With the Seimas having obliged foreigners and the companies that employ them to provide customer service in Lithuanian starting in 2026, we encourage not to wait and to start learning Lithuanian now.
Lithuanian is an overall unpopular and difficult language, but many foreigners living in Lithuania can testify that it is a language that can be mastered!
More and more people speak English. Why learn Lithuanian?
- Legal Requirements – Starting January 1, 2026, a law will come into effect requiring anyone who works directly with clients to know and use Lithuanian. If you provide services and work with customers, you'll need to know Lithuanian at least at level A;
- Citizenship and Long-Term Residency – If you wish to acquire Lithuanian citizenship or a permanent residence permit, knowledge of Lithuanian is required;
- Employment Opportunities – Although international companies in major cities hire specialists proficient in various foreign languages, not knowing Lithuanian significantly limits your job and career prospects;
- Sense of Security – Knowing the language can help in critical situations, such as emergencies, where you may need to call for help or communicate quickly with locals;
- Lithuanian Culture – Learning Lithuanian will help you better understand the country’s customs and values. What emotional nuance do diminutives carry? How can you make a clever joke and sound like a local? What associations do certain borrowed words evoke for Lithuanians? These secrets unfold only once you start learning the language;
- Patriotism and Respect – By learning the language, you demonstrate respect for the country you live in and contribute to the preservation of its cultural identity.
Where can I learn Lithuanian for free?
- Employment Service ‒ The Employment Service finances language courses for unemployed as well as employed people.
- Let's Learn Lithuanian – Every week, the Let's Learn Lithuanian club gathers at MiCenter in Vilnius, Vilnius, where local foreigners and Lithuanians come to spend time together, both to learn the language and to socialize. There is no strict curriculum: board games, listening exercises, discussions and conversations, usually moderated by Lithuanians who help foreigners learn the language. Currently, classes are held on Wednesdays from 18:00 to 20:00, and no registration is required to participate. For more information: letslearnlithuanian@gmail.com.
- House of Ethnic Communities (Tautinių bendrijų namai) – House of Ethnic Communities has been organising Lithuanian language courses for more than thirty years. The courses include guided tours and live classes, which not only teach visitors to speak Lithuanian in a variety of everyday situations, but also promote the integration of non-native speakers. Prior to the start of the course, meetings are held to determine the students' level of language proficiency and discuss their expectations, and groups are formed accordingly. The language training is funded by the Department of National Minorities under the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and the State Commission for the Lithuanian Language and is therefore free of charge for course participants. Pre-registration is required for the course, which takes place in January and August each year. Contact person: Director of the House of National Communities Gžegož Miloševič. E-mail: info@tbn.lt Tel. No: +370 5 216 0408.
Although Lithuanian is not a popular language worldwide, the growing number of apps that choose to add Lithuanian to their language list shows the demand for learning it. Mobile apps recommended by MiCenter.lt can be found here.
Based on information from MiCenter.lt
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