Lithuanian Schengen Visa 2026 — Requirements, Fees, and How to Apply (Complete Guide)

2026-06-04

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If you are planning to visit Lithuania and you are not from a visa-exempt country, the first thing you need to understand is that a Lithuanian Schengen visa is not just a visa for Lithuania — it is your key to the entire Schengen zone. One application, one sticker in your passport, and you can move freely across 29 European countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

That is the big picture. Now let us get into the practical details — because knowing what the visa covers is only the beginning. Knowing how to apply correctly, what documents to prepare, and what actually goes wrong in rejected applications is what makes the difference between holding that approved sticker and getting a refusal letter.

Everything Covered in This Guide

What Is a Lithuanian Schengen Visa and Who Needs One?

A Schengen visa is the document issued by the appropriate authorities to the interested party for visiting or travelling in and within the Schengen Area. A Schengen visa holder may enter and remain within the Schengen Area without a residence permit for up to 90 days over any 180-day period. Lithuania joined the Schengen agreement on December 21, 2007.

You need a Lithuanian Schengen visa if your nationality is not on the Schengen visa-exempt list and Lithuania is your primary destination — meaning the country where you will spend the most days, or the first Schengen country you will enter if time is split equally between countries.

If you are from a visa-exempt country — which includes the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Singapore, and approximately 60 others — you can visit Lithuania without applying for any visa for stays up to 90 days. From late 2026, visa-exempt travelers will need ETIAS pre-authorization, which we cover in our complete ETIAS 2026 guide.

If you are from Nigeria, India, Ghana, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, or most other African, South Asian, and Southeast Asian countries, you need a formal Schengen visa before you board any flight to Lithuania. There is no visa-on-arrival option and no e-visa alternative currently available. The consulate or authorized visa application center in your country is the only application route.

One thing worth knowing early: if you already hold a valid Schengen visa issued by any other Schengen country — Germany, France, the Netherlands, Latvia — that visa covers Lithuania too. You do not need a separate Lithuanian visa if your existing Schengen visa is still valid and you are traveling within your allowed days. The zone-wide nature of the Schengen visa is one of its most practical features.

What Types of Lithuanian Schengen Visas Exist?

The Lithuanian Schengen visa comes in two fundamental categories — and knowing which one applies to your trip matters before you fill out a single form.

Type C — Short-Stay Schengen Visa

This is the visa the vast majority of applicants need. The Lithuania Schengen visa is valid for 180 days, and within this duration, you can stay for 90 days. It covers tourism, family visits, short business trips, attending conferences, cultural events, and short courses. The Type C visa comes in three entry variations:

A single-entry visa allows you to enter the Schengen zone once. Once you exit — even if the visa’s validity has not expired — it is spent. If your Lithuania trip is standalone, this is what you apply for.

A double-entry visa lets you enter and exit the Schengen zone twice within the validity period. Useful if your itinerary involves briefly leaving Schengen — say crossing into Belarus for a couple of days — and returning.

A multiple-entry visa allows unlimited entries within the validity period, always subject to the 90-day rule. These are typically granted to applicants with a clean prior Schengen travel history who demonstrate a genuine reason for multiple trips.

The final decision on whether you receive a single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visa rests with the Lithuanian authorities. You can indicate your preference on the application form, but the embassy decides what to issue based on your profile and the purpose of your visit.

Type D — National Long-Stay Visa

With a national visa, you can apply for tourism, work, business, and other longer-term purposes. This is for stays beyond 90 days — students enrolled in Lithuanian programs, professionals taking up employment, or people relocating to Lithuania. It is a completely different application process handled by the Lithuanian consulate directly and is not covered in depth here since this guide focuses on the Type C short-stay visa for visitors.

Can I Enter Other Schengen Countries With a Lithuanian Visa?

Yes — and this is one of the most valuable aspects of applying through Lithuania specifically.

