ETIAS Visa Waiver for Lithuania

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Lithuania is officially known as The Republic of Lithuania; it is located in the Eastern part of the Baltic Sea. It has land borders Latvia on the North, to the East and South is Belarus, and Poland to the South. It has an area of 65,300 km² with a population of 2.69 million in 2021. Vilnius is its capital city and is the largest in Lithuania. Klaipėda and Kaunas are other major cities in the country.
Lithuania is one of the 26 European countries that make up the Schengen zone. The Schengen zone is made up of 26 European countries with open borders. Citizens of any member state of the Schengen zone can visit, live in, and do business in any other Schengen country without consequence. Visitors can also travel around the Schengen zone after entering one Schengen country.
To enter Lithuania, visitors must possess a valid international passport and, where applicable, a visa. Some visitors are required to own a visa, while others are not. Non-Europeans whose governments have an agreement with the European Union on visa exemption can enter Lithuania and the Schengen area without a visa. However, a visa waiver would be required from the end of 2022.

Lithuania Visa and Entry Requirements

The main entry requirements for Lithuania are your valid international passport and a visa or a visa waiver. Different visa types can give you access to Lithuania, some of which are Schengen Visa, tourist visa, short-term, long-term, and tourist visas. Regardless of the kind of visa you are applying for, some requirements are general, some of them being your passport and travel insurance.
The Schengen visa gives you access to Lithuania and other parts of the Schengen zone. It is a preferred visa type because it is easily obtainable, cheaper, and is appropriate for most short-term visits. With a validity period of five years, it gives you access to the countries in the Schengen zone for 90 days every six months. If you need to stay longer than the Schengen visa affords, applying for other visa forms is recommended.
Countries that do not require a visa to enter the Schengen area from the end of 2022 will need a Europe Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) visa waiver to enter the Schengen zone. The ETIAS visa waiver program is expected to serve as an added layer of protection for the Schengen zone against security threats. Only low-risk individuals will be given access to the Schengen area.

Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Lithuania?

There are two broad categories of visitors required to provide a Schengen Visa before they are admitted into the Schengen zone. The first category is citizens of third countries. These third countries have not reached a visa liberalization consensus with the European Union.
The second category is citizens of countries with a visa liberalization agreement with the European Union but may have been rejected or deported from any Schengen country in the past. Although their country generally has a visa liberalization with the European Union, they would be required to provide a Schengen Visa before getting their pass into Lithuania.
Obtaining a Schengen Visa is relatively easy and costs less than other visa types. It is geared towards making the Schengen zone a secure and safer place. Application for the Lithuania Schengen visa at the Lithuania embassy or consulate in your home country. In cases where it is absent from your home country, third-party visa application services can also get the job done. Only individuals that are certified as low-risk will be granted a Schengen Visa.

What Documents Are Required When Applying for a Lithuania Schengen Visa?

The documents required for the application for a Lithuania Schengen visa ensure you are low-risk and will not cause any trouble in the Schengen zone. Here are some of the requirements for the Schengen visa application:
  • A valid international passport not older than ten years since it was issued has at least two empty pages and a validity of at least three months after departure from Lithuania.
  • Proof of accommodation in Lithuania
  • Medical insurance
  • A round-trip itinerary showing all your activities during your stay in Lithuania. Your entry and exit dates should be well stated, together with your flight numbers.
  • A filled and signed visa application form
  • Two recent passport photographs sized 35 by 45 mm on a white background.
  • Birth certificate
  • Proof of finances
  • Proof of return ticket or an onward ticket
These documents are expected to be carried along with the applicant to the embassy or consulate on the interview day. Applicants for the Schengen visa should come alone, except they are disabled and need assistance or less than 18.

Travelling to Lithuania

Lithuania is a young member of the European Union; it joined the European Union in May 2004 and joined the ETIAS Schengen countries in 2007. Citizens of Lithuania and its visitors can travel freely across its borders. It welcomes about 1.7 million visitors annually, about 63% of its total population. Most visitors are from other Schengen countries who want to make the most of the no-visa entry. Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, is one of the cheapest cities in Europe.
Arriving in Lithuania by air, Vilnius Airport is your best bet. It is the largest commercial airport in Lithuania. In 2019, it welcomed about 5 million passengers, many of which used it as a stopover. Arriving by rail is also a great option when coming from Belarus, Poland, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. The shortest train time is 4 hours 30 minutes, and the longest is 20 hours.
Lithuania has an excellent road network, making it a great place to drive. Tourists can arrive in a bus or drive their cars into the country with a valid driver's license and a good deal of obedience to traffic rules. Visitors can also arrive by ship or other water vessels.

Europe's Travel Authorisations for Lithuania

Based on Europe's regulations, non-Europeans from countries whose governments have a visa liberalization agreement with the European Union must provide an ETIAS visa waiver before entering Lithuania. The ETIAS visa waiver will be in action from the end of 2022.
The visa waiver program will be valid for three years and will strengthen the security of the member states of the Schengen zone. Only low-risk individuals can enter Lithuania using the ETIAS visa waiver.
In conclusion, by the end of 2022, non-Europeans that previously had the no-visa agreement with the European Union will be required to provide an ETIAS visa waiver. A Schengen Visa for Lithuania is available and is an excellent choice for tourism and business trips.