Unlike most things on this site, this one isn't optional. Health insurance is a legal condition of a Lithuanian visa or residence permit for non-EU nationals — applications are refused without it. So the useful question isn't whether to buy it, but which of three different things you actually need.
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Yes — non-EU nationals need private health insurance to get a Lithuanian visa or permit
You need €30,000 of cover including repatriation for a Visa D or Schengen visa, or €10,000 for a temporary residence permit. State PSD cover only kicks in once you're employed or self-employed here, so most new arrivals buy a private policy first and drop it once PSD is active.
Check the cover you need — €30,000 for a visa, €10,000 for a permit → compare compliant insurers → buy your policy → submit it with your application → cancel once PSD is active
Three different things, often confused
1. PSD — the state system. Compulsory health insurance, paid through Sodra. If you're employed or self-employed here, you're in it automatically and your permit requirement is satisfied. Not paying? It costs €80.48/month to pay in voluntarily.
2. Private compliance cover. What you buy to satisfy the €10,000 or €30,000 requirement before PSD kicks in — or instead of it, if you never join. This is what most new arrivals need and what this page is mainly about.
3. Supplementary private insurance. Optional. Skips the queues, covers private clinics and adult dentistry. Nothing to do with your permit. Typically €12–75/month from Lithuanian insurers.
Table of Contents
Do You Need Private Insurance?
| Your situation | Private cover needed | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| EU/EEA citizen | ✗ | Your EHIC or home cover generally suffices — no permit insurance requirement |
| Non-EU, applying for a visa D from abroad | ✓ | €30,000 including repatriation |
| Non-EU, applying for a residence permit | ✓ | €10,000 minimum |
| Non-EU, employed in Lithuania | ✓ | PSD via your employer once contributions start — private cover for the gap before that |
| Non-EU, self-employed | ✓ | PSD through your own contributions — private cover for the gap |
| Non-EU student | ✓ | Students on a TRP are not covered by PSD at the state's expense |
| Non-working spouse | ✓ | Private cover until eligible for PSD |
| Children under 18, resident | ✗ | Covered by the state |
Last updated: 31 July 2026. Requirements may vary — always confirm directly with the provider before proceeding.
Our recommendation for permit-compliant cover:
The gap that catches almost everyone. You are not in PSD from the day you land — you're in it once contributions are actually being made. Between arriving, signing a contract and the first Sodra payment there is usually a window of weeks where you have no cover at all unless you bought private insurance. Buy the private policy for your permit anyway, then cancel it once PSD is active. How Lithuanian healthcare works →
Where to Buy Compliant Cover
The awkward part of this market is that most Lithuanian insurers sell to Lithuanian residents — people who already have an asmens kodas. If you're applying for a visa from abroad, or you've just arrived and don't have a personal code yet, that's a problem.
Feather
Built for exactly this situation. Explicitly meets both Lithuanian thresholds — €30,000 with repatriation for visas, €10,000 for residence permits — and states so on the certificate, which is what the Migration Department wants to see.
You can sign up without a Lithuanian personal code, which solves the chicken-and-egg problem: you need insurance to get the permit, and the permit to get the code. Documents download in about two minutes, everything is in English, and support answers in English too.
Three things to know before buying, from their own terms:
- 31-day waiting period with reduced cover at the start. Life-threatening conditions are still covered, and it can sometimes be waived — ask.
- You pay clinics upfront and claim reimbursement. Not a direct-billing card. Budget for that in your first months.
- New conditions only. Pre-existing conditions aren't covered — true of essentially all policies in this category.
Verify your policy against your own application. Requirements differ between a visa and a permit, and the Migration Department checks the certificate wording — particularly whether repatriation is named for visa applications. Whatever you buy, read the certificate before submitting and confirm it states the coverage amount, the validity dates and repatriation where required. If your case is unusual, ask an immigration lawyer rather than guessing.
