1. Overview
ETIAS will apply to eligible short trips to Lithuania for tourism, business, family visits and other permitted purposes.
- Travel on an eligible visa-exempt passport
- Plan a short stay within the 90-days-in-180-days rule
- Travel for tourism, business or another permitted short-term purpose
- Are not travelling under an exemption such as EU free-movement rights
2. Who needs ETIAS for Lithuania?
Travellers from eligible visa-exempt countries will need ETIAS for short trips to Lithuania once the system is operational. Document-specific conditions can apply to some passports.
3. Arriving in Lithuania
The ETIAS requirement is linked to your eligibility and travel document. The border procedure can differ depending on how and from where you arrive.
Vilnius Airport is Lithuania’s main international gateway, with Kaunas and Palanga also handling international services. External-border arrivals use ETIAS and EES where applicable.
Lithuania has internal Schengen borders with Latvia and Poland and external Schengen borders with Belarus and the Russian Kaliningrad region.
Klaipėda is Lithuania’s principal seaport. Ferry and cruise border formalities depend on the origin of the vessel.
4. Border and territory notes
The borders with Belarus and Russia are external Schengen borders, so travellers entering there undergo full external-border checks.
Practical information
Lithuania uses the euro. The normal Schengen-wide 90/180-day rule applies.
Frequently asked questions
When will ETIAS become operational?
Expected Q4 2026. The EU says the specific start date will be announced before launch.
Do I need ETIAS for Vilnius?
Eligible visa-exempt travellers will need ETIAS for short visits to Vilnius once ETIAS is operational.
What if I enter Lithuania from Belarus?
That is an external Schengen border, so the normal border checks apply in addition to ETIAS eligibility.