With a Lithuania visa, one can travel to not just Lithuania but all 29 countries within the Schengen Area. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, and every other Schengen member is accessible on the same Lithuanian Schengen visa. You are not restricted to Lithuania — you can travel the entire zone.

Like I always said in my other posts; the one condition that always applies is that Lithuania must genuinely be your primary destination. If you intend to spend seven days in Lithuania and three days in Latvia, Lithuania is your primary destination and you apply through Lithuania. If you intend to spend three days in Lithuania and two weeks in Germany, Germany is your primary destination and you apply through Germany — not Lithuania.

Applying through Lithuania for a trip where Germany or France is your actual main destination is misrepresentation and results in immediate rejection with a note on your application history that follows you to every future Schengen application.

For more information on this, check out>> What Is the First Port of Entry for a Schengen Visa?

How Much Does a Lithuanian Schengen Visa Cost?

As of June 2024, the standard visa fee increased from €80 to €90 for adults aged 12 and above, with children aged 6 to 11 paying €45. Children under 6 years can obtain a Schengen visa free of charge. Citizens of Armenia and Azerbaijan benefit from a reduced fee of €35 under visa facilitation agreements.

Beyond the embassy visa fee, applicants submitting through VFS Global or another authorized visa application center also pay a service charge. This varies by country but typically adds €15 to €30 on top of the embassy fee. For Nigerian applicants submitting through VFS Global Nigeria, the combined total in naira will depend on the current exchange rate — check the VFS Global Nigeria portal directly for the live naira equivalent before your appointment.

The visa fee is non-refundable in all circumstances. Whether your application is approved, refused, or withdrawn after submission, the embassy retains the fee. This is standard Schengen policy and not unique to Lithuania.

For information, check out>> What is the Schengen Visa Fees From India?

What Documents Do You Need for a Lithuanian Schengen Visa?

Getting your document package right is everything. In my experience, the applications that fail do not usually fail because the applicant was unqualified — they fail because of avoidable preparation errors. A missing stamp, an inconsistent date, a bank statement downloaded from an app instead of officially printed. Small things that create a big problem.

Here is what every Lithuanian Schengen visa application needs:

Passport

Your passport must have a minimum of six months validity upon arrival and at least two blank pages for visa stickers and entry stamps. It must also have been issued within the last ten years. If your passport is close to expiry, renew it before applying — a passport that barely meets the validity threshold is an unnecessary risk.

Visa application form

Applications for a Lithuanian Schengen visa are lodged online. The form must be filled in using Latin letters, printed out, and submitted to the nearest Lithuanian consulate or visa processing center. Complete every section. A blank field is treated the same as a missing document. You can check out >> How to Complete Schengen Visa Application Form(The Way Consulates Expect It).

Photographs

Two recent passport-style photographs — white or light background, 35mm by 45mm, taken within the last six months, full face visible without glasses.

Travel insurance

Travel medical insurance covering expenses up to €30,000 is mandatory for all Schengen visas. The policy must be valid across all Schengen countries for the entire duration of your stay and must include medical repatriation. Do not submit a policy that covers only Lithuania — it must be zone-wide.

Flight reservation

A confirmed return flight reservation showing your entry into and exit from the Schengen zone. Some consulates accept reservations rather than purchased tickets — confirm with your specific application point before submission. Check out What Schengen Visa Flight Itinerary is and How To Get One.

Accommodation proof

Hotel bookings, Airbnb confirmations, or an invitation letter covering every night of your stay. The accommodation dates must align precisely with your travel dates and cover letter.

Cover letter

A personal letter explaining your purpose of visit, your detailed itinerary, your financial arrangements, and your reasons for returning home. Write specifically about your actual trip — not a generic description that could apply to anyone. This is your one opportunity to explain your application in your own words, and a vague or borrowed cover letter wastes it. For more information on this, check out How to Write a Cover Letter for Schengen Visa in 2026.

