to 2 months. The Migration Department recommends submitting renewal applications 4-5 months before your current permit expires. You file through the MIGRIS system online, then visit a Migration Department office in person for biometrics. Offices are in Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, and Panevezys.

What social benefits are available for Ukrainians with temporary protection in Lithuania?¶

The main benefit for families is the universal child benefit - 129.50 EUR per month per child. Families with three or more children, low-income families, or families with disabled children receive an additional 76.22 EUR per child per month. There’s also a one-time childbirth payment of 814 EUR. Adults can apply for cash social assistance and housing compensation through municipal social services. Healthcare is covered through the Compulsory Health Insurance system once you’re employed, and emergency care is free for everyone regardless of employment status.