Lithuanian Constitution exam for foreigners: two different exams

Two completely different things in Lithuania go by the name "Constitution exam". One is the free public Konstitucijos egzaminas, a civic contest the Ministry of Justice runs every year around 25 October at konstitucijosegzaminas.lt. The other is the official Constitution basics exam (Konstitucijos pagrindų egzaminas) run by the National Agency for Education (NŠA), and it is the only Lithuanian Constitution exam for foreigners that the Migration Department accepts.

If you are applying for a permanent residence permit or citizenship, you need the second one. The public contest has no legal effect and its result cannot be uploaded to MIGRIS. Here is how to tell them apart, why the mix-up costs weeks, and how to prepare for the exam you actually need.

Lithuanian Constitution exam for foreigners: the two exams side by side

The names are similar; the purpose is the opposite. Compare the key features.

Feature	Public Konstitucijos egzaminas	Official Constitution basics exam
Organiser	Ministry of Justice	National Agency for Education (NŠA)
Purpose	Civic event marking Constitution Day	Checks that a foreigner knows the basics of the Constitution
Who	Anyone: pupils, citizens, foreigners	Applicants for a permanent residence permit or citizenship
When	Once a year, around 25 October	Several times a year; six dates are scheduled for 2026
Where	Online or at schools	At "base schools" (usually gymnasiums) in municipalities across Lithuania
Format	Online quiz, no formal requirements	Written test: 20 questions, 3 options each, 14 correct to pass
Language	Lithuanian	Lithuanian only, no reference materials
Cost	Free	€21 (confirm the current amount on the portal)
Registration	On konstitucijosegzaminas.lt	On migracija.lt, at least 15 calendar days before the exam date
Result / document	A score, a thank-you note or a diploma	Certificate issued by NŠA, handed out within 3 working days
Counts for a permit or citizenship?	No	Yes

How to tell which one you need

Ask yourself three questions.

1. Are you applying for a permanent residence permit or citizenship? If yes, you need the official NŠA exam. The requirement comes from Article 53(6) of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens and from the Citizenship Law.
2. Is the Migration Department asking for a certificate? The document attached to your MIGRIS application is the NŠA certificate. A diploma from the public contest is not accepted there.
3. Are you 65 or older, or do you have a group I or II disability? Then you are exempt from both the language exam and the Constitution exam and do not need to sit either. The same applies to people with a severe chronic mental illness.

If you answered "no" to the first question and simply want to test yourself, the public contest is a fine choice. For migration purposes, though, it changes nothing.

For the full list of documents and exams the permit requires, see the Constitution exam for a permanent residence permit.

How the wrong registration costs you weeks

A typical story: in September someone starts preparing a permanent residence application, searches "konstitucijos egzaminas", lands on konstitucijosegzaminas.lt and signs up. In late October they pass, receive a diploma and upload it through MIGRIS at migracija.lt. The Migration Department rejects the document.

Now the real countdown starts. Registration for the NŠA exam closes 15 calendar days before each exam date, and there are only six dates in the year. If the nearest date is full or already closed, you wait for the next one.

Add a few days for the certificate and the 45-day to 3-month processing time for the permit itself. One wrong click in a search result can push your permit back by weeks or even months. That is why it pays to open the right portal from the start: migracija.lt.

All the deadlines and numbers are collected in Constitution exam numbers and deadlines.

Where the public contest is still useful

It has no legal weight, but as practice it has real value. The questions draw on the same Constitution: 154 articles in 14 chapters plus final provisions. If you are already studying for the official exam, late October gives you a free chance to test yourself in Lithuanian.

Still, relying on it alone is a mistake for three reasons.

• It runs once a year, while your NŠA exam date may fall in February or May.
• The format differs: the official exam is always 20 questions with 3 options and a clear pass mark of 14.
• It does not follow the NŠA programme topic list that official questions are built from.

The better option is to train in the exact format you will face on exam day. You can start with the free practice questions, no registration needed.

A short guide to the official exam

Registration

You register through the Migration Department's MIGRIS system at migracija.lt. Choose a municipality and a date, then pay the €21 fee. Registration closes 15 calendar days before the exam, so look for dates early.

Exam day

The exam takes place at a base school, usually a gymnasium. You get a written test of 20 questions, each with 3 answer options and exactly one correct answer. No reference materials are allowed and everything is in Lithuanian.

You pass with 14 or more correct answers, which is 70%. An oral form is possible only for people who cannot write for objective reasons.

What it covers

Questions come from every chapter of the Constitution, following the NŠA programme: the Lithuanian State, the person and the State, society and the State, the national economy and labour, the Seimas, the President of the Republic, the Government, the Constitutional Court, the courts, local self-government and administration, finances and the state budget, the State Control, foreign policy and national defence, and amending the Constitution.

For example, you should know that under Article 1 the State of Lithuania is an independent democratic republic, and that under Article 55 the Seimas consists of 141 members elected for four years. The institutions topic is laid out in the State institutions section.

Certificate and retakes

NŠA issues the certificate and the base school hands it out within 3 working days. If you fail, you can retake the exam with no fixed limit, but you register and pay again each time.

How to prepare without stress

The Constitution is not long, and the exam tests facts rather than legal analysis. The most effective routine is to read by topic and answer questions right away.

1. Read the full exam guide so you know the whole process from registration to certificate.
2. Work through the NŠA programme topics in order and answer that topic's questions after each one.
3. Memorise the numbers: 141 Seimas members, a 4-year term, 300 thousand voters for a referendum, 14 correct answers to pass.
4. In the last week, do only full 20-question mock exams and check that you consistently score above 14.

If Lithuanian is not your native language, study in two languages: understand the content in your own language, then practise the questions in Lithuanian, because the exam is only in Lithuanian.

Frequently asked questions

Does a diploma from the public Konstitucijos egzaminas count with the Migration Department?

No. The Migration Department accepts only the Constitution basics exam certificate issued by NŠA. The public contest is a civic event with no legal effect.

Can I take the official exam online?

No. The official exam is a written test taken at a base school. Only the registration happens online, on migracija.lt.

Can I take the exam in English or Russian?

No, the official exam is in Lithuanian only. That is also why the state language exam at category I (A2 level), which costs €52, is required alongside it.

How many times can I retake it?

There is no fixed limit. You register and pay the fee again each time, so it is cheaper to prepare well for the first attempt.

When should I register?

As soon as you know you will apply for the permit or citizenship. There are few dates each year, and registration for each closes 15 calendar days ahead.

Want to practise in the same format you will meet on exam day? Premium gives you full 20-question mock exams with explanations and progress tracking from €5.95.