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Country Specific Info.
The United States State Department produces Consular Information Sheets with health, safety and other country information for every country in the world. They are one good source of information, though you should look at multiple sources of information and take your own personal situation into account when selecting a country to study in.
The latest Consular Information Sheet for Lithuania is below. We do not take responsibility for this information or edit it in any way.
You can access the State Department travel site directly at: https://travel.state.gov/travel/
June 4, 2019
Embassies and Consulates
U.S. Embassy Lithuania
Akmenu Gatve. 6
Vilnius, Lithuania
LT-03106
Telephone: +(370) (5) 266-5600
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(370) (5) 266 5500
Fax: +(370) (5) 266-5590
Email: consec@state.gov
Destination Description
See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Lithuania for information on U.S. - Lithuania relations.
Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements
Visit the Embassy of Lithuania website for the most current visa information or the website for Lithuanian consulates in the United States.
Lithuania is a party to the Schengen Agreement. This means that U.S. citizens may enter Lithuania for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay. You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket. For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen fact sheet.
You must apply for temporary residency if you plan on staying in Lithuania for more than 90 days within any six month period.
Processing time for a residency permit can take more than 90 days. Lithuanian authorities recommend applying for a residency permit prior to traveling.
Children traveling unaccompanied must have written permission from at least one parent or guardian to travel outside the country. This does not apply to visitors.
HIV/AIDS Restrictions: The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Lithuania.
Find information on dual nationality, prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our websites. Visit the Embassy of Lithuania website for the most current visa information.
Safety and Security
Credible information indicates terrorist groups continue plotting possible near-term attacks in Europe. All European countries, including Lithuania, remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations. U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant with regard to their personal security.
Marches and protests do occur, especially in larger cities. You should avoid areas where these public protests are taking place.
Foreigners, ethnic minorities, and members of the LGBTI community have been subject to robberies, and racially-motivated verbal and sometimes physical harassment. This tends to occur late at night near bars and nightclubs.
Crime: Crimes of opportunity, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching, are common, particularly at popular tourist sites and restaurants, and on public transportation. Pickpockets take advantage of crowds getting on and off all forms of public transportation, using the jostling of a crowd as a distraction.
Be aware of your surroundings and take personal security measures to stay safe.
Thefts from cars and car thefts occur regularly. Do not leave valuables in rental cars.
Avoid walking alone at night.
Only use taxi services arranged by phone.
Avoid using automatic teller machines (ATMs) in isolated or poorly lighted areas; use the buddy system and indoor bank ATMs when possible.
See the Department of State and the FBI pages for information on scams.
Victims of Crime: Report crimes to the local police at 112, and contact the U.S. Embassy at (370) (5) 266-5500. For social welfare emergencies, such as domestic violence or child abuse, dial 112 (English-speaking operators are available). Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.
See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.
We can:
help you find appropriate medical care
assist you in reporting a crime to the police
contact relatives or friends with your written consent
explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
provide a list of local attorneys
provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the United States
assist you with a list of non-governmental organizations and centers providing a number of programs for victims of crime in Lithuania. Please see our website for more information.
provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
replace a stolen or lost passport
Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the Embassy for assistance.
For further information:
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
Call us in Washington at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
See the State Department's travel website for Worldwide Caution, and Travel Advisories.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
See traveling safely abroad for useful travel tips.
Local Laws & Special Circumstances
Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.
Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.
Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Lithuania are severe. Convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.
Driving while intoxicated is a very serious offense and carries heavy penalties.
For more specific information about arrest procedures in Lithuania, visit the Embassy’s website.
Lithuanian customs regulations are strict for the temporary importation or export of firearms and antiquities.
Contact the Embassy of Lithuania in the United States for specific information about customs requirements.
Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details:
Faith-Based Travel Information
International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
Human Rights Report – see country reports
Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad
LGBTI Travelers: The LGBTI community is protected by anti-discrimination laws. However, members of the LGBTI community have experienced verbal and sometimes physical harassment.
See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.
Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance. Lithuania’s Law on Equal Treatment prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities.
Public transportation: Public transportation generally has reserved seats for individuals with disabilities. In bigger cities, there are low-floor trolleybuses and buses, which are marked with special signs.
Trains: For assistance getting on or off a train, contact the railway information center by telephone at (370) (5) 269-2121. Free assistance is not provided in all stations.
Airports: At the airport, special assistance call buttons for persons with reduced mobility are located in the car parking lot, by the bus stop, and at the departing passenger boarding point on the second level of the passenger terminal. There are wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and elevators in the arrival and departure terminals.
Reserved parking places for disabled individuals are marked with a wheelchair symbol on roads and in car parks.
Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.
Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers.
Health
We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.
Medical care in Lithuania has improved, but facilities may be limited outside urban areas.
Medical facilities do not always meet Western standards. Payment is expected upon admission at private hospitals.
Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. See the Embassy of Lithuania’s website for proof of health insurance requirements.
We strongly recommend supplemental insurance (our webpage) to cover medical evacuation.
If traveling with prescription medication, check with Lithuanian State Medicines Control Agency (SMCA) under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania to ensure the medication is legal in Lithuania. Always, carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.
The following diseases are prevalent:
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)
Lyme disease
Rabies
The Lithuanian government does not require HIV testing for U.S. citizens. Sexually transmitted diseases are a growing public health problem.
Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are annual measles outbreaks in Lithuania and travelers born 1957 or later should have two doses of MMR vaccine.
Further health information:
World Health Organization
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Travel and Transportation
Road Conditions and Safety: While in Lithuania, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Roads in Lithuania range from well-maintained two- to four-lane highways connecting major cities, to small dirt roads crossing the countryside.
Traffic Laws: You may drive in Lithuania for up to 90 days with a U.S. driver’s license.
Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and all passengers. Children under the age of three must be seated in the back seat in a child seat appropriate for their age and size.
Driving under the influence is considered a very serious offense and carries heavy penalties. The legal limit in Lithuania is the equivalent of 0.04% BAC.
You must have at least your low-beam lights on at all times while driving.
Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks.
When involved in a traffic accident, Lithuanian law requires you to leave your vehicle where it is and immediately notify the police (112).
Drivers must carry a driver’s license, insurance, registration, etc. in the vehicle at all times.
The phone number for roadside assistance is 8-800-01414 from a regular phone. 1414 from a GSM mobile phone.
Public Transportation: Public transportation is generally considered safe and is readily available via taxi, Uber, or bus. If utilizing taxi services, we recommend that travelers place a request via phone, app or hotel to ensure validity. As in every situation, travelers should be aware of their surroundings, specifically within large crowds where petty theft could occur.
See our Road Safety page for more information.
Aviation Safety Oversight:
As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Lithuania, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Lithuania’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Lithuania should also check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts. Information may also be posted to the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website and the NGA broadcast warnings website (select “broadcast warnings”).
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