COVID-19: Information for travellers
Updated 2021 01 08
Nationwide lockdown until January 31th
As of 7 November, the Government has decided to introduce a three-week nationwide lockdown which is now prolonged till January 31th. Some businesses will have to halt or reduce their operations, tighter infection control measures will be enforced, and work and education will be arranged with a minimum of contacts. Read more here.
Border Control
From 15 September, every traveller returning to or arriving in Lithuania by regular, special or charter transport by air, sea, or land, will have to electronically submit their personal data to the National Public Health Centre (NPHC). This means that before boarding a plane, ferry, bus, or train, a traveller will have to fill in a form on the website of the National Public Health Centre, and present the confirmation received, the QR code, at the time of boarding.
In the case of individual travelling by land, it is obligatory to register with the NPHC within 12 hours from the moment of arrival in the Republic of Lithuania.
Find the form here.
Transit through Lithuania
Transit through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania is allowed for foreigners in these cases:
- on their return to their country of residence;
- in whose respect a reasoned request has been made by a foreign country;
- using facilitated transit of persons from the territory of the Russian Federation to Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation and backwards (this transit of persons shall be carried out only through Kena railway border checkpoint and Kybartai railway border checkpoint under the conditions laid down by the Minister for Foreign affairs of the Republic of Lithuania).
Foreigners, travelling across Lithuania for transit purposes, don't need to be in self-isolation and to have COVID-19 test done.
The ‘traffic light’ principle
As of Monday, October 26th. a new list of affected countries compiled following the ‘traffic light’ principle has come to effect.
Areas are marked in the following colours:
- green if the 14-day notification rate is lower than 25 cases per 100 000 and the test positivity rate below 4%;
- orange if the 14-day notification rate is lower than 50 cases per 100 000 but the test positivity rate is 4% or higher or, if the 14-day notification rate is between 25 and 150 cases per 100 000 and the test positivity rate is below 4%;
- red if the 14-day notification rate is 50 cases per 100 000 or higher and the test positivity rate is 4% or higher or if the 14-day notification rate is higher than 150 cases per 100 000;
- grey if there is insufficient information or if the testing rate is lower than 300 cases per 100 000.
The virtual map of the affected countries compiled following the traffic light principle is available here.
Entering Lithuania
Lithuania currently allows citizens of European Economic Area countries and persons lawfully residing in these countries to enter Lithuania. Travellers coming from countries in the grey areas will be subject to the requirement of testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) or 10-day isolation.
The foreigner arriving from the Non-European Economic Area countries should call the Coronavirus Hotline tel. 1808, +370 (5 2) 196 180 and apply to a laboratory performing testing for COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) within 24 hours from arrival and register for the test.
When planning your trip to Lithuania, please evaluate the situation of your country. A list of affected countries could be found here.
Special restrictions for travellers arriving from the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Republic of South Africa.
Foreigners returning /arriving from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or Republic of South Africa (except of people in transit through the Republic of Lithuania, crew members working in companies engaged in international commercial transport or performing international commercial transport in all types of vehicles and people specified requirements section) must:
• Have a negative test for COVID-19 performed not earlier than 48 hours ago, or register for testing in Lithuania tel. no 1808 (+370 52 196 180) or in any laboratory performing these tests within 24 hours from arrival;
• Self-isolate for 14 days from the day of return to / arrival in Lithuania (there are exceptions);
• This term may be shortened after a negative test for COVID-19 performed not earlier than on the 10th day of self-isolation;
• the place of isolation may only be left for some reason with the permission of the NPHC.
More details on these requirements can be found below on this page.
If you are planning to come to Lithuania, you must pay attention to the following:
- Whether it is possible to come from your country;
- Whether visitors from your country are subject to mandatory isolation and testing for coronavirus upon arrival;
- Whether you are required to fill in a traveller's form.
Choose from the options below to learn more:
The Ministry of Health recalls that this procedure applies to foreigners from the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Andorra, San Marino, the Vatican, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway. There are some exceptions – see them above in the Exceptions section.
Please keep in mind that the list of affected countries is subject to change without notice. The list of countries should be updated on 18 January.
