ETIAS Lithuania permit for U.S. citizens
From 2023, U.S. citizens will have to present an approved ETIAS visa when travelling to Lithuania. ETIAS permit can be obtained online, by filling out the ETIAS application form online and receiving your permit via e-mail once the application is approved. The ETIAS permit will allow U.S. citizens to enter Lithuania for tourism, work, transit, or medical purposes, provided that the duration of the trip is under 90 days, and the permit will be valid for multiple trips made via air, sea, or land. Also, minors and people over 70 years of age will be able to apply for this visa free of charge.
What is ETIAS Lithuania visa for Americans
ETIAS permit will come into force in 2023, as part of a program of the European Commission aimed at strengthening European borders and keeping a digital track on all people travelling to Schengen Area. This program was already approved in 2016, after the terrorist attacks that affected some European countries.
How does ETIAS Lithuania permit work for U.S. citizens
From November 2023 American citizens must present an ETIAS visa before travelling to Lithuania. If the trip has a duration longer than 90 days or has other reasons than those required for ETIAS visa, they will require a full visitor Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of Lithuania, respecting requirements and timing for the visa they are applying for. Once issued, ETIAS permit has a duration of 3 years, and will allow to travel multiple times in Lithuania and other Member countries of Schengen Area, provided that each visit has a duration of less than 90 days. In order to get your approved ETIAS permit in time for the trip, it is recommended to apply for the permit at least 4 days before the departure. If ETIAS permit is denied, you can still apply for a full visitor Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Lithuania or present an appeal to the country that denied ETIAS.
ETIAS destination countries for U.S. citizens
Starting from 2023 ETIAS visa will come into force for Americans in order to travel to the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
At the moment, Americans will not have to obtain ETIAS permit to travel to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, since these countries are not Schengen Area members yet. However, this may change in the future, so please keep updated with the requirements.
ETIAS requirements for Americans and how to apply
To apply for ETIAS, you have to be a U.S. citizen and hold a valid electronic passport issued by the United States of America. If you do not have an American passport, you will have to apply for a Schengen visa. The ETIAS visa application can be completed online, entering all required information by following the required steps, and making sure all the data is entered correctly. Once the application form is completed, you will also have to pay a fee of 7 euros, applicable to all citizens between 18 and 70 years old, using a credit or debit card. In general, most ETIAS are issued within few minutes, or at most in a few hours, and the approved ETIAS visa will be sent via e-mail as a PDF file. In addition to that, you will not need to print the visa, because your data will already be in the possession of the European Schengen authorities, and it will be linked to the passport data provided during the application. Anyway, to avoid delays, it is recommended to apply for ETIAS at least 4 days prior to the departure, to make sure that the visa is approved and to have the necessary time to provide any additional documents should they be required. In the instance where an ETIAS is denied, you can apply for a full visitor Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of Lithuania. It is highly recommended to read and carefully check all the ETIAS requirements before applying, to avoid any mistakes in the application procedure that could result in delays in the ETIAS approval.
How much does ETIAS cost for Americans
After completing the application form, all Americans between 18 and 70 years old must pay a 7 euros fee, using a credit or debit card. Citizens under 18 and over 70 years of age are entitled to apply for the ETIAS permit free of charge.
About Lithuania
Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is an Eastern European country situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea. The country shares a maritime border with Sweden. It shares land borders with Belarus, Latvia, Poland, and Russia. It is the largest and most populated of the three Baltic states.
Lithuania covers an area of 65,300 sq. km with a population of 2.8 million people. The official language is Lithuanian, and the main religion is Roman Catholicism. The capital and largest city is Vilnius, and the currency is the euro.
Lithuania lies at the geographic center of Europe. The countries largest river, the Nemenus River carries International shipping.
Lithuania has around 99 kilometers of sandy coastline. The popular seaside resort of Palanga has wonderful beaches and sand dunes. Sand dunes are also to be found at the almost 100 kilometers long Curonian Spit. It is a World Heritage site shared between Lithuania and Russia. There is a popular cycle path along the Curonian Spit.
