Lithuania Constitution Exam: What It Is and Who Needs It

The LR Konstitucijos pagrindų egzaminas — the Lithuania Constitution Fundamentals Exam — is mandatory for foreigners applying for one of two statuses: a permanent residence permit (leidimas nuolat gyventi) in Lithuania, or Lithuanian citizenship through naturalization.

How it relates to the language exam

The exam is not taken on its own, separately from the rest of the process: it goes together with the Lithuanian language exam (paid separately, €29), and both are taken as part of the same document-application procedure. The logic is simple: the state wants to make sure that someone who is granted the right to live in the country permanently, or who becomes its citizen, understands the basic structure of the state and can communicate in everyday Lithuanian.

Who administers the exam

The exam is organized and administered by the National Education Agency of Lithuania (Nacionalinė švietimo agentūra, NSA) — it is responsible for the content of the questions, the schedule of exam sessions, and the issuing of pass certificates. The legal basis for the procedure is Resolution No. 1687 of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 24 December 2003, which sets out the procedure for taking the exams on the state language and the fundamentals of the Constitution.

Exam format

The exam format is a test of 20 questions with three answer options each; to pass you must answer at least 14 of them correctly, which is 70%. There are no essays or oral interviews in this part of the procedure — only closed-ended questions, with no option to select more than one answer.