GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANI

GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANI Official translation GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA RESOLUTION 26 June 1997 No. 685 Vilnius CONCERNING THE APPROVAL OF REGULATIONS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF VISAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA The Government of the Republic of Lithuania has r e s o l v e d:

1. To approve the Regulations for the Issuance of Visas of the Republic of Lithuania (attached).
2. To recognise as invalid: 2.
3. the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 21 October 1993 No. 797 “Concerning the Approval of the Regulations of the Issuance of Visas of the Republic of Lithuania”; 2.
4. the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 11 October 1994 No. 797 “Concerning the Amendment of the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 21 October of 1993”; 2.
5. the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 27 April 1995 No. 587 “Concerning Supplements to the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 21 October 1993 No. 797 “Concerning the Approval of the Regulations of the Issuance of Visas of the Republic of Lithuania”.
6. The Resolutions shall come into force as of 1 October
7. PRIME MINISTER GEDIMINAS VAGNORIUS MINISTER OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND LABOUR, ACTING FOR THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR IRENA DEGUTIENË APPROVED by the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania of 26 June 1997 No. 685 EGULATIONS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF VISAS OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA General Provisions
8. These Regulations shall regulate the types of visas, the procedure of their issuance and cancellation, also the competence of the public institutions implementing these Regulations.
9. Foreign nationals and stateless persons (hereinafter referred to as aliens), when coming to the Republic of Lithuania must have a visa of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as visa), unless the international agreement or the laws of the Republic of Lithuania or Resolutions of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania provide otherwise.
10. Visa is a document in a valid travel document, the possession whereof may be declared by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania as one of the mandatory conditions for the entry of, stay in, departure form the Republic of Lithuania, also for travelling through the Republic of Lithuania in transit.
11. Visas shall be issued at the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Lithuania and its consular institutions abroad, at the Consular Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, at the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior and migration services at the district (city) Police Commissariats and, by way of exception, visas for aliens may be issued at the border check points of the Border Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as State office). As a rule the diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Lithuania abroad shall issue visas to the nationals of the state in which they are located, also to the nationals of third countries and stateless persons who are permanent residents of the state. For the nationals of the states (as well as to stateless persons) in which the Republic of Lithuania has no diplomatic missions or consular offices, visas may be issued at any diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Lithuania abroad. The procedure for issuing visas shall be laid down by the Ministry of the Interior in conjunction with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
12. Visa Register (visa issuance points) shall be drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior upon consultation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Visa Register may indicate the State agencies at which visas for aliens are issued only upon the receipt of the approval of the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior. Types of Visas
13. There are diplomatic, service, regular, special and transit visas. Visas may be for single entry or multiple entry, issued for one person or a group of persons. Diplomatic and Service Visas
14. Diplomatic and service visas shall be issued to aliens who, under the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and international treaties as well as according to the accepted international practice are entitled to diplomatic and comparable privileges and immunities and enter the Republic of Lithuania as official persons or travel through the Republic of Lithuania on transit from the third countries.
15. Diplomatic visas shall be issued to the following persons who hold diplomatic passports: 8.
16. heads of foreign states and accompanying family members as well as members of the delegations led by them; 8.
17. heads of foreign state governments and accompanying family members as well as members of the delegations led by them; 8.
18. members of parliaments and governments of foreign states; 8.
19. foreign affairs ministers of foreign states and accompanying family members as well as members of the delegations led by them; 8.
20. members of foreign state official delegations (special missions) and accompanying family members; 8.
21. foreign state diplomatic representatives and consular officers as well as the accompanying family members; Recognised as family members of the diplomatic representative or consular officer shall be: the spouse, the son under the age of 18 years, the daughter until the contraction of a marriage; 8.
22. representatives of international organisations and their family members when the visit and composition of the delegation has been agreed with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 8.
23. foreign state diplomatic and consular couriers; 8.
24. employees of foreign state diplomatic and trade missions, consular offices, also representative offices of international organisations in the Republic of Lithuania ; 8.
