Some links on this page are affiliate links and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. It doesn't affect what we recommend โ see the full disclosure at the bottom of this page.
It depends whether you're covered by state PSD or need private cover
If you're employed or self-employed in Lithuania, you're automatically in the state PSD system. If you're not yet working โ including most non-EU students and new arrivals โ you need private health insurance to satisfy your visa or residence permit application.
Table of Contents
Which Applies to You
Lithuania has a state compulsory health insurance system called PSD. Whether you're in it, and whether you also need private cover, depends entirely on your status. Find your row.
| Your situation | State PSD? | Private insurance? |
|---|---|---|
| Employed in Lithuania | (any nationality) Yes โ employer pays 6.98% | Optional top-up only |
| Self-employed | (individuali veikla) Yes โ you pay | Optional top-up only |
| Non-EU student, not working | No | Required |
| Non-EU, applying for first permit | Not yet | Required |
| Permanent residence holder | Yes | Optional |
| EU/EEA citizen, short stay | Via EHIC | Recommended top-up |
| Not working, not studying, not state-covered | Only if self-paid | Alternative to self-paid PSD |
The pattern for most new arrivals
Non-EU arrivals typically follow a sequence: buy private insurance to satisfy the residence permit requirement โ start working โ employer PSD contributions begin โ state coverage takes over, and the private policy may become unnecessary. Understanding where you are in that sequence tells you what you need.
How State PSD Works
PSD stands for privalomasis sveikatos draudimas โ compulsory health insurance. It funds Lithuania's public healthcare system, and it's administered alongside Sodra, the social insurance authority.
If you're employed, PSD is simply part of the deductions from your gross salary:
The 6.98% sits inside the total 19.5% employee social contribution โ it isn't an extra deduction on top. Our salary calculator shows exactly how it comes off a gross figure, and what is Sodra breaks down the full contribution structure.
What PSD buys you is access to the public system: state clinics and hospitals, subsidised prescriptions, emergency care and referrals to specialists. It's a genuine national health service, not an insurance policy you claim against.
Who Is Covered by PSD
Coverage follows status, not residence. You're generally covered if you are:
- Employed in Lithuania, with your employer paying contributions
- Self-employed and paying your own contributions
- A holder of a permanent residence permit
- Within a state-insured category โ this covers groups such as children, pensioners, registered unemployed and others insured at state expense
You are generally not covered if you are:
- A non-EU student on a temporary study permit who isn't working
- A new arrival who hasn't yet started employment
- Living in Lithuania without working, studying or being registered as unemployed
โ Verify before publishing. The full list of state-insured categories must be confirmed against the National Health Insurance Fund (ligoniukasa.lrv.lt) and Sodra. Category definitions matter to readers deciding whether to buy a policy.
Paying PSD Yourself
If you're resident in Lithuania but not covered through employment or a state category, you can pay PSD contributions yourself to get into the public system.
The rate is 6.98% of the minimum monthly wage. With the MMA at โฌ1,153 in 2026, that comes to โฌ80.48 per month โ around โฌ966 a year. (For comparison, it was โฌ72.45 per month in 2025.)
When self-paid PSD makes sense โ and when it doesn't
Worth it if: you're living here long term without employment, you want full public system access including ongoing treatment, or you have a condition that private policies exclude or price heavily.
Not worth it if: you're a student. A private student policy at โฌ50โ150 a year does the job your permit requires for a fraction of โฌ966. See health insurance for students.
When You Need Private Insurance
Private health insurance in Lithuania does two quite different jobs, and it's worth being clear which one you're buying.
1. As a legal requirement
- Required for the non-EU residence permit application
- Required for non-EU students on study permits
- Must meet minimum coverage and validity rules
- Not optional โ your permit depends on it
2. As a top-up to state cover
- Faster access to specialists
- Private clinics and English-speaking doctors
- Dental, which state cover treats sparingly
- Optional โ a comfort and speed decision
The first is compulsory and the reason most readers land on this page. The second is a genuine quality-of-life question once you're settled and in the state system โ private clinics in Vilnius and Kaunas are widely used by people who also have PSD, mainly to skip waiting times and see an English-speaking doctor.
The Residence Permit Requirement
If you're a non-EU national applying for a temporary residence permit, health insurance is a documented condition of the application. Your certificate is uploaded with everything else.
There are two different minimums depending on what you're applying for:
| Application | Minimum cover | Must include |
|---|---|---|
| National visa | โฌ30,000 | Emergency medical care and repatriation |
| Temporary residence permit | โฌ10,000 | Medical expenses |
Your policy must also be valid for treatment in Lithuania, cover your period of stay, and come with documentation the Migration Department accepts โ usually in Lithuanian or English.
EU and EFTA citizens and their family members are exempt, as are diplomatic staff and persons covered by international agreements.
