Lithuania Visa RequirementsFor Russia passport holders
Lithuania is one of the strictest EU and Schengen countries toward Russian visa applicants, with very few tourist visas granted since 2022. Russian citizens with credible humanitarian or family ties have limited prospects; purely tourist applications are rarely approved.
Russia passport holders require a visa to enter Lithuania.
Apply at the Lithuanian Embassy in Moscow (Borisoglebsky per. 10) or, if possible, at a Lithuanian consular post in a third country with more appointment availability. The Schengen visa fee is 80 EUR (approximately $87). The required documentation follows standard Schengen rules: completed application, passport, photos, travel insurance covering the Schengen Area (30,000 EUR minimum), accommodation proof, financial evidence, and a cover letter. Lithuanian consular officers will pay particular attention to the stated purpose of travel and applicants' connections to Lithuania. Processing time ranges from 15 to 45 days. Applicants are strongly advised to use the services of a licensed visa agency familiar with Lithuanian consular requirements.
Lithuania is part of the Schengen Area. Your stay counts toward the 90-day limit within any 180-day period for the entire Schengen zone. Learn more about Schengen rules →
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
3 months beyond departure from Schengen
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Current Travel Situation
Russia to Lithuania: What You Need to Know
Lithuania has been one of the most outspoken EU member states against Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, adopting among the toughest national policies toward Russian travelers of any Schengen country. Lithuania closed most of its land border crossings with Russia's Kaliningrad exclave to Russian nationals in 2022 and has consistently pushed for stricter EU-wide visa restrictions. The Lithuanian Embassy in Moscow operates at sharply reduced capacity and issues very few visas, especially for tourism. Applications are reviewed with intense scrutiny, and Russian nationals seeking to visit for leisure face an extremely high refusal rate. The Lithuanian government has publicly stated that tourism by Russian citizens is not a welcome purpose given the current geopolitical context. Russians with Lithuanian ancestry, family members holding EU citizenship, or academic exchange participants have a stronger basis for application.
Practical Tips
Do not apply for a Lithuanian tourist visa without a compelling, well-documented reason for travel, as the refusal rate for Russian tourist applicants is very high and a refusal will be recorded in the Schengen database, potentially affecting future applications to other Schengen countries. Focus any application on humanitarian, family, or academic grounds with supporting documentation. If you must travel through Lithuania (e.g., to reach Kaliningrad by land), note that transit rules are separate from tourism visas and apply for the appropriate category. Keep copies of all submitted documents for your records.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Russian citizens get a visa for Lithuania?
Yes, Lithuanian Schengen visas are technically available to Russian citizens, but Lithuania applies among the strictest national policies toward Russian applicants of any EU state. Tourist visa applications are rarely approved. Russian citizens with legitimate humanitarian, family, or academic reasons for travel should submit detailed documentation to support their case.
Why is Lithuania so restrictive for Russian visa applicants?
Lithuania was occupied by the Soviet Union and regained independence in 1990. It has maintained a consistently strong stance against Russia and was among the first EU states to call for strict visa restrictions after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Lithuania has publicly advocated for ending all tourist visa issuance to Russian nationals across the EU and applies its own national restrictions on top of standard Schengen procedures. The Lithuanian government views unrestricted Russian tourism as incompatible with the current geopolitical situation.
What documentation do I need for a Lithuanian Schengen visa application?
Required documents follow standard Schengen rules: completed and signed application form, valid passport with at least two blank pages, two recent biometric photos, comprehensive travel insurance for the Schengen Area (minimum 30,000 EUR), proof of accommodation, return itinerary, bank statements showing sufficient funds, employment or income documentation, and a detailed cover letter explaining the purpose and necessity of travel. Lithuanian consular officers place particular emphasis on the purpose of travel cover letter for Russian applicants.
Are there direct routes or transit options between Russia and Lithuania?
Direct rail connections between Russia and Lithuania that previously ran via Kaliningrad have been significantly disrupted since 2022. There are no regular direct flights between Russia and Lithuania as Russian aircraft are banned from EU airspace and vice versa. Russian travelers would need to fly via a third country such as Turkey or the UAE and then connect to Vilnius. Note that a Schengen visa refusal from Lithuania is recorded in the Schengen Information System and may affect future visa applications to other Schengen countries.