25. other aliens pursuant to international treaties concluded by the Republic of Lithuania .
26. Service visas shall be issued to the following aliens: 9.
27. members of administrative and technical as well as service personnel, accredited to the diplomatic missions and consular offices in the Republic of Lithuania or travelling through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania to third states and the family members accompanying them. Considered as family members of administrative and technical as well as service personnel shall be: the spouse, sons under the age of 18 years and daughters before the contraction of a marriage; 9.
28. representatives of foreign state mass media, accredited to and working according to the established procedure in the Republic of Lithuania as well as their accompanying family members; 9.
29. members of foreign state parliamentary and governmental delegations, who are not entitled to be issued diplomatic visas; 9.
30. staff members of foreign state trade missions in the Republic of Lithuania , who are not entitled to be issued diplomatic visas; 9.
31. other aliens pursuant to international treaties concluded by the Republic of Lithuania ; 9.
32. representatives of international organisations and their family members when the visit and the composition of the delegation have been agreed with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 9.
33. in the cases not specified in the Regulations - upon the authorisation of the Consular Department under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
34. Diplomatic and consular visas shall be issued at the diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Lithuania abroad as well as at the Consular Department under the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
35. Diplomatic and service visas shall be issued upon the receipt by diplomatic channels of a written application of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the appropriate state or its diplomatic mission or consular office or an international organisation.
36. Diplomatic and service visas shall be issued to the employees of foreign state diplomatic and trade missions, consular offices as well as representative offices of international organisations in the Republic of Lithuania for the entire period of their accreditation and work in the Republic of Lithuania. Diplomatic and service visas may be issued for the requested time period but for not longer than 1 year. Service visas shall be issued to foreign state mass media representatives and their family members for the entire period of their work in the Republic of Lithuania.
37. Diplomatic and service visas shall be registered and their record shall be kept by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
38. The issuance of diplomatic and service visas shall be exempt from consular and stamp duty. Regular visas
39. Regular visas shall be issued to aliens when they are not entitled to diplomatic and service visas or when they are not required to obtain a special visa. An alien who enters the Republic of Lithuania with a regular visa shall be prohibited from seeking employment, engaging in any other activities, should he require therefor a special visa or a permit for permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania .
40. Regular or transit visas may be issued to aliens at border check points in the following cases: 16.
41. when the aliens are entering the Republic of Lithuania in order to participate in official meetings of public institutions, provided that a written application has been submitted to the Border Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 16.
42. when the aliens are in need of first aid, provided that a written application has been submitted to the Border Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior by the Ministry of Health Care or the competent authority; 16.
43. for motor transport drivers, carrying cargo to the Republic of Lithuania or the Kaliningrad District of the Russian Federation and to persons named in the documents confirming the transportation route, who are going in the same vehicle; 16.
44. for cargo transport drivers and persons carrying cargo through the Republic of Lithuania to or from the international ferry port in Klaipėda provided that documents confirming the route of transportation are submitted; 16.
45. aircraft crew members named in the crew list; 16.
46. EU member state nationals who enter the Republic of Lithuania by aircraft or sea-going vessels coming to the international ferry port in Klaipėda; 16.
47. crew members of foreign ships who are replacing the crew at the Klaipėda sea port, provided that a written application for the issuance of a visa has been submitted to the Border Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior by the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior. The entire period of stay in the Republic of Lithuania with a regular visa issued at the border check point may not be longer than 10 days.
48. Regular visas shall be issued at the diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Lithuania abroad, at the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior and, in cases specified in paragraph 16 hereof - at the border check points.
49. Regular visas shall be valid for up to one year. The entire period of stay in the Republic of Lithuania with a regular visa may not last longer than 90 days per year from the first day of entry into the Republic of Lithuania. A regular visa shall be issued for the period specified in the submitted application, but not for longer than 90 days. The alien’s period of stay with a regular visa may be extended by the migration service of the district (city) police commissariat (hereinafter - migration service), however the entire period of stay with the visa may not exceed 90 days per year from the first day of entry into the Republic of Lithuania.