The trap: buying for the permit when you need it for the visa. If your route is national visa first, then residence permit, the higher โฌ30,000 standard applies at the visa stage โ and it must include repatriation. Buying a โฌ10,000 policy first means buying twice. Get cover that meets the โฌ30,000 standard from the outset if you're entering on a visa.
Buy it before you submit. The certificate is a required document at the point of application, not something to add later. See our residence permit guide.
Need cover for your permit application?
Policies meeting Migration Department requirements from licensed Lithuanian insurers.
Using Healthcare in Practice
Register with a clinic. Once you're PSD-covered, register with a primary care clinic (poliklinika) near you. Your GP there is the gateway to specialists and referrals โ you generally can't skip straight to a specialist in the public system.
Carry your asmens kodas. Your personal code identifies you in the health system. It's on your residence permit card.
Emergency care is available regardless. Emergency treatment isn't withheld while your paperwork is sorted out โ but that's no substitute for having proper cover.
Language. Public clinics operate primarily in Lithuanian, with Russian widely spoken. Private clinics in Vilnius and Kaunas are far more likely to have English-speaking doctors, which is a common reason people carry private cover alongside PSD.
Prescriptions. Many medicines are partially reimbursed under the state system. Pharmacies (vaistinฤ) are plentiful and pharmacists are generally helpful.
Waiting times. The main practical complaint about the public system, particularly for non-urgent specialist appointments. This is what top-up private cover is really buying.
Choosing Private Cover
If you're buying to satisfy a permit requirement
- Confirm it meets the Migration Department's minimum coverage and duration
- Confirm it's valid for treatment in Lithuania
- Confirm the certificate format will be accepted
- Buy from a licensed insurer โ the Lithuanian Insurers Association register at draudikai.lt lists them
If you're buying a top-up alongside PSD
- Direct billing with the private clinics you'd actually use
- English-speaking doctors and support
- Outpatient and diagnostics, where waiting times bite hardest
- Dental, which state cover addresses only narrowly
- Mental health โ worth checking, and often excluded from basic policies
โ Verify before publishing. Provider names, products and pricing must be researched from draudikai.lt and the insurers' own materials before this section names anyone. Do not publish a comparison table of providers without confirmed current terms.
Common Mistakes
Assuming residence means coverage
PSD follows employment and status, not the mere fact of living here. Plenty of legal residents aren't covered.
Cancelling private cover the day you start a job
PSD coverage may not activate immediately. Overlap the two.
Buying a home-country policy that doesn't name Lithuania
Check the policy wording covers treatment here for your full stay โ not just the marketing page.
Buying the bare minimum for the permit
It satisfies the authorities. It may not cover the outpatient care and prescriptions you'll actually use.
Not registering with a clinic
Being PSD-covered isn't the same as being registered. Do it early, not when you're ill.
Letting cover lapse between permits
Gaps cause problems at renewal. Diarise expiry dates.
Self-paying PSD as a student
โฌ966 a year when a compliant private policy costs โฌ50โ150. Check which category you're in before paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is healthcare free in Lithuania?
Public healthcare is funded through PSD contributions rather than being free at the point of funding โ but if you're PSD-covered, treatment in the public system is largely covered. Prescriptions are often partially reimbursed rather than free.
What is PSD?
Privalomasis sveikatos draudimas โ compulsory health insurance. It funds public healthcare and is collected alongside Sodra social contributions at 6.98% of gross salary for employees.
Do I need private insurance if I'm employed?
Not as a legal requirement โ your employer's PSD contributions cover you. Many people buy top-up private cover anyway, mainly for faster specialist access and English-speaking doctors.
How much is PSD if I pay it myself?
โฌ80.48 per month in 2026, calculated as 6.98% of the โฌ1,153 minimum monthly wage. That's approximately โฌ966 a year.
Are non-EU students covered by PSD?
Generally no, unless they're legally employed or hold permanent residence. They must buy private insurance.
Does my EHIC work in Lithuania?
Yes. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can use a European Health Insurance Card for necessary state healthcare on the same terms as residents. It doesn't cover private treatment or repatriation.
How much coverage do I need for a residence permit?
A minimum medical expenses figure applies, reported as โฌ10,000. Confirm the current requirement with the Migration Department before buying, since your application depends on it.
Can I see an English-speaking doctor?
More reliably in private clinics in Vilnius and Kaunas. Public clinics operate mainly in Lithuanian, with Russian widely spoken. This is a common reason to hold top-up private cover.
What happens if I lose my job?
PSD coverage tied to employment doesn't continue indefinitely. Registering as unemployed may place you in a state-insured category; otherwise you may need to self-pay or take private cover. Check your position promptly rather than assuming.
Related Guides
Disclosure and disclaimer. Some links on this page are affiliate links, which may earn us a commission at no cost to you and do not affect our recommendations. This is general guidance, not insurance or medical advice. Rules, rates and coverage requirements change โ confirm with the Migration Department, the National Health Insurance Fund and your insurer before acting.