Financial proof

Bank statements covering the last three to six months, stamped and signed by your bank. Lithuania does not publish a specific fixed daily rate requirement — financial sufficiency is assessed case-by-case. A realistic working benchmark is €100 per day of your stay in accessible funds. More important than hitting a specific figure is showing consistent financial history — a steady balance over months tells a better story than a large deposit that appeared three weeks before your application. For the complete breakdown of how to prepare your bank statements, read our Schengen visa bank statement requirements guide.

For employed applicants

Employment letter on official letterhead — signed, stamped, confirming your position, salary, and approved leave
Last three months of payslips
Bank statements showing salary credits consistent with the employment letter

For self-employed applicants

Business registration documents
Business bank statements for the last three to six months
Tax returns for the last two to three years

For students

Enrollment confirmation from your institution
No-objection letter confirming permission to travel
Financial support documentation from a sponsor or guardian

How to Apply for a Lithuanian Schengen Visa — Step by Step

To apply for a Lithuania Schengen visa, you must go to the Lithuania Embassy. Infact, when I was making a research on this subject, I noticed that the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs already has a comprehensive, and easy-to-use map of Lithuanian embassies and consulates worldwide. This can help you get the contact information all their embassies and consulates, their respective websites, and many more.

There is no fully online process to apply for a visa — but I will advise you go to the embassy, the consulate, or the visa application center like the VFS Global. The process involves choosing which visa you want to apply for, filling out the visa application form, gathering the required documents, and scheduling your appointment beforehand.

Here is the complete sequence:

Step 1 — Confirm Lithuania is your primary destination

If it is, proceed. If another Schengen country is where you spend the most time, apply through that country’s embassy instead.

Step 2 — Complete the application form online

Fill in every field accurately in Latin letters. Match your name, passport number, and date of birth exactly to your passport. Print, sign, and date the completed form.

Step 3 — Assemble your complete document package

Do not book your appointment and then start gathering documents. Collect everything first, verify consistency across all documents — travel dates matching across flight, hotel, insurance, and cover letter — then lock in your appointment.

Step 4 — Book your appointment

In most countries like the USA, Lithuanian visa applications are handled through VFS Global or another authorized center. Check the official Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website tagged above to identify the correct application point in your country. Book your slot through the official portal — and remember not to pay any third parties to book what is a free process.

Step 5 — Attend your appointment in person

In almost all cases, applications must be submitted in person to the consulate or center you are applying through. When you submit your application, you will likely also be asked to submit biometric data including fingerprints. Children younger than 12 years are likely exempt from having their fingerprints collected. If you have previously submitted fingerprints within the last 59 months, you likely will not need to resubmit them.

Make sure that you arrive the embassy or visa center on time, bring original documents and clean photocopies of each, and do not staple any documents together.

Step 6 — Pay your fees

Pay the €90 adult visa fee plus any applicable service charge from the visa center. And don’t forget to keep your payment receipts.

Step 7 — Track and collect

Use the VFS tracking portal with your reference number. When your passport is ready, check every detail on your visa sticker before leaving — validity dates, number of entries permitted, and duration of stay. Report any errors immediately. If you don’t know how to do this, check out How to Track your Schengen Visa Application.

After submitting your application, you may be asked to return at a later date for a personal interview to provide further information related to your trip. This is not common for standard tourist applications, but it does happen — typically when something in the file raises a question that the embassy wants to clarify directly. Just in case you are called for an interview, check out the Schengen Visa Interview Questions and Answers 2026 — What to Say, Red Flags to Avoid, and How to Walk In Prepared.

How Long Does a Lithuanian Schengen Visa Take to Process?

The Lithuanian Schengen visa processing time is generally 15 days, although it can take up to 60 days in certain cases.

