Vilnius to offer free Lithuanian language courses for foreign residents

VILNIUS - Vilnius is launching free Lithuanian language courses to help foreign residents integrate into the capital’s social fabric.

"Eighty percent of foreigners living in Vilnius are non-EU citizens, and many of them are Russian speakers. This explains why there is a trend where Russian is heard frequently on the streets of Vilnius, while Lithuanian is becoming less audible," Mayor Valdas Benkunskas told reporters on Thursday.

Free courses began at Vytautas Magnus University earlier this year, with capacity for 1,500 people. According to the municipality, initial groups are already full and registration for new classes will open in June.

The city will also offer free remote courses for A1-B1 levels starting in late April. Additionally, more than 20 teachers from 15 Vilnius schools have joined an initiative to provide individual lessons. Participants will negotiate fees directly with teachers, while the city provides the premises free of charge.

Benkunskas noted that promotional banners will soon appear across the city directing residents to the askalbu.lt website, which lists available courses.

RESIDENCY LINKED TO LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Municipal data shows that 76,000 foreigners live in the capital, 61,000 of whom are non-European Union citizens.

The mayor argued that the primary issue is a lack of legal incentives for foreigners on temporary permits to learn the language.

"The majority - 40,000 people - are here on temporary permits. We see that Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia dominate. My proposal is that if a person seeks to renew their permit after three years and their Lithuanian level is zero, the permit should not be extended, meaning they must leave," Benkunskas said.

He confirmed he has written to the Interior Minister urging legislative changes in the Seimas.

PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

A Norstat survey commissioned by the municipality found that 76 percent of Vilnius residents believe immigration tensions would decrease if immigrants used Lithuanian in daily life. Furthermore, 92 percent agree that foreigners wishing to live in Lithuania should achieve at least basic language proficiency.

The language initiative is part of a 2026-2028 integration action plan for foreign residents, with a budget of 4.3 million euros.

In late September, the Seimas began debating amendments initiated by Laurynas Kasciunas, a party colleague of Benkunskas, which propose tightening migration policy and strengthening linguistic integration. The amendments include a requirement for foreigners to learn Lithuanian after five years of residency to renew temporary permits.

"This is a systemic issue. If we do not change the rules, everything collapses like a house of cards. Granting temporary permits must be tied to language proficiency," the mayor said.

President Gitanas Nauseda has also proposed migration policy changes, suggesting that temporary work permits be issued more quickly for a maximum period of two years.

According to Migration Department data from March 1, there were 189,000 foreigners with temporary residence permits in Lithuania.