Free entry with the requirement of testing for coronavirus or mandatory 10-day isolation:
Liechtenstein
Switzerland
Free entry with the requirement of testing for coronavirus and mandatory 14-day isolation:
Northern Ireland
The United Kingdom
Free entry and no isolation required for residents of the following countries:
The rest EEA countries
Important! Travellers arriving from these countries before boarding a plane, ferry, bus, or train, will have to fill in a form on the website of the National Public Health Centre, and present the confirmation received, the QR code, at the time of boarding. Find the form here.
The entry of foreigners into the Republic of Lithuania from countries mostly outside the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) shall be limited to exceptional cases and those entering Lithuania has to perform a PCR test for COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) within 24 hours from arrival or 10-day isolation (except for Republic of South Africa). Arrivals from Republic of South Africa requirement of testing for coronavirus and 14-day isolation.
Everyone arriving to Lithuania from countries in the grey areas will be required to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of arrival to the Republic of Lithuania or until a negative PCR test for COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) is obtained. PCR test should be done in 24 hours after the arrival.
Please keep in mind that the list of affected countries is subject to change without notice. The list of countries should be updated on 18 January.
Free entry with the requirement of testing for coronavirus or 10-day isolation:
Liechtenstein
Switzerland
other non-EEA affected countries (Except RSA)
Free entry with the requirement of testing for coronavirus and 14-day isolation:
Northern Ireland
The United Kingdom
Republic of South Africa
Free entry, no isolation:
The rest EEA countries
Lithuanian citizens and foreigners with an entry permit who are returning from the affected countries included on the list or from other non-EU countries are required to register before boarding a plane, ferry, bus, or train, by submitting the details to the National Public Health Centre, and present the confirmation received, the QR code, at the time of boarding. Find the form here.
The entry of foreigners into the Republic of Lithuania is allowed for:
- crew members, who are employed in Lithuanian companies engaged in international commercial transportation, or who carry out international commercial transportation by all the means of transport;
- health professionals arriving into the Republic of Lithuania for the provision of health care services;
- high-performance athletes, sports specialists, sports instructors and sports medical personnel participating in international tournaments, which are subject to separate international rules on coronavirus management;
- artists coming to the Republic of Lithuania at the permission of the Minister for Culture of the Republic of Lithuania for the participation in professional artistic events, and their service personnel;
- journalists coming to the Republic of Lithuania at the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania;
- seafarers arriving in Lithuania from a voyage or shift at sea;
-
other exceptional cases, where foreigners are allowed entry to the Republic of Lithuania on the basis of individual permission by a minister holding the jurisdiction in the respective realm, and whose entry has been approved by the Government.
- From now on, it will no longer be required to self-isolate not only for teachers returning from the work of teaching the Lithuanian language in schools in Belarus, but also for clergy performing pastoral work in Belarus.
Self-isolation rules
Everyone arriving to Lithuania from countries in the grey areas will be required to self-isolate for 10 days from the date of arrival to the Republic of Lithuania or until a negative PCR test for COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) is obtained. PCR test should be done in 24 hours after the arrival.
If people who have returned from abroad feel well and do not exhibit any symptoms characteristic of the coronavirus infection, they are allowed to go for a walk outside within a one-kilometre radius of their place of isolation; however, they must wear protective equipment covering their nose and mouth (face masks, respirators or other). In the event that officials contact isolated individuals to verify their compliance with isolation requirements, the individuals in question must return to their place of isolation. Returnees from abroad staying in isolation are not allowed to go to public gatherings – events, shops, museums, catering places, etc.
A person can leave an isolation place before 10-days isolation ends also in these cases:
- to organize the funeral of a close person, remains transportation and (or) to attend the funeral of a close person;
- to go to a healthcare institution to collect a swab specimen from the nasopharynx and pharynx for laboratory tests for COVID-19 disease (coronavirus infection) or to receive healthcare services;
- persons who have come to Lithuania for legal (civil registration, notary, etc.) or study matters may go to the place necessary for the management of study or legal matters;
- to attend your own wedding;
- high-performance athletes, high-performance sports specialists, high-performance sports instructors, sports medical personnel may attend high-performance sports exercises, training camps, competitions and go to institutions or establishments related to their sports activities;
- foreigners arriving in Lithuania for special humanitarian reasons may, with the permission of the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, when a motivated proposal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania regarding the arrival of these foreigners in the Republic of Lithuania is received, go to a place necessary for legal affairs or health care;
- to go to governmental institutions, establishments, and organizations at their invitation or to handle necessary matters there;
A person can change his isolation place to another one by submitting a form. The form can be found here.