The 15-day standard applies to straightforward, complete applications from applicants with clean travel histories. Extensions toward 45 or 60 days happen when:

Additional background checks are required for certain nationalities
The application is incomplete and requires supplementary documents
The application was submitted during peak processing periods when volumes are high
The embassy needs to consult with another Schengen state

Your visa application should be submitted no earlier than 6 months and no later than 2 to 3 weeks before your departure date.

I always advise my readers and clients to submit their Schengen visa application six to eight weeks before they travel. For experienced travelers with clean Schengen history, four to six weeks is a comfortable minimum. The official 15-day minimum cutoff is a legal boundary — not a target. And treating it as your submission deadline is asking for stress.

Is Lithuania Easy to Get a Schengen Visa From?

This is one of the most common questions I get, and the honest answer is: Lithuania is one of the more accessible Schengen visa options available for applicants from Nigeria, India, Ghana, and other African and Asian countries.

Lithuania’s overall rejection rate sits meaningfully below the Schengen zone average and well below high-rejection embassies like Malta at 38.5% or Belgium at 24.6%. For well-prepared applications from genuine travelers with solid documentation, Lithuania is consistently one of the more reliably fair reviewers in the zone.

That said — and I cannot stress this enough — “more accessible” is not the same as “easy regardless of preparation.” I have seen applications from clients with strong financial profiles and clear travel purposes get rejected because of inconsistent dates between documents, or because a bank statement had the right balance but no official stamp. The Lithuanian consulate is fair but it is thorough.

What determines the outcome is your application quality — not just your nationality or your bank balance.

Can I Apply Without Travel History?

Yes. You can apply without having no prior travel history. That is, you don’t need to have previous visas and no prior Schengen stamps. Infact, not having all these does not disqualify you from a Lithuanian Schengen visa. Many first-time applicants that I know were approved without them and more first-time applicants keep getting approved regularly.

What it does mean is that your application needs to work harder in other areas to establish credibility. Visa officers reviewing a first-time application have no prior travel record to reference — so your financial documentation, your employment stability, your cover letter, and your demonstration of ties to your home country all carry more weight. You are making your case entirely on the strength of the documents in front of them.

For first-time applicants specifically, I always recommend applying to a Schengen country with a historically reasonable approval rate — Lithuania fits that description well — rather than starting with France, Italy, or Spain where the competition from more experienced travelers is significantly higher and the scrutiny is greater.

Do I Need an Invitation Letter?

It depends on the purpose and the circumstances of your trip.

If you are visiting a friend or family member in Lithuania — staying at their home rather than a hotel — you need a formal invitation letter from your host. This letter should include their full name and address, your full name, the dates you will be staying, and confirmation of their legal status in Lithuania. If your host is a Lithuanian citizen or resident, a copy of their ID or residence document alongside the letter strengthens the file.

If you are booking a hotel and have no personal contact in Lithuania, a formal invitation letter is not required. Your hotel booking, your cover letter, and your financial documents establish your accommodation and purpose of visit together.

For business visits, an invitation from the company or organization you are meeting in Lithuania is expected — on official letterhead, signed, and clearly stating the purpose and dates of the meeting.

What Happens if My Lithuanian Schengen Visa Is Rejected?

If your visa is rejected, you usually have two options — apply again, or appeal under Article 32(3) of the Visa Code of the Schengen Agreement. The outcome of your appeal will ultimately depend on the Lithuanian authorities.

Before doing either, read the refusal letter carefully. The standard Schengen refusal form lists the specific reason your application was rejected — financial insufficiency, insufficient justification of purpose, risk of overstay, previous visa violations, or missing documentation. The reason determines what you need to fix.

Reapplying with the same documents that caused the rejection gets the same result. The fee is non-refundable and a second refusal adds to your application history, which every subsequent Schengen embassy can see. Fix the actual problem before you reapply.

One thing that you need to understand is that a Lithuanian rejection is visible to every other Schengen embassy. If you are rejected by Lithuania and apply to France the following week without addressing the underlying issue, the French consulate will see that rejection on your file. It does not automatically disqualify you, but it requires an honest explanation of what changed.