There are 5 National Parks in Lithuania
- Aukštaitija National Park
- Dzūkija National Park And Čepkeliai Nature Reserve
- Samogitian National Park
- National park Of Curonian Spit
- Trakai Historical National Park
Lithuania at a glance
Capital: Vilnius
Timezone: UTC/GMT +2 hours
Languages: Lithuanian 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, Other 0.9%, Unspecified 3.5%
Area: 65,200 KM2
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Population: 2,944,459
Calling Code: +370
Travel in Lithuania
The capital city of Vilnius has a UNESCO listed historic center. There are a variety of architectural buildings to be enjoyed, including baroque, gothic, renaissance and neoclassical.
The capital is home to sixty-five churches, the Royal Palace, the Presidential Palace, the Gediminas Tower, and the Cathedral Square.
There are many cafes, monuments, and museums for the visitor to enjoy.
Lithuania’s landscape is dominated by meadows, forests and fertile fields. It has over 3.000 lakes and many rivers, the longest being the Nemunas.
Forests occupy one-third of the country’s land, timber-related production accounts for almost eleven percent of the industrial production in the country.
Lithuania is home to some 250,000 larger wild animals. The most prolific is roe deer, followed by boars, fallow deer, and moose. Foxes are common, but wolves and lynx are rare.
In the recreation areas of Lithuania, there is a distinct lack of infrastructure and facilities. For Lithuanians, visiting nature is viewed as requiring some distinction between their usual town or city comforts, and the wild nature of their lands.
Visitors to the natural world are expected to ‘pave their own path’ through the woods, encouraging visitors to become pathfinders, forcing visitors to be affected by the elements of nature. And not passively viewing it. Locals believe that if you don’t want to make the effort to be in nature, you should stay in the city.
The US and Lithuania
The U.S. and Lithuania are strong partners and valued allies.
Lithuania is a strong supporter of U.S. objectives in the important area of democracy promotion. It has helped nationals of other European countries develop and strengthen civil institutions. The U.S.A. is Lithuania’s seventh largest trading partner.
Lithuania has a dynamic European economy where there are growing opportunities for U.S. businesses.
The U.S. and Lithuania both belong to the following organizations
- The United Nations
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
- International Monetary Fund
- World Bank
- World Trade Organization
When traveling from the U.S.A., there are no direct flights to Lithuania; the quickest routes are via Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Helsinki.
There are also direct flights from London.
Lithuania is a popular destination for travelers wanting to experience a variety of sports. In Nida, a village on the Split, there are opportunities for kiting, paragliding, windsurfing, and sailing. Further afield there are also opportunities for hot air ballooning and gliding. The tallest bungee jump of its kind in Europe is the Vilnius TV Tower.
For digital nomads, or simply visitors wanting to stay electronically connected, Lithuania has among the fastest internet speeds in the world, ranking in the top five for both downloads and uploads speeds.
FAQ about ETIAS Lithuania visa
List of US diplomatic offices in Lithuania
The Embassy of USA in Vilnius, Lithuania
Address: Akmenų g. 6 Vilnius, Lithuania LT-03106
Phone: +370 5 266 5500
Fax: +370 5 266 5510
Facts: Marcus Micheli – Ambassador
The Embassy of Lithuania in Washington, USA
Address: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Phone: +1 202 234 5860
Fax: +1 202 328 0466
Email: amb.us@urm.lt
Facts: Rolandas Kriščiūnas – Ambassador
Consulate of Lithuania in New York, USA
Address: 420 Fifth Avenue, 3 Floor, New York, N.Y., 10018, USA
Phone: +1 212 354 7840
Fax: +1 212 354 7911
Email: kons.niujorkas@urm.lt
Consulate of Lithuania in Los Angeles, USA
Address: 11766 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 560, Los Angeles, California 90025, USA
Phone: +1 (424) 465 9901
Email: cons.losangeles@mfa.lt
Consulate of Lithuania in Chicago, USA
Address: 455 N Cityfront Plaza Dr., Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Phone: +1 312 397 0382
Fax: +1 312 397 0385
Email: kons.cikaga@urm.lt