Who is exempt from taking the state language proficiency examinations?

    In accordance with Resolution No. 1688 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 24 December 2003 ‘On the Approval of the Description of Categories of Proficiency in the State Language and the Procedure for their Application’, persons who have attained the third category of proficiency in the state language and a level of proficiency in the Lithuanian language of at least B2 are deemed to meet at least one of the following requirements:

• those who have completed primary, secondary, higher (or higher education obtained before 2009, or specialised secondary education obtained before 1995) education in the Lithuanian language;
• have completed educational programmes of foreign states or international organisations in the Republic of Lithuania, provided that the instruction was in the Lithuanian language;
• have obtained secondary education at an educational institution operating abroad, provided that the instruction was in the Lithuanian language or that the Lithuanian language was taught;
• those who completed a secondary education programme in the Republic of Lithuania in 1991 or later, an adult secondary education programme, or an initial vocational training programme combined with a secondary education programme in a language other than Lithuanian, and who have passed a school-leaving or matriculation examination demonstrating proficiency in the Lithuanian language.

    Persons who completed secondary education in the language of a national minority before 1991 are deemed to have attained the first category of proficiency in the state language and a level of proficiency in the Lithuanian language of at least A2, provided that Lithuanian was taught.

    Persons who have passed the state language examination for the purpose of acquiring citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania are deemed to have attained the first category of proficiency in the state language and a level of proficiency in the Lithuanian language of at least A2.