People who register in advance for a coronavirus test at one of the mobile testing points using the local 1808 service can leave their place of isolation to get tested without the National Public Health Centre’s (NVSC) permission.
The requirement for isolation will not apply in the case of:
- workers or self-employed persons exercising critical occupations, frontier workers and posted workers, as well as seasonal workers;
- transport workers or transport service providers, including drivers of freight vehicles carrying goods for use in the territory as well as those merely transiting, etc.;
- patients travelling for imperative medical reasons;
- pupils, students and trainees who travel abroad on a daily basis;
- persons travelling for imperative family or business reasons;
- diplomats, staff of international organisations and people invited by international organisations whose physical presence is required for the well-functioning of these organisations, military personnel and police officers, and humanitarian aid workers and civil protection personnel in the exercise of their functions;
- passengers in transit;
- seafarers;
- journalists, when performing their duties;
- high-performance athletes, high-performance sports specialists, sports instructors and sports medical personnel participating in international tournaments;
- Lithuanian citizens returning from Belarus: teachers involved in the Lithuanian education in schools in Belarus and clergy performing pastoral work in Belarus.
Please note that isolation will not be required where there is a negative result of a PCR test for COVID-19 (coronavirus infection) taken at maximum of 24 hours after arrival the entry to the Republic of Lithuania. In this case, people should refrain for 10 days after returning or arriving in Lithuania from social contacts, from visiting gathering places, such as events, shops, museums, catering facilities, etc., and follow the work-home routine. It is recommended to always wear protective equipment covering your nose and mouth and keep a safe distance and follow other preventive measures.
Isolation will not be required if there is a certificate from a medical establishment confirming your coronavirus infection positivity at maximum 3 months before the entry to Lithuania.
Leaving Lithuania before the end of 10-day isolation
Foreigners and citizens of Lithuania living or working abroad may leave Lithuania before the end of their 10-day isolation period without informing authorities.
Traveller form by the National Public Health Centre
From 15 September, every traveller returning to or arriving in Lithuania by regular, special or charter transport by air, sea, or land, will have to electronically submit their personal data to the National Public Health Centre. This means that before boarding a plane, ferry, bus, or train, a traveller will have to fill in a form on the website of the National Public Health Centre, and present the confirmation received, the QR code, at the time of boarding.
In the case of individual travelling by land, it is obligatory to register with the NPHC within 12 hours from the moment of arrival in the Republic of Lithuania.
Find the form here.
Safe & Clean Hospitality Label
The Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association has introduced the SAFE & CLEAN label, which guarantees the highest standards of safety and cleanliness among hospitality businesses – hotels, restaurants, and leisure and entertainment venues.
More information here.
Other relevant information
You can follow the latest news about the situation on:
- Koronastop.lrv.lt an official source of information by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the situation in Lithuania;
- LRT English website of the Lithuanian National Broadcaster.
COVID-19 Hotline in Lithuania: 1808 (free of charge).
If necessary, please contact us at tic@vilnius.lt, by phone +370 5 262 9660 or through social media: Facebook, Instagram
What to do if you suspect you have a virus
- If symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) occur you should call the COVID-19 hotline: 1808 (ph. +370 (37) 367 963 if calling from foreign phone number) or contact your family doctor, report the circumstances of the illness, and follow medical advice.
- IMPORTANT: please do not go to the hospital by yourself.
- Avoid any contact. Self-insulating until ambulance arrives. An ambulance crew will take you to the hospital.
- Laboratory diagnostics will be performed at the hospital or the mobile laboratories. Hospital staff will inform you of further steps.
- To prevent coronavirus infection, everyone is recommended to follow standard measures to reduce the spread of disease: wash hands frequently with warm water and soap, avoid touching the face and eyes, practice proper coughing and sneezing etiquette (coughing and sneezing into a tissue or bent elbow), practice safe cooking (especially with regard to meat or eggs) and avoid close contact with anyone who exhibits respiratory disease symptoms, like coughing or sneezing.
Latest news by the Lithuanian Ministry of Health.
More information about coronavirus is available on WHO webpage.