Ham Radio in Lithuania: Licences, LY Call Signs and the LRMD

This site is written in English for operators around the world, but its name is a Lithuanian call sign, and many of its readers are curious about how the hobby works in the country where it began. Ham radio Lithuania is organised around three institutions: the Communications Regulatory Authority, known as the RRT, which holds the exams and issues the permits; the call sign system with the prefix LY; and the national society, the LRMD, which runs contests, a QSL bureau and other activities. This guide summarises how they fit together, using the information published by the RRT and the LRMD when this article was written, and it points out where you should check the official pages because details such as fees and procedures can change.

Who Runs What

The regulator is the Communications Regulatory Authority of the Republic of Lithuania, in Lithuanian Ryšių reguliavimo tarnyba. Its radio amateur pages describe the exams, the permits and the call signs. The exams are organised by an examination commission formed by the RRT. The society for radio amateurs is the Lietuvos radijo mėgėjų draugija, abbreviated LRMD, whose English pages present its contests, its annual hamfests, its QSL bureau and its special event stations.

The division of labour is the same as in most countries. The regulator decides who may transmit, on which terms, and issues the legal permission. The society represents the community, organises activities and provides services such as the QSL bureau; our article on the QSL bureau explains how the card system works in general. If you want to take part in the hobby in Lithuania, you will deal with both.

The Two Exam Levels

Lithuania has two levels of radio amateur qualification exam, B and A. According to the RRT page, the exams are organised at least once a month and are held remotely over MS Teams, in the Lithuanian state language. The candidate is given 30 questions, and the exam is passed with at least 25 correct answers. A candidate who fails may retake it no sooner than 30 days later. A fee is charged for each attempt; the RRT page states that it was 10 euros from 1 April 2025, and you should check the current amount before you apply.

The A level is the higher one. The page states that only a person who has passed the B level exam, or who holds a B class permit, may take the A level exam. The two levels therefore form a ladder: B first, then A. This resembles the stepped structure that exists in many countries, which we described in our guide to exam classes, although the details differ from one country to the next.

Permits and LY Call Signs

A permit to engage in amateur radio activity is issued to a person who has passed the qualification exam, or who holds a HAREC certificate issued abroad; foreign nationals who have the right to live in Lithuania can apply in the same way. The class of the permit follows the exam level: a B class permit after the B level exam, an A class permit after the A level exam. The permit gives a call sign in the Lithuanian block, which begins with the prefix LY followed by a digit from 0 to 9. Our article on callsign prefixes explains how the prefix identifies the country.

The table follows the RRT page, which also states that a call sign that a person loses the right to use, other than an event call sign, can be given to someone else no earlier than ten years later, and that the total length of an event call sign may not exceed ten characters. A short call sign such as one with four characters, in the style of many familiar contest stations, is therefore a mark of experience in this system.

HAREC and Operating Abroad

The A level exam links the Lithuanian system to the rest of Europe. On request, the RRT issues a HAREC certificate to a person who has passed the A level exam. The certificate confirms that the holder passed an exam that meets CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02, and the RRT page states that it is valid for an unlimited time. As we explained in our article on the CEPT licence and operating abroad, HAREC is the document that helps when you move to another country for longer than the visitor arrangement allows. It also works the other way: an operator who holds a HAREC from another country can use it when applying for a permit in Lithuania.

Do not assume that the B level qualifies in the same way. The RRT page ties the HAREC to the A level, so a B class holder who wants to operate abroad should check which privileges apply in the destination country before travelling.

What the LRMD Offers

The LRMD is the place where the Lithuanian community meets. The society organises contests, among them the WAL contest, the Baltic Contest and the LY HF Championship, which are described on its English pages, together with the rules of each event. Dates and rules change from year to year, so check the organiser’s site for the current date and rules before you plan to take part. The society also arranges hamfests, operates the QSL bureau and coordinates VHF and HF activities and special event stations, including anniversary call signs that mark national occasions.

For a foreign operator, the contests are the easiest way to work Lithuania. Many stations take part in the Lithuanian events, and a contest weekend produces a long list of LY stations on the bands. For a Lithuanian newcomer, contests are also an excellent way to learn operating habits. Our guide on publishing contest results online is a practical read for any club that wants to present its results in a clear form.

Working Lithuania From Abroad

If you collect countries, you should know that Lithuania is a DXCC entity in its own right, and that LY stations are active on all the HF bands, on VHF and on the satellites. Evening openings on the low bands favour paths between Europe and North America, while a contest weekend multiplies the number of stations on air. To catch them, use a DX cluster and a spotting network, as we describe in our guide to DX clusters, and watch the calendar of the Lithuanian contests on the society’s site.

