Updated 16/03/2025

Country overview

There are no entry or residence restrictions in Lithuania for people living with HIV. Antiretroviral drugs may be carried for personal use in quantities appropriate to the length of stay. If your supply includes a 6-month supply, it is advisable to have a letter from your doctor with you.

Labor migrants

To receive mandatory medical services, you must have a residence permit and registration in Lithuania. To do this, you need to contact the Migration Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania or the nearest registration centers. The registration center issues a registration card with a personal ESI code, which allows you to receive medical services and prescription drugs. You must register at your place of residence in the address register. This is a paid service; its cost is 1.50-2.00 euros (information as of June 2024). To obtain a residence permit and subsequent documents, you must be officially employed, i.e. have an employment contract with an employer or a certificate of business (for individual activities). For officially employed persons, part of the insurance premium is covered by the employer, and part is automatically deducted from the salary. Migrants with a certificate of business must pay their own health insurance premiums. You will find detailed information on health insurance on the website. Medical insurance is provided free of charge for students (EU and non-EU).

Refugees

In Lithuania, the mechanism for obtaining a residence permit for refugees and labor migrants is no different. You can receive guaranteed medical services only with a residence permit and registration. To obtain a residence permit and subsequent documents, you must be officially employed, i.e. have an employment contract with an employer or a certificate of business (for individual activities). Until officially recognized employment, medical services are provided on payment of a fee. Read more about obtaining a residence permit in the migrant worker’s section.

Illegal refugees are held in temporary accommodation centers. The Migration Service prepares documents for a legal stay in the country at these centers directly. During the period of stay in temporary accommodation centers, emergency medical care is paid for by the state. Legalization of refugee status in Lithuania is possible only after first obtaining a residence permit and employment.

The Lithuanian Red Cross could purchase ART for refugees. To receive assistance, you must contact NGOs that cooperate with the Red Cross. To speed up the process of receiving ART, it is better to have extracts from your medical card or drug packaging with you.

Access to treatment

HIV-related health services are integrated into regular clinics. Family doctors refer patients to infectious disease specialists. NPOs can also connect directly with infectious disease specialists under special programs. To register and receive free ART, you must make an appointment at the nearest clinic, where HIV-related treatment is provided. It is important to make an appointment with a doctor in advance, as receiving medication takes time. ART is issued according to an electronic prescription from a doctor in a pharmacy, strictly if there is an ESI code.

Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos Infectious Diseases Center

Address: Santariskiu str. 14, Vilnius

Phone: +37052752790 Mon-Thu 8:00-17:00, Fri 8:00-14:00

Infectious diseases:
Elzbieta Matulyte, phone: +37069779006
Raimonda Matulionyte, phone: +3705732185

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Hospital

Consulting Polyclinic

Address: Josvainiu str. 2, Kaunas

Phone: +37037306045 Mon-Fri 8:00-18:00

Infectious diseases specialists: Daiva Velyvyte, Violeta Kanisauskiene, phone: +37037362174

Klaipeda University Hospital

AIDS centre

Address: Liepojos str. 39, Klaipeda

Phone: +37046410000 Mon-Fri 8:00-16:00

Internal medicine specialist: Zavinta Kancauskiene, phone: +37046396608

Republican Siauliai County Hospital

Clinic of Conservative Medicine Adult Infectious Diseases Unit

Address: V. Kudirkos str. 99, Siauliai

Phone: +37041500111 Mon-Fri 7:30-19:30

Infectious disease specialist: Aidas Kausas, phone: +37041524272

The treatment of people living with HIV is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health. It is impossible to buy ART on your own without a prescription. At the same time, you can get prescriptions for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) from your doctor and buy the prescribed drugs yourself.

If you are left without ART, have difficulty obtaining insurance, or do not have the necessary documents, you should seek advice and help from local public organizations. See the "NPO" section for contacts and addresses.