Most international visitors to Lithuania arrive at Vilnius International Airport, about four miles south of the capital city. The largest of three passenger airports in Lithuania, Vilnius Airport is served by more than 20 scheduled and charter airlines with nonstop flights to more than a dozen European cities. Visitors from the United States and Canada can make connections via these cities. An affordable alternative to Vilnius Airport is Kaunas Airport, about one hour’s drive northwest of Vilnius. Several low-cost European airlines fly into this airport.
Visitors from the United States who drive in Lithuania are required to carry an International Driving Permit with their home driver’s license. This document is available at AAA offices in the United States.
Current entry requirements and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found here: Corona STOP
Business Customs
Lithuanians are usually punctual for meetings and visitors are expected to arrive on time. Generally, it is always a good idea to arrive about ten minutes before your appointment, in order to allow time to prepare for the meeting. If you know that you are going to be delayed, it is advisable to call ahead and apologize for your delay. Lithuanians favor face-to-face meetings because they foster relationships for mutual understanding. Punctuality may not be as strict in social situations.
Business partners do not expect presents at the first meeting, but small gifts to business associates are generally acceptable. You might be expected to bring a small and unique souvenir that represents your country or your company. In business, conservative/classic clothing is common. Men tend to wear a dark suit with a tie, while women might wear a trouser suit, or jacket and skirt. For business meetings, a suit is always appropriate for both men and women. Lithuanians expect their foreign business associates to be well-dressed, and business attire is appropriate for almost all formal occasions.
During normal working hours, there is a less formal code. Men take off their jackets and often wear short sleeved shirts. In small and medium-sized companies, there is often no dress code, with many opting for business casual, unless they have some sort of business meeting or formal event to attend.
Travel Advisory
State Department consular information sheet
Visa requirements:
U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following link(s): State Department Visa Website
U.S. citizens do not need a visa to travel to Lithuania if they plan to stay no longer than 90 days in a half year, counting from the first day of entry. For longer stays, work, study, or residence in Lithuania, a U.S. citizen must obtain a temporary residence permit. The 90-day period begins with entry to any of the Schengen group countries. Multiple visits to Schengen countries may not exceed 90 days in any six-month period. More information on traveling to the Schengen area is available at Travel.State.Gov
Currency: Lithuania uses the euro. Lithuania has a well-developed banking network. Finding an ATM – also labelled as Bankomatas in Lithuanian- is easy in towns and cities in Lithuania. It is worth keeping some cash handy if you’re heading further outside cities, as rural areas are often not as well-covered. Travelers’ checks are not accepted by retailers and can only be exchanged at a few outlets.
Telecommunications/Electronics
Telecommunication service providers offer high quality solutions depending on client needs. EU mobile users traveling to other countries in the EU are able to call, text or surf the net without paying any extra charges.
Electrical outlets in Lithuania supply electricity at 220 volts AC.
Transportation
Lithuania has a network of four-lane highways connecting its major cities of Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, and Palanga. Smaller towns are accessible by well-kept asphalt roads. Some villages can be reached only by gravel roads. Car rental is readily available in the airports.
Lithuanian railroads are not on par with those in Western Europe. Before planning to go somewhere by rail, you should first check the map of Lithuanian railroads to determine if both your origin and destination have a rail connection and whether there is a relatively straight route. Moreover, not every rail line has passenger traffic, as the railroads lost market share to bus services over the past 30 years. Even where the rail services exist, they operate less frequently than bus counterparts.
Although Lithuania has three passenger airports, the internal domestic flights are limited. Good road connections and the small country size ensure quicker transportation by car than by plane.
Language
The official language in Lithuania is Lithuanian (native to some 85% of the population and spoken by 96%).
The largest minority languages are Russian and Polish, spoken natively by 8.2% and 5.8% of the population, respectively. More than 97% of the country’s population speaks at least one foreign language.
English is the most popular foreign language in Lithuania today. It is spoken by more than 30% of the population and is extremely common among young professionals. Over 80% of 20-34 year olds with a university degree are proficient in English. English is widely accepted in business settings.
Health
Healthcare in Lithuania is of a high standard with numbers of doctors per 1000 people greater than in most western societies. Hospitals are well-equipped to perform even the most difficult surgeries. Doctors are well-trained and sought-after by western hospitals. There is generally no need to get any vaccination before going to Lithuania. Major infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV are extremely rare. Ticks are common, and tick-borne encephalitis is a concern for individuals who spend time in forested areas of Lithuania.
For Lithuanians and EU citizens, most medical services are free of charge.
Local time, business hours, and holidays
The local time in Lithuania is Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time) + 2 hours. Daylight Savings Time is observed in Lithuania. It begins at 2 a.m. local time on the last Sunday in March, and it ends at 2 a.m. local time on the last Sunday in October.
Lithuania observes a five-day workweek, with eight working hours per day and 40 working hours per week. The work-day typically lasts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for manufacturing-related industries, or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for service institutions, including a one-hour lunch.
National Holidays in Lithuania 2022
Jan. 1, Sat. New Year’s Day
Feb. 16 Wed. Independence Day
Mar. 11 Fri. Independence Restoration Day
Apr. 17 Sun Easter Sunday
Apr. 18 Mon Easter Monday
May 1 Sun. Labor Day
Jun. 24 Fri. St John’s Day
Jul. 6 Wed. King Mindaugas’ Day
Aug. 15 Mon. Assumption Day
Nov. 1 Tue. All Saints’ Day
Nov. 2 Wed. All Soul’s Day
Dec. 24 Sat. Christmas Eve
Dec. 25 Sun. Christmas Day
Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings
There are no restrictions on entry for personal belongings, unless they are items regulated by customs regulations and subject to import license requirements, such as firearms, drugs, jewelry, tobacco, or alcohol. In such cases, the traveler will be asked to fill in a customs declaration form.