Confirmation works through the usual channels. Many Lithuanian operators use Logbook of The World, eQSL or the bureau, and some prefer a direct card. The details differ from person to person, so look at the profile of the station before you send a card. A short and polite message with your own details is appreciated whichever way you choose.

Preparing for the Exam

The exam is in Lithuanian, which matters for foreign residents: someone who studied in another language either needs to prepare the Lithuanian terminology or to come with a HAREC from the country where the exam was passed, since the permit rules accept a HAREC issued abroad. For everyone else, the content follows the usual structure of a European amateur exam. The harmonised CEPT syllabus has technical topics such as electrical theory, antennas, propagation and interference, operating topics such as the phonetic alphabet, Q codes and procedures, and regulations. A good plan is to study these three parts in turn, to take practice tests under time pressure and to find a mentor from a local club. Our article on Q codes covers one of the operating topics.

Because the test is taken remotely, prepare the practical side as well. Check your connection and your camera, and keep the room quiet and free of notes, as the rules of the examination commission require. Read the instructions that the RRT sends when you register, because they describe the identity checks and the technical requirements for the session. If anything is unclear, write to the RRT in good time instead of discovering the problem on the day of the exam.

A Short Glossary

• RRT: the Communications Regulatory Authority, which holds the exams and issues permits and call signs.
• LRMD: the Lithuanian amateur radio society, which organises contests, hamfests and the QSL bureau.
• LY: the call sign prefix of Lithuania, followed by a digit from 0 to 9.
• HAREC: the harmonised exam certificate under CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02.
• A and B level: the two exam levels, with the A level open only after the B level.

After the Permit: First Steps on the Air

When the permit arrives and the call sign is assigned, the work of becoming an operator begins. Start by listening on the bands, the local repeaters and the calling frequencies to learn how experienced operators speak and what the customs are. Make your first contacts on a quiet band at a convenient time, and do not hurry. Most Lithuanian operators are happy to help a newcomer, and a club station is a good place to try different modes with an experienced person next to you.

Keep a log from the first contact, because it is both a record and a source of satisfaction, and join the bureau or an online confirmation system early so that the cards and confirmations accumulate from the start. Contests are a good schooling in speed and accuracy, and the Lithuanian events offer a friendly setting where newcomers are welcome to take part with a modest station and little preparation. Over the first year you will learn which bands suit your antenna, which times of the day are best for your interests and which parts of the hobby you enjoy most, and you can then decide whether to prepare for the A level exam and a shorter call sign.

Practical Tips for Newcomers

• Read the RRT pages first. Procedures, fees and the exam syllabus are on the official site and can change, so the current version always wins over any summary.
• Prepare for the B exam, then plan the A. The ladder is fixed, so treat the B level as a milestone rather than the goal.
• Join the LRMD or a local club. The society and local clubs offer courses, contests and a community that makes the exam easier.
• Know the band plan. Lithuania belongs to IARU Region 1, so the Region 1 band plan is the reference, but you should also check the national allocation for each band.
• Plan the first contacts. Our article on making your first HF contact helps with the first on-air steps.

The Bottom Line

Ham radio in Lithuania runs through the RRT, which holds the B and A level exams, issues the permits and call signs in the LY0 to LY9 block and issues the HAREC certificate to A level holders, and through the LRMD, which organises contests, a QSL bureau and hamfests. According to the RRT page, exams are held at least once a month over MS Teams in Lithuanian, with 30 questions and a pass mark of 25 correct answers, and the A level requires the B level first. Always check the RRT and LRMD pages for the current fee, procedure and contest dates, and use contests and the bureau to take part in the community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who organises amateur radio exams in Lithuania?

The Communications Regulatory Authority, RRT, through an examination commission. The exams are held at least once a month, remotely, in the Lithuanian language.

How many exam levels are there?

Two, B and A. The A level exam can be taken only by a person who has passed the B level or holds a B class permit.

What do Lithuanian call signs look like?

They use the prefix LY followed by a digit from 0 to 9 and a suffix. B class call signs have 5 or 6 characters, and A class call signs 4, 5 or 6 characters.

Can I get a HAREC in Lithuania?

Yes, on request after passing the A level exam. The RRT states that the certificate confirms an exam meeting CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-02 and is valid indefinitely.

What is the LRMD?

The Lithuanian amateur radio society, which organises contests, hamfests and special event stations and operates a QSL bureau.

Where can I find the current contest dates?

Check the organiser’s site for the current date. The LRMD English pages list the Lithuanian contests and their rules.