50. A regular visa shall be issued for a single entry of the Republic of Lithuania. An alien holding a single entry visa shall be allowed to enter the Republic of Lithuania once, stay in the country for the period specified in the visa and depart from it. A multiple entry visa shall be issued upon providing sufficient proof of its necessity. An alien who holds a multiple entry visa shall be allowed to enter the Republic of Lithuania many times, stay in the country and depart from it.
51. An alien may be issued a regular visa upon his application provided he has: 20.
52. a valid travel document; 20.
53. the right to return to the country of his residence of which he is a national or a permanent resident, or to proceed to another country; 20.
54. an invitation of natural or legal persons of the Republic of Lithuania to come to the Republic of Lithuania and to stay in the country, confirmed by the migration service.
55. No invitation shall be required if: 21.
56. the alien is a spouse or a child under the age of 18 years of the national of the Republic of Lithuania and their permanent place of residence is in a foreign state; 21.2.the alien must cross the territory of the Republic of Lithuania by transit; 21.
57. a written application has been submitted to the diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Lithuania by the Consular Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs requesting the alien be issued with a visa; The list of states whose national may be issued visas without an invitation shall be approved by the Ministry of the Interior upon consultation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
58. The migration service shall confirm the invitation of a natural person of the Republic of Lithuania ,which must be submitted by an alien who wishes to come to the Republic of Lithuania on a private visit if the inviting person: 22.
59. indicates in the letter of invitation the alien’s personal details, purpose of the visit, date of entry and length of stay and also takes upon himself to ensure the alien’s maintenance during his stay in the Republic of Lithuania; 22.
60. takes upon himself to provide the invited alien with adequate accommodation (the required norm is not less than 5 square metres per person, including the invited aliens) and guarantees the covering, as necessary, of the alien’s expenses relating to his return to his home country.
61. The migration service shall confirm the letter of invitation of a legal person of the Republic of Lithuania, which must be presented for the issuance of a regular visa by an alien wishing to come to the Republic of Lithuania for the purpose other than that specified in paragraph 22 provided that the person who is submitting the letter of invitation: 23.
62. in the letter of invitation gives personal details of the person being invited and of the enterprise represented by him, the purpose, date of his visit and the length of stay, also takes upon himself to ensure the alien’s maintenance during his stay in the Republic of Lithuania and guarantees, as necessary, the alien’s expenses relative to his return to his home country; 23.
63. presents the documents of registration of the legal person; 23.
64. presents a certificate issued by the district (city) state tax inspectorate confirming that economic-commercial activities are engaged in and taxes are paid; Period of validity of the certificate issued by the district (city) state tax inspectorate shall be 6 months from the date of issuance.
65. The letter of invitation may be executed by a natural person of the Republic of Lithuania who is 18 years of age and over (a national of the Republic of Lithuania or an alien, who is a permanent resident in the Republic of Lithuania and holds a permit for permanent residence in the Republic of Lithuania), or a legal person of the Republic of Lithuania (registered in the Republic of Lithuania according to the procedure prescribed by law).
66. The letter of invitation shall be confirmed by the migration service of the place of permanent residence (for a legal persons -the place or registration) of the inviting person.
67. The letter of invitation whereby an alien is invited to come to the Republic of Lithuania on a temporary visit and stay in the country for a period not exceeding 90 days shall be confirmed within 6 months from the first day of entry into the Republic of Lithuania . Period of validity of the letter of invitation shall be 6 months from the day of its confirmation.
68. The migration service must confirm the letter of invitation within 7 working days and in cases of urgency - within 2 working days.
69. The letter of invitation shall not be confirmed where the person who is inviting: 28.
70. is a natural person: 28.1.
71. against whom criminal proceedings have been instituted - until the termination of the proceedings; 28.1.
72. has been sentenced for a committed crime - until he serves out the sentence or if he is exempted from punishment; 28.1.
73. has no permanent place of residence in the Republic of Lithuania or is not in the position to provide the alien with adequate living conditions; 28.1.
74. asks for confirmation of a letter of invitation addressed to an alien whose entry into the