Compulsory initial military service

Compulsory initial military service is an opportunity to acquire basic military training, pursue a career in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, and fulfill one’s duty to the fatherland.

All 18-year-old men who have completed school and have been found fit to defend their country with arms after a health check are called up for compulsory initial military service. The list of conscripts for 2026 is planned to be compiled by January 7. The lists of conscripts who will be called up for compulsory initial military service in 2026 will be published on www.karys.lt within a few days of their compilation.

The 2026 conscription procedure is adapted to today’s needs – more attention is paid to the different plans and study schedules of young people, so you will be able to choose the time and place of service yourself. Adult students will be able to start their service immediately after graduating from school, and completion of the service will give them 0.5 competitive points when applying to higher education institutions. Students will be given the opportunity to choose alternative, shorter forms of service so that they can be combined with their studies. Oh, we also heard that from 2026, compulsory initial military service will also be possible in the Special Operations Forces!

Information about the 2026 conscription system reform can be found here: www.neeiliniai.lt

Deferral of service

Service will not be deferred for students who enrolled in higher education after being included in the list of conscripts, thus expanding the list of conscripts so that as many young citizens as possible who have completed school and obtained a secondary education aged 18 and over are invited to perform their military service.

Young people aged 17 who will have reached or will reach the age of 18 during the relevant year of conscription will be included in the annual list of conscripts for the purpose of submitting the necessary data and documents to the national defense system institution administering military service and undergoing a health check at the specified time to determine their fitness for military service. Upon reaching the age of 18 and/or completing secondary or vocational school, individuals would be able to immediately begin compulsory initial military service.

Persons are called up for compulsory initial military service from the age of 18 until the age of 22, and, upon written request, from the age of 18 until the age of 39.

Exceptions are provided for:

conscripts whose service has been postponed on an individual basis will be called up for service until they reach the age of 23, once the circumstances that led to the postponement have ended;
those who were assigned to compulsory initial military service but did not report for duty, as well as conscripts who have acquired professions (qualifications) that are in short supply in the Lithuanian Armed Forces, will be called up until they reach the age of 31.

Duration of service

Compulsory initial military service remains at 9 months. In certain cases, it may be shortened, but by no more than 3 months. The procedure for shortening this service is determined by the commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, taking into account the staffing needs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and the military training requirements for military specialties. Soldiers in compulsory initial military service will receive three times the monthly cash allowance for 7-9 months of service.

University students who express their desire to do so should have the following options:

160 to 200 days of compulsory military service under the junior officer training program, which would be organized in parts and last no longer than 3 years. Students called up for compulsory initial military service would be given the opportunity to combine their studies with compulsory initial military service;
90 to 120 days of service under other training programs approved by the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, aimed at acquiring basic military skills and/or military specialization, which would also be organized in stages and last no longer than 3 years. Students called up for compulsory initial military service are provided with conditions to combine their studies with compulsory initial military service;
3 months of compulsory initial military service for conscripts who have acquired professions (qualifications) that are lacking in the Lithuanian Armed Forces
the usual 9 months of compulsory initial military service after suspending studies.

Places of service

In 2026, compulsory initial military service will also be available in the Special Operations Forces. Parachute training, drone operator training, and specialized training for operations in inland water bodies are just some of the tasks that soldiers who choose to serve in the Special Operations Forces will encounter. Candidates for this initial military service position can already fill out the application form at www.karys.lt. The selection process will take place on April 18, 2026.

More information about service positions can be found here.

Social guarantees

Soldiers in regular compulsory initial military service receive full state support (accommodation, meals, clothing, social and life insurance). In addition, each soldier receives a special monthly allowance, which they can use at their discretion and which is paid out after they have completed their service. The amount depends on the results of their service evaluation.

Conscripts are granted the following social guarantees:

Health care and social insurance
Compensation
Accommodation, meals, or compensation for meal expenses
Within 12 months of discharge from compulsory initial military service, those who have completed a Category B driving course passed the exams, and obtained the right to drive category B vehicles, the course costs will be reimbursed according to the documents confirming the course costs, but not more than 10 basic social benefits.
Other social guarantees

Information from the Lithuanian Armed Forces.