Constitution Exam for the Permanent Residence Permit in 2026
The Constitution basics exam for the permanent residence permit is compulsory for most foreigners who apply for a permanent residence permit (leidimas nuolat gyventi) after 5 years of lawful residence in Lithuania under Article 53(6) of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens. The test has 20 questions with 3 answer options each, and you pass with 14 or more correct answers.
You register through the Migration Department's MIGRIS system at migracija.lt at least 15 calendar days before the exam date, the 2026 fee is €21, and your certificate is ready within 3 working days. Below is the full route from registration to the permit, with every deadline and cost.
Who needs the Constitution exam for the permanent residence permit
A permanent residence permit is normally issued to a foreigner who has lived in Lithuania lawfully and continuously for 5 years on temporary residence permits. This is the Article 53(6) route, and it is by far the most common reason people sit this exam.
On this route you must submit two certificates with your application: the state language exam (category I, level A2) and the Constitution basics exam. Without them the Migration Department will not process the application, unless you qualify for an exemption.
The same exam is also required for citizenship by naturalisation, but that path needs 10 years of residence and comes with extra conditions. The two routes are compared in citizenship or permanent residence: which exams you need.
Who is exempt
The following groups are exempt from both the language and the Constitution exam:
- people aged 65 or older;
- people with a group I or II disability (severe or moderate);
- people with a severe chronic mental illness.
If you belong to one of these groups, you skip the exam and upload the supporting documents in MIGRIS instead.
Exam format: 20 questions, 3 options, 14 to pass
The Constitution basics exam is a written test. You get 20 questions, each with 3 answer options and exactly one correct answer. You pass with 14 or more correct answers, which is 70%.
The exam is held in Lithuanian only. You cannot use the text of the Constitution, notes or your phone. An oral form exists only for people who cannot write for objective reasons, such as a disability.
Questions are drawn from all chapters of the Constitution according to the official programme: the Lithuanian State, the individual and the State, the Seimas, the President, the Government, the Constitutional Court, the courts, local self-government, finances, foreign policy and defence, and amending the Constitution. The full topic list is in the exam guide.
Step by step: from registration to the permit
- Check whether the exam applies to you. If you are 65 or older or have a group I or II disability, you do not need it.
- Create an account on migracija.lt. Choose the Constitution basics exam, your municipality and one of the 2026 dates.
- Register at least 15 calendar days before the exam and pay the €21 fee through the system.
- Prepare. Work through the programme topics and practise in the real format of 20 questions with 3 options.
- Go to the base school on the exam day with your ID document and write the test.
- Collect your certificate from the base school within 3 working days.
- Pass the state language exam (category I, A2) if you do not have that certificate yet. The fee is €52.
- Apply through MIGRIS on migracija.lt, attach both certificates and pay €160 (or €320 for urgent processing).
- Wait for the decision, 45 days to 3 months, then collect a permit valid for 5 years.
Registering on migracija.lt and paying the fee
The exam is run by the National Agency for Education (NŠA). Registration is online only, through migracija.lt. Six Constitution exam dates are scheduled across the country in 2026; the portal shows the dates and the available places in each municipality.
The one rule that catches people out: you must register no later than 15 calendar days before your chosen date. Miss it and you wait for the next session, which can push your whole permit timeline back by months.
The 2026 fee for the Constitution exam is €21, according to NŠA's candidate leaflet; confirm the current figure on the portal before you pay. Payment is made during registration through the e-services system. The state language exam costs €52 (per NŠA's registration portal) and is booked separately on eksternams.nsa.smm.lt. That fee must be paid within 24 hours of the registration being confirmed, or the application is cancelled.
If you fail, you can register again. There is no fixed limit on retakes, but each attempt means a new registration, a new fee and waiting for the next date.
What happens on exam day
Exams take place in base schools (bazinės mokyklos), usually gymnasiums, in municipalities across Lithuania. You will see the exact address and time in the portal after registering.
Arrive early with the same valid ID document you used to register. Phones and notes stay out of reach; no reference materials of any kind are allowed.
The test itself is 20 questions with three options. Read every question to the end before choosing an answer. Most lost points come from rushing rather than from not knowing the material.
Certificate within 3 working days, then MIGRIS
Certificates are issued by NŠA and handed out by the base school where you sat the exam, within 3 working days. You also need the second document, the category I (A2) state language certificate. How to line up both exams efficiently is covered in taking the Constitution and A2 language exams together.
With both certificates in hand, you submit the permanent residence permit application through MIGRIS at migracija.lt. The 2026 state fee is €160 for standard processing or €320 for urgent processing.
Processing takes 45 days to 3 months. The permanent residence permit is valid for 5 years and is renewable.
Timeline from registration to permit
| Stage | Timing | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Registration on migracija.lt | At least 15 calendar days before the exam | €21 |
| Constitution basics exam | One of six dates in 2026 | Included |
| Certificate issued | Within 3 working days after the exam | No charge |
| State language exam (category I, A2) | Separate registration on eksternams.nsa.smm.lt | €52 |
| Application through MIGRIS | Once you hold both certificates | €160 (urgent €320) |
| Decision on the permit | 45 days to 3 months | – |
| Permit validity | 5 years, renewable | – |
The practical takeaway: count backwards from the day your current temporary permit expires. The two exams, the certificates and the MIGRIS processing together can easily take several months.
How to prepare so you pass first time
The Constitution was adopted by referendum on 25 October 1992 and entered into force on 2 November 1992. It has 154 articles in 14 chapters plus final provisions. You do not need to memorise the whole text; you need to know the programme topics.
Examiners like numbers and institutions. Article 55 says the Seimas has 141 members elected for four years; Article 14 says the state language is Lithuanian. Topics like these are grouped in the state institutions section.
The most effective preparation is practising in the exam format. The app has 184 questions in Lithuanian, English and Russian, about 30 of them free without registration. Full 20-question mock exams with explanations and progress tracking are in the premium version from €5.95.
FAQ
Can I take the Constitution exam in English or Russian?
No. The official exam is in Lithuanian only. You can study in your own language, but you will read the questions in Lithuanian, so learn the key terms, such as Seimas, Vyriausybė and Konstitucinis Teismas, in Lithuanian.
Where is the exam held, and can I pick the city?
Exams are held in base schools in municipalities across Lithuania. You choose the municipality and the date when you register on the portal, subject to available places.
Does the free public Konstitucijos egzaminas in October count?
No. The public Constitution exam organised by the Ministry of Justice around Constitution Day (25 October) is a civic event and has no value for migration purposes. Only the NŠA exam counts for the permit.
What if I fail?
Register for another date on the portal and pay the fee again. There is no limit on attempts, but every extra session delays your MIGRIS application, so it pays to prepare properly the first time.
Want to know where you stand? Try the free practice questions and see whether you would already reach 14 out of 20.
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