In this episode, we talk about the Lithuanian language. How can someone take the official Lithuanian language exam? What types of exams exist, and how can you register if you don’t have a personal code (asmens kodas), as in the case of asylum seekers?
We’ll also share a personal story about how the Level I exam is taken in Vilnius. Where can you get financial support from the Employment Service to study Lithuanian? Our guest explains. Plus, we bring updates on new benefits available for asylum seekers.
Episode contents:
Before diving into the main topic, we want to share how things turned out with the benefits for asylum seekers that we talked about in the first episode of the podcast. Many people followed our advice and were able to receive their first payments this month. Last time, we mainly talked about food support and only briefly mentioned the cash allowance, which amounts to 10% of the VRP. We’re including both application templates so that, if you haven’t applied for these benefits yet, you can do so after listening to this episode.
Download link for the 10% VRP cash allowance application template: available in both docx format and pdf format. If you don’t have software to open these files, click here (the form will open in your browser). The food benefit form is available in the first episode.
Benefits are paid between the 15th and 20th of each month.
We also want to clarify something regarding the documents we mentioned earlier. Based on feedback we’ve received, sometimes the decision to accept an asylum application and the permission to live in a chosen location are combined into a single document. So, your situation might be slightly different. In any case, the most important thing is that your documents prove two things: that you are an asylum seeker and that you live independently.
Now, let’s move on to the main topic of today’s episode.
Employment, education, obtaining permanent residency or citizenship — all of these and more may require a certificate confirming you’ve passed the official Lithuanian language exam.
There are three types of exams:
- State Language Exam (equivalent to A2)
- Category Exam (Category I, II, III [equivalent to A2, B1, B2 respectively])
- Language Level Exam
It is important to choose the correct exam type depending on the purpose of obtaining the certificate. While the types may be equivalent in pairs, they are not interchangeable. For example, to apply for permanent residence or citizenship, either the State Language Exam or Category I Exam is acceptable — but simply having an A2 level certificate is not.
There are two ways to register:
- Via MIGRIS — registration is open for the entire year, but requires a personal code (asmens kodas).
- Via Eksternams NŠA – registration opens two weeks before the exam and is suitable for asylum seekers (you will need a valid identity document — an asylum seeker’s card is accepted).
To register, visit: https://eksternams.nsa.smm.lt/
The exam schedule is published on the NŠA website:
- Category Exams: https://www.nsa.smm.lt/egzaminai-ir-pasiekimu-patikrinimai/valstybines-kalbos-egzaminas/valstybines-kalbos-mokejimo-egzaminas/tvarkarastis/
- Level Exams: https://www.nsa.smm.lt/egzaminai-ir-pasiekimu-patikrinimai/valstybines-kalbos-egzaminas/lietuviu-kalbos-mokejimo-lygiu-nustatymas/
Exam fees are regulated by the Minister of Education’s order V-234 (Article 26).
Continuing the topic of the Lithuanian language, we now discuss different ways to study it. Our guest, Slava, a refugee from Belarus, shared his experience attending language courses through the Employment Service. He noted that the basic integration course, which most refugees attend, only provides initial knowledge, and without practice, the language is quickly forgotten. The second course turned out to be much more effective: more frequent lessons, a sense of discipline, a live classroom atmosphere, and active language use proved to be far more beneficial.
What should you keep in mind when choosing courses? It’s important to carefully review the program details: how many actual hours are dedicated to language learning, whether the format is online or in-person, and what language is used for instruction. The Employment Service only connects you to accredited learning centers, and the quality of instruction depends on the teacher. Remember that you’re only eligible for repeat training once per year, so it’s important to be cautious and ask all necessary questions in advance.
Where to find a program? Here is the link to the portal where you can search for suitable courses: https://portal.uzt.lt/LDBPortal/Pages/TrainingCourses/TrainingCourseList.aspx?branch=NotFormalTrainingCourses&lang=lt
In the newly opened window, enter “lietuvių kalba” in the field labeled “Paieška pagal pavadinimą arba pavadinimo fragmentą” (Search by title or fragment) and click “Ieškoti” (Search).
How is language training financed? Once the Employment Service signs a contract with you, you will receive a voucher, which must be presented to the language school where you will study. This means you won’t have to pay for the courses yourself. The program is specifically designed to facilitate the integration of foreigners in Lithuania.
Employment Service website (Užimtumo tarnyba): https://uzt.lt/
If you would like to be a guest on the Easier Said podcast as a guest or have a question, we invite you to anonymously fill out a feedback form: https://forms.office.com/r/R6zVM97JfP
If you would like to participate in the recording, it is possible for those who are in Vilnius, because we record the podcast here. If you are not from Vilnius but want to share your story, we can tell it in the podcast instead of you. In this case, select “Have a question/suggestion or want to share information” in the second question of the form and tell your story in as much detail as possible, so that it helps other refugees or asylum seekers who have faced a similar problem and have not yet solved it.
If you want to contact us but are afraid to use comments, you can send us an e-mail. After that it will be enough to delete your letter from the “Sent” folder.
Our e-mail address is: help@belarus.fm