Digital nomad insurance is not the same thing. Policies aimed at travellers and remote workers — the well-known nomad brands — are often cheaper and are excellent for what they do, but they are not written to satisfy a residence permit and may not state the wording Lithuania requires. Do not assume a nomad policy will pass. Travel insurance is a separate question →
PSD — The State System
Privalomasis sveikatos draudimas is Lithuania's compulsory health insurance, administered through Sodra and the National Health Insurance Fund. It covers treatment in state facilities.
| How you're covered | Cost to you |
|---|---|
| Employed | Deducted from your salary as part of Sodra — 6.98% of gross |
| Self-employed (individuali veikla) | Part of your own contributions |
| Paying voluntarily | €80.48/month — €965.76/year |
| Children, pensioners, registered unemployed | Paid by the state |
| Student on a TRP | Not covered at the state's expense |
Supplementary Insurance and Lithuanian Insurers
Entirely separate from your permit. Supplementary cover buys faster access to specialists, private clinics, adult dentistry, and broader diagnostics — the things PSD either doesn't cover or makes you queue for.
The main Lithuanian providers, with indicative monthly pricing for a standard plan:
| Insurer | Indicative monthly | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Compensa | €12–50 | Usually the cheaper end |
| ERGO | €15–60 | Widest range of plans |
| BTA | €18–65 | — |
| Lietuvos Draudimas | €20–75 | Largest clinic network, premium plans |
| If P&C · Balcia | — | Also active in this market |
None of these pay us anything. They're listed because they're the market. Prices are indicative and depend on age, health and plan — the insurer gives you the real number.
Market change worth knowing about. Gjensidige stops writing new business in Lithuania from 29 April 2026 and will distribute ERGO products instead, with the two merging across the Baltics by the end of 2026. If you're comparing quotes and see Gjensidige recommended somewhere, check the date on that advice.
Common Mistakes
Assuming a digital nomad policy will satisfy the permit requirement
Travel and nomad insurance is often cheaper, but it isn't written to satisfy a Lithuanian residence permit and may not state the cover the Migration Department wants to see. Check the certificate wording before relying on one.
Not checking that repatriation is named on the certificate
For a visa D or Schengen visa, the Migration Department checks specifically for repatriation cover, not just the €30,000 headline figure. Read the certificate before submitting.
Paying for private cover after PSD is active
Once you're employed and contributing, PSD satisfies the requirement at renewal. Cancel the private policy once state cover is genuinely active — don't keep paying for both.
Assuming a pre-existing condition is covered
Almost never, in this category of policy. Compliance cover is written for new conditions arising after the policy starts.
Buying your own cover without asking your employer
Group supplementary health insurance is a common Lithuanian benefit. Ask before buying privately — you may already be covered.
Confusing PSD, compliance cover and supplementary insurance
They're three different things with three different purposes — see the breakdown above. Buying the wrong one for your situation is a common and avoidable mistake.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is health insurance really mandatory for a Lithuanian residence permit?
Yes, for non-EU nationals. Applications are refused without proof of cover. The minimum is €10,000 for a temporary residence permit and €30,000 including repatriation for a visa D or Schengen visa.
Can I cancel private insurance once I start working?
Yes. Once you're employed and contributing to Sodra, PSD covers you and satisfies the requirement at permit renewal. Keep the private policy until PSD is genuinely active, then cancel.
Do EU citizens need private health insurance in Lithuania?
Generally no. Your EHIC covers necessary treatment, and once you're working here you're in PSD like anyone else. Supplementary private cover is optional.
What does €80.48 a month get me?
That's the voluntary PSD contribution — it puts you in the state system with access to state healthcare. It's the option for people who aren't employed, aren't self-employed, and aren't covered by the state.
Will travel insurance satisfy my permit requirement?
For a visa, travel insurance meeting €30,000 with repatriation is generally accepted. For a residence permit, the policy must clearly state at least €10,000 of medical cover. Check the certificate wording rather than assuming.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Almost never, in this category of policy. Compliance cover is written for new conditions arising after the policy starts. If you have an ongoing condition, take advice before relying on any of these products.
Next Steps
- Applying for a residence permit — where the insurance proof goes
- Healthcare in Lithuania — registering with a GP once you're covered
- Moving to Lithuania — the full first-year checklist
Not insurance advice. HowToLithuania is an information publisher. We are not an insurance broker, insurance intermediary or financial adviser, and we do not sell or arrange insurance. Policies are contracted directly with the insurer, who confirms final terms, price and suitability. For anything where your immigration status depends on the answer, take professional advice.
Disclosure. Some links on this page are affiliate links and may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you. It does not change what we recommend. The Lithuanian insurers listed above pay us nothing and appear anyway, and we say plainly where a cheap policy — or your employer's existing cover — is the better answer.