For a full breakdown of rejection reasons and how to address each one before reapplying, read our guide on why Schengen visas get rejected.

Common Mistakes That Get Lithuanian Visa Applications Rejected

I have seen the same patterns come up repeatedly over the years and they are almost always avoidable.

Submitting bank statements downloaded from a mobile app rather than officially stamped at the bank branch is probably the single most consistent issue. An unstamped bank statement is not treated as incomplete — it is treated as unverified. It does not matter how healthy the balance is.

Writing a vague cover letter that could apply to anyone is the second most common problem. “I wish to visit Lithuania for tourism and sightseeing” tells the officer nothing useful. A specific cover letter names actual places you plan to visit, gives specific dates, explains your daily budget, and connects your itinerary to the accommodation and flight documents in your file.

Applying too late is the third. Submitting 14 days before your travel date and expecting 15-day processing to work out perfectly leaves zero margin for any complication. Life happens — documents get flagged, additional information is requested, biometric appointments run late. Build the buffer in.

And submitting documents that are not consistent with each other. Your flight reservation says you arrive June 10. Your hotel booking starts June 11. Your insurance policy starts June 12. Your cover letter says you are traveling June 10 to June 20. That inconsistency — three conflicting dates across four documents — tells the officer your application was assembled in a hurry without checking. That impression is difficult to recover from.

The EES and What It Means When You Arrive in Lithuania

The Entry/Exit System began on October 12, 2025, with non-EU nationals traveling to the Schengen Area starting to have their pictures and fingerprints taken at external borders. The system became fully operational on April 10, 2026.

When you land in Lithuania for the first time after the EES rollout, the border process is slightly different from what you may have experienced before. Your biometric data — fingerprints and a facial photograph — will be recorded at the Lithuanian border and stored in a Schengen-wide digital database. Your entry date and exit date are logged automatically. Your remaining Schengen days are calculated in real time.

The practical implication is significant is that overstays are now detected automatically rather than through manual passport stamp review. There is no longer any ambiguity or gap in the record that might previously have gone unnoticed. If you exceed your 90-day allowance, the system flags it at the next border crossing you attempt. Track your days using our Schengen 90/180-Day Rule Calculator before and during any multi-country Schengen trip.

What I Advise My Clients Before Applying for a Lithuanian Visa

Lithuania is a genuinely rewarding destination for travelers who discover it — Vilnius’s baroque old town, the coastal resort of Palanga, the Curonian Spit sand dunes, the Hill of Crosses outside Šiauliai that defies description until you actually stand in front of it. And as a Schengen application choice, it offers some of the most accessible approval conditions in the zone for well-prepared applicants from Nigeria, India, Ghana, and other countries that face higher rejection rates elsewhere.

But the preparation is what makes or breaks it. Before you submit anything, I always give clients the same checklist of questions. Are all your travel dates consistent across every document? Is your bank statement officially stamped and does the balance reflect genuine financial history rather than a last-minute deposit? Does your cover letter describe your actual specific trip or is it generic enough to describe anyone? Have you checked that your insurance policy covers the full Schengen zone and not just Lithuania?

If the answer to any of those is uncertain, fix it before you book your appointment. The €90 fee is non-refundable, the rejection goes on your record, and the next application becomes harder to approve.

Start your application six to eight weeks before your travel date. Prepare everything before you book your appointment slot. Check every document for consistency. Write a cover letter that is specific to your trip and honest about your situation. And before you finalize any itinerary that combines Lithuania with other Schengen countries, run your day count through our Schengen 90/180-Day Rule Calculator to make sure you are traveling within your legal allowance. Lithuania is worth the effort of getting it right. And with the right preparation, you will.

If you have specific questions about your Lithuanian Schengen visa application — your document profile, your financial situation, or how Lithuania fits into a broader European trip — reach out through the comment section and we will give you a straight answer.