Schengen Visa for Lithuania from the UK: Application, Fees and Processing in 2026

A Lithuanian Schengen visa is a short-stay or long-stay travel authorisation issued by the Republic of Lithuania, valid across the Schengen area for the purpose and period stated on the sticker. UK passport holders are visa-exempt for short visits; other passports apply through Lithuania directly.

Who needs a Schengen visa from the UK for Lithuania

Lithuania is a Schengen state, having joined the area on 21 December 2007. British citizens holding a full UK passport do not need a Schengen visa to enter Lithuania for tourism, business meetings, family visits or short conferences, provided the total stay across all Schengen states does not exceed 90 days within any rolling 180-day period.

The visa requirement applies to UK residents who hold a passport from a third country listed in Annex I of EU Regulation 2018/1806. That covers nationals of, for example, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, South Africa, Turkey and many other states. Holding indefinite leave to remain, a Biometric Residence Permit or an eVisa share code does not waive the visa requirement; only nationality and passport type do.

Where Lithuania is the main destination of the trip, the Lithuanian consular service is the correct point of application. Where the visit spreads equally across several Schengen states, the country of first entry takes the file.

Where to apply: VFS Global and the London embassy

Lithuania routes UK short-stay Schengen visa applications through VFS Global. The Lithuania visa application centre is in London and accepts biometrics, supporting documents and consular fees on behalf of the embassy. The embassy itself, at Lithuania House, 2 Bessborough Gardens, London SW1V 2JE, retains direct intake for certain categories and for long-stay national visas.

Consular jurisdiction covers the United Kingdom and Ireland. Applicants book an appointment through the VFS Global Lithuania UK portal, submit the application form and documents, give biometrics (a facial image and ten fingerprints unless valid prints are already on file in the Visa Information System) and pay the consular fee plus the VFS service fee.

The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at urm.lt and the embassy at uk.mfa.lt publish the official routing for the UK. Where the trip is for long-stay study, work or family reunification, the file is submitted through the Migration Department portal at migracija.lrv.lt and finalised at the embassy or at a Migration Department office on arrival in Lithuania.

How to apply: documents, biometrics and fees

Lithuania follows the EU Visa Code documentation list for short-stay applications. A complete short-stay file typically includes the application form, a passport valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure with two blank pages, two recent biometric photographs, evidence of accommodation, a travel itinerary, proof of sufficient means of subsistence, travel medical insurance with minimum EUR 30,000 cover valid across the Schengen area, and proof of UK residence.

The standard short-stay (Type C) visa fee was set at EUR 90 from 11 June 2024 under the revised EU Visa Code. Children aged 6 to 11 pay EUR 45 and children under 6 are exempt. VFS Global charges a separate service fee per applicant on top of the consular fee; verify the current amount on the VFS Global Lithuania UK portal before booking.

Biometric data (a facial image and ten fingerprints) is captured at the VFS centre unless valid prints are already held in the Visa Information System. The data is retained for 59 months. Passports are returned by collection at the VFS centre or by paid courier service.

Processing times and what to expect

The EU Visa Code sets a standard decision period of 15 calendar days for short-stay Schengen visas, counted from the date of submission of a complete file at the VFS centre. The period can be extended to 45 days in individual cases where the file requires further examination or additional documents. Some nationalities are subject to prior consultation with other Schengen states, which routinely adds time.

The Lithuanian consular service advises applicants to submit at least three weeks before travel, and not earlier than six months before the planned date of entry. Peak demand around summer and the December holidays lengthens the appointment queue more often than the decision itself.

Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS: what UK travellers should know

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is the automated border database that registers every non-EU traveller entering or leaving the Schengen area. Phased rollout began in October 2025. At first crossing each traveller has a facial image and four fingerprints captured and stored for three years; subsequent entries are matched against that record. EES applies to UK passport holders despite the visa-exempt status of short stays. Guidance is published by the European Commission at travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en and by the UK government at gov.uk/guidance/entry-exit-system-ees.

ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is a pre-travel authorisation for short visa-exempt visits to the Schengen area. It is expected to launch from late 2026 or in 2027; verify the current status on travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en before relying on this. Once live, UK passport holders will need an approved ETIAS authorisation to board flights, ferries or trains into the Schengen area for short stays, including travel to Lithuania.

Long-stay national visas for Lithuania

Long-stay national (Type D) visas authorise stays in Lithuania of more than 90 days and are governed by Lithuanian national law rather than the EU Visa Code. Typical categories include employment (with a work permit or shortage-occupation route), the EU Blue Card for high-skilled workers, study at a Lithuanian university, family reunification, the Lithuania Startup Visa for founders of innovative companies, and self-employment.

The Lithuanian Migration Department, known by its Lithuanian abbreviation MIGRIS and reached at migracija.lrv.lt, runs the online portal where the application is started. Applicants upload supporting documents, pay the state fee and book a submission appointment at the embassy in London or at a Migration Department office in Lithuania. The residence permit card is issued after arrival and biometric enrolment in Lithuania. Decision timelines for D visas and residence permits are longer than for short-stay visas and depend on the route.

Employment-route applicants normally need a positive labour-market decision or evidence of a shortage-occupation match before the D visa is issued; the employer initiates much of the file in Lithuania while the applicant submits identity and background documents from the UK. Students apply on the basis of a confirmed place at a Lithuanian higher education institution, and family reunification routes require evidence of the sponsor's legal status and accommodation in Lithuania. The Lithuania Startup Visa is reviewed by the Startup Lithuania commission against innovation criteria before MIGRIS issues the D visa.

Lithuania participates in the EU Blue Card scheme on the standard terms set out in Directive 2021/1883. Highly qualified workers with a binding job offer that meets the national salary threshold can apply for a Blue Card and benefit from the intra-EU mobility provisions after a qualifying period of residence. Verify the current salary threshold and qualifying period on migracija.lrv.lt before relying on this.

Frequently asked questions

Do UK citizens need a visa to visit Lithuania?

No. British citizens holding a full UK passport can enter Lithuania and the wider Schengen area for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period without a visa. A Schengen visa is only required for UK residents travelling on a passport from a country listed in EU Annex I.

Which visa application centre handles Lithuania in the UK?

VFS Global handles Lithuania visa applications in the UK. The visa application centre is in London and accepts biometrics and document submission on behalf of the Embassy of Lithuania.

How much does a Lithuanian short-stay Schengen visa cost?

The standard fee is EUR 90 from 11 June 2024. Children aged 6 to 11 pay EUR 45 and children under 6 are exempt. VFS Global charges a separate service fee per applicant; verify the current amount on the VFS Global Lithuania UK portal.

How long does a Lithuanian Schengen visa take to process?

The EU Visa Code sets 15 calendar days as the standard decision period from submission of a complete application. The period can be extended to 45 days in individual cases. Appointment availability at the VFS centre may add lead time at peak periods.

Where is the Embassy of Lithuania in London?

The embassy is at Lithuania House, 2 Bessborough Gardens, London SW1V 2JE. Consular jurisdiction covers the United Kingdom and Ireland.

How does a UK resident apply for a Lithuanian long-stay D visa?

Long-stay national D visas are filed online through the Lithuanian Migration Department portal at migracija.lrv.lt. The application is finalised at the embassy in London or at a Migration Department office on arrival in Lithuania, and the residence permit card is issued after biometric enrolment in Lithuania.

Does EES apply to UK passport holders entering Lithuania?

Yes. The Entry/Exit System records the facial image and fingerprints of every non-EU traveller, including UK passport holders, at first entry to the Schengen area. The data is then used for automated entry and exit checks on subsequent trips.