Lithuania family and friends visit visa

This route is for private visits to people who live legally in Lithuania: Lithuanian citizens, foreigners with residence permits or friends. Lithuanian missions publish separate checklists for a family or friend visit, for family members of Lithuanian citizens and for family members of other EU, EEA or EFTA citizens, so pick the list that matches your relationship to the host.

All the general Schengen rules apply: the passport must be valid three months beyond departure and issued within ten years, fingerprints are taken when you apply, and insurance of at least EUR 30,000 is mandatory.

A host in Lithuania, whether a private person or a company, can submit a formal invitation, called tarpininkavimo raštas, through MIGRIS. By doing so the host undertakes to provide you with suitable accommodation and financial support for the whole visit. According to the official reference amounts published by the European Commission, this invitation can be used instead of proving EUR 50 per day yourself.

Under the Law on the Legal Status of Foreigners an inviting person also commits to arranging medical insurance that meets the Visa Code and to reimbursing costs the state may incur, for example for health care or a return. If you do not use an invitation, bring your own bank statements showing at least EUR 50 for each day.

Fill in the Schengen form in MIGRIS, book an appointment with the mission or its external service provider and lodge the application in person no earlier than six months and normally no later than 15 days before the trip. Decisions are taken within 15 calendar days and may take up to 45.

If the host registers an invitation, ask for its number or a copy and bring it to the appointment along with the host’s ID or residence permit copy and proof of the relationship, such as a birth or marriage certificate.

Spouses, children and other family members of Lithuanian citizens and of citizens of other EU or EFTA states pay no visa fee. Their application is also handled under the EU free movement rules, which means a lighter set of documents focused on proving the family link and that you travel with or to join the EU citizen.

Family members of Lithuanian citizens who later want to live in Lithuania do not use this visa; they apply for a temporary residence permit on family reunification grounds.

You receive the standard refusal form with reasons. An appeal can be lodged in Lithuanian at the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court within 14 days, with a EUR 30 stamp duty. You may also simply reapply with stronger documents, for example a MIGRIS invitation or clearer proof of your return.