ETIAS visa waiver for Lithuania

Canadians travelling to the Schengen area will soon be required to obtain an Electronic Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) visa waiver before their arrival.

This new system is being introduced to enhance the security of the region by screening travellers before they arrive in the Schengen area. It is set to be implemented by 2021.

However, travellers will be able to easily obtain the ETIAS visa waiver by filling out an online application that takes roughly 10 minutes to complete. Once the passenger is approved for the ETIAS visa waiver they can receive it via email within a matter of hours.

Currently, the ETIAS visa waiver is only open to visitors from a certain number of eligible countries. Once ETIAS is active visitors to the Schengen zone will be required to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver or another valid form of travel authorization before being permitted entry.

Guidance for Canadians travelling to Lithuania with an ETIAS visa waiver

Etias Lithuania for canadians

Canada is one of the 59 countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver. The process of applying for the ETIAS visa waiver begins by filling out an online form.

Canadian applicants will have to provide details, including their:

  • Name
  • Date of birth
  • Gender
  • Permanent address
  • Passport information

Applicants will be required to answer basic questions regarding security, immigration, health and criminal history. Applicants must take care to answer these questions as honestly and accurately as possible.

Failure to do so may impact their application processing and thereby their travel plans negatively. All answers provided on the ETIAS visa waiver applications are checked against international security databases.

Passport requirements for Canadians visiting Lithuania

European authorities have set some basic requirements for travellers to meet before beginning the application process for the ETIAS visa waiver. Applicants will need to have a valid Canadian passport, an active email address and a valid debit/credit card available to successfully apply for the ETIAS visa waiver.

Travelling to Lithuania from Canada with ETIAS authorization

Once approved, applicants will receive their visa waiver via email.  Passengers must make sure they arrive in Europe with the same machine-readable passport used to register with the system. It is also recommended to print out or keep a digital copy of your ETIAS approval during your entire trip.

An ETIAS visa waiver is valid for 3 years or as long as the traveller’s passport is still valid. In other words, if the applicant’s passport expires before their visa expires, they will be required to obtain a new ETIAS visa waiver.

It also grants the travellers a maximum of 90 day-stay in the borderless zone within a 180-day period. Canadians are free to travel within the Schengen area freely while the ETIAS visa waiver is still valid.

Interesting facts about Lithuania

Lithuania is a Baltic country sharing borders Russia, Latvia, Belarus and Poland. The capital of Lithuania is Vilnius. Over 80% of the population is ethnic Lithuanian and they speak the Lithuanian language. Russian and English are also spoken by the majority of the people.

The Lithuanian language is considered to have changed the least over time and is therefore considered a valuable language for study purposes. Lithuania used to be the largest country in Europe incorporating western Ukraine and Belarus, however, it was carved into its current territory by surrounding powers. The country is actually called Lietuva in Lithuanian.

The country survived the Russification of its culture, heritage and language during Soviet control. It was one of the first countries to gain independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.

The first school in the country was at Vilnius Cathedral during the 14th century. The first publishing house was also founded in Vilnius in 1522 and the first Lithuanian book was published in 1547. Lithuania also has an official scent called the “the Scent of Lithuania”.

Information for tourists traveling to Lithuania

  • Tap water is usually from underground sources and is routinely tested for its quality. It is considered safe to drink and is high in mineral content. For this reason, it sometimes appears cloudy.
  • The emergency contact number for tourists is 112.
  • An International Driving Permit may be required to drive in the country.
  • Winter weather in the country can be harsh with temperatures dropping to -25 degrees. Pack appropriate winter clothing if travelling to the country during the colder seasons.

Health information for travellers to Lithuania

Canadian travellers to Lithuania should consider investing in a Travel Health Insurance Policy that can cover emergency medical costs that may arise during their travel. Vaccinations for Hepatitis B, tick-borne encephalitis, tuberculosis and rabies are highly recommended for travellers to the country.

Canadian embassies and consulates in Lithuania

Embassy of Canada in Vilnius, Lithuania

Address: Business Center 2000, Jogailos g. 4 LT-01116, Vilnius, Lithuania
Phone: (011-370) 5249-0950