Visa to Lithuania

Lithuania is a country located on the Baltic Sea coast and is a member of the European Union. Those who want to get a European higher education, entrepreneurs, freelancers, tourists who intend to see ancient architecture or are set up for a beach holiday are interested in trips to this state.

To travel to Lithuania, you need a Schengen visa or another type of entry permit. You can get it, for example, at the consulate. Having issued a visa of the appropriate type, a person moves freely between the countries of the Schengen area, considers prospects for business development or employment, works remotely, studies, gets acquainted with culture and a new environment.

Please note!

Volatile international relations can affect the speed of processing visa documents and the very possibility of obtaining it. Therefore, immediately before planning a trip to Lithuania in 2024, it is necessary to clarify at the consulate whether the country is issuing entry permits.

The approximate time for obtaining visas to Lithuania is from 7-10 days (for a business trip), up to 4 months (for studying at a university for a bachelor's degree or a master's degree).

Freelancer Visa

Digital nomad visa, a visa for a freelancer, digital nomad or self—employed person is a remote work permit in Lithuania for a foreigner working outside the EU, as well as ready to confirm an official income of at least a certain amount and show the remaining funds on the card at the consulate.

This type of visa is issued for twelve months. It is allowed to be extended once for another twelve months. At the discretion of the freelancer, the visa can be replaced with a residence permit by selecting the appropriate documentary base for this.

It is important

If a digital nomad does not want to switch to a Lithuanian residence permit after a couple of years of living in the republic, he needs to leave the country for six months or longer and get a freelancer visa again. 

Here are the advantages that open up to the holder of this type of visa:

• travel through the Schengen area with excellent air service; 
• the right to live in Lithuania until the permit expires;
• work in comfortable coworking spaces, of which there are many in the center and in residential areas of Lithuanian cities; 
• security, reasonable prices for food and everyday goods in comparison with other EU states; 
• the opportunity to find reasons to switch to a residence permit and stay in the country for a long time. 

Before granting a freelancer visa, the Lithuanian authorities will definitely request for verification an employment contract with a note on the remote work format (must be concluded six months ago or earlier), a bank statement and a certificate of payroll, account balance and medical insurance covering treatment worth € 42,000.

How much does a visa cost

The fee for a Schengen visa to Lithuania is 35 € for an adult foreigner, this is a fixed price. There is no need to pay for the entry of a child under 12 into the country.

If you apply for an entry permit through an intermediary, turnkey registration will cost at least 114 euros, excluding consular and service fees.

Types of visas

There are four main types of permits:

• student — grants the right to stay in the country until graduation from an institution with state accreditation; 
• tourist — allows you to travel around Lithuania before the expiration date; 
• business — usually long-term, gives you the opportunity to visit the country many times during the specified period; 
• working — allows you to get an official job for hire in Lithuanian companies or conduct commercial activities. 

Student's

The review period is 2-4 months

This type of temporary residence permit is intended for students of higher educational institutions in Lithuania. The student enters the university for the program of interest, receives an invitation, pays for medical insurance, confirms the availability of a source of funds for living in the country and a sufficient amount of money in the account.

A temporary residence permit for a Lithuanian student is valid for twelve months, after which it is extended if the course is not completed. It allows you to fly and travel around the EU countries without restrictions until the end of the last course.

If there are less than 2-4 months left before the start of the semester at the university, the student requests a national D visa in his country and is transferred to a student residence permit after entry. 

Tourist

The review period is 15 days

To travel to Lithuania as a tourist (without the right to work for hire, start a business and study), any valid Schengen visa is suitable. If it is not open, it is necessary to submit documents for its receipt to the Lithuanian consulate. The approximate validity period is until the trip ends. In both cases, tourists are allowed to visit all EU countries on the condition that they spend most of the days of their trip in Lithuania.

In addition to the standard package of documents, before issuing an entry permit, tourists are checked for hotel reservations and tickets, and asked to provide a trip program.

Business (for business trips)

The review period is 7-10 days

A business or business visa and a work visa are different types of entry permits. A business travel visa prohibits employment in European companies, education and permanent residence. It is suitable for participating in events for entrepreneurs and researchers, participating in exchange programs and solving other professional and commercial tasks.

Business visas are issued for a period not exceeding 90 days in six months or for a period equal to a single visit to the country to solve a specific task. Business visas to Lithuania can be multiple-entry, and the need to obtain them should be documented. For example, to submit an application form from a foreign company that is interested in repeated trips of a employee to Lithuania for verification to the visa center.

Among the documents, you will definitely need an invitation from a Lithuanian partner, a certificate from your place of work and original invoices /contracts, which are the basis for international cooperation.  

Working

The review period is up to 60 days

A long-term work visa is issued for the sake of legal employment in a Lithuanian company. This type of entry permit belongs to national category D visas and is valid for one year with the right to extend without leaving the country.

The condition for obtaining a Lithuanian work visa is an invitation letter from a local employer and an employment contract. The receiving party also confirms the place of residence through a rental agreement or hotel reservation. A foreign employee shows on the account an amount sufficient for living in the country at the rate of 50 € per day, medical insurance for 30,000 €, a diploma of education and proof of work experience in the specialty for 3+ years. The documents are translated into Lithuanian and notarized.

Required documents

Here is a standard list of papers that the Lithuanian authorities will check for those wishing to come to the country:

• a copy of the internal passport of the Russian Federation; 
• a passport with free pages for placing a visa sticker, the validity of which exceeds the duration of the trip by at least three years;
• two photos in 35x45 mm color; 
• a certificate from work, which is stamped and signed by the head of the company; 
• an account statement containing at least 60 € per day per person entering;
• booking of plane tickets and a hotel room (or a rental agreement);
• medical insurance for the amount set for the type of visa of interest — from 30,000 €; 
• consent to the processing of personal data.

Additional documents that need to be submitted to the consulate for verification are described above for each category of entry permits.

Recent changes in the Lithuanian visa issue

Since July 1, 2024, the rules for the employment of foreigners in local companies have become stricter. People who have not issued a local residence permit will no longer be able to work in Lithuania. Such a restriction was introduced by the Migration Department of the Republican Interior Ministry.

Since August 16, 2024, private vehicles with Belarusian license plates are temporarily unable to enter the country unless the people inside have a Lithuanian visa or residence permit. It is allowed to enter the bus. There are no restrictions on crossing the border by plane either.