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1. EU programmes

2. Other Programmes

3. Legal framework applying to foreign volunteers

EU programmes

The main source of international youth volunteering in Lithuania is the European Solidarity Corps, which is administered and coordinated by the Agency of Youth Affairs in Lithuania.

There are separate non-governmental organizations that take care of international youth volunteering programs. They first receive the accreditation of the European Voluntary Service (abbreviated hereafter - EVS) organization that sends, receives and coordinates volunteers. For example, the Socialinis veiksmas  (Social Action) organization has been working to develop quality volunteering in Lithuania and beyond since 2005, coordinating European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering projects (accepting and sending young people). Rietava's youth center also runs international programs.

The public institution Actio Catholica Patria is one of the first youth activity organizations in Lithuania, actively operating since 1991 and providing social and cultural services to young people. "A.C. Patria" helps young people and organizations discover volunteering opportunities in Lithuania and abroad, advises on local and international volunteering issues.

Lithuania also participates in other international volunteering programs. There is an information platform about opportunities for independent volunteering abroad for young people.  Here are links to organizations and programs where young people can choose to volunteer, e.g.:

1. Conservation Volunteers Australia; Australia or New Zealand; duration from 1 to 6 weeks.
2. Global Aware. 17 locations: Peru, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cuba, Nepal, Brazil, Cambodia, Guatemala, Laos, Vietnam, India, Jamaica, Romania, Ghana, Mexico, China. Duration – 1 week.
3. Uvolunteer program. in Africa, Asia, South, Latin and Central America. Duration - from 2 weeks and longer.
4. Etc.

Also information about volunteering opportunities in Africa is available here. Volunteering in Africa is possible in the following areas: child care in kindergartens, children's training and care in special centers. The usual duration of the program is 2-4 weeks.

There are no special legal requirements, bilateral international agreements or special visa regulations to foreign volunteers. Visa policy and residence permits and other potential conditions that young volunteers will be subjected to depend on their country of origin. Detailed information can be found on Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania website.

Relevant information for arriving foreigners is also published on the website of the International Organization for Migration.  The Migration Information Centre (MIC) provides information about:

1. Key information about Lithuania.
2. Tailored-made information for persons displaced from humanitarian crisis areas, political prisoners, and exiles of Lithuanian descent.
3. Steps to take before the return and first steps in Lithuania.
4. Citizenship related questions.
5. Housing and declaration of place of residence.
6. Real estate and financial government subsidies for housing.
7. Aggregation of employment periods abroad.
8. Transferability of social security rights and benefits.
9. Health insurance and compulsory health insurance.
10. Education and support for returning children.
11. Recognition of foreign qualifications in Lithuania.
12. Opportunities for youth to study and trainings in Lithuania.
13. Driving and driver’s licenses.
14. Labor market trends and employment opportunities.
15. Taxes/finances.
16. Special programs for returnees and exiles.
17. Adaptation and (re)integration in Lithuania.
18. Psychological support.
19. Arrival of family members – foreigners.

Quality Assurance (QA)

The Agency of Youth Affairs issues a national certificate of the volunteer activities coordinated or implemented by the Agency itself (more see there). The Agency also aims to include volunteering experience into the youth pass - a European recognition tool for non-formal and informal learning in youth work.  Some volunteer organizations have their own standards of quality and quality regulations (e.g. European Solidarity Corps). In 2020 The Agency of Youth Affairs adopted the Description of the quality and supervision procedure for the implementation of the Youth Voluntary Service. This document is aimed at improving standard of quality of volunteering. 

Order Approval of the description of the accreditation procedure for youth volunteer organizations has been adopted in 2019 by the Department of Youth (now - Agency of Youth Affairs). New document adopted in 2023 is here. Applicant organizations can receive 3-year accreditation. Organizations that have been accredited in the Youth Voluntary Service or Discover Yourself projects can apply for re-accreditation. The updated accreditation procedure provides for the development of all organizations, therefore each organization will receive recommendations for the improvement of its activities upon application and meeting with the expert, regardless of the final decision of the expert. In this way, the aim is for youth volunteer hosting organizations to be innovative and responsive to the changing needs of young people.

Accreditation of a youth volunteer host organization consists of 3 stages:

• Application Submission - Organizations seeking accreditation or re-accreditation must complete an application that provides information about the organization, its activities, and its plans. If the organization intends to host volunteers at more than one location, the application must include all mentors working with the volunteers in the units. 

• Evaluation of the application and meeting - the application of the organization is evaluated by the staff of the Department of Youth Affairs and external experts who meet with the representatives of the organization.

• Decision and recommendations - After the meeting with the organization, the experts make a decision on accreditation based on the information provided in the application of the organization and during the meeting and prepare recommendations for further development of the organization.

If an organization has already been accredited through a Youth Voluntary Service or Discover Yourself project, it can apply for re-accreditation. During re-accreditation, the organization will also have to submit an application, a meeting with experts will take place, and the organization will receive expert recommendations.  

Organizations that have been awarded the European Solidarity Corps quality mark, the accreditation of host organizations is provided in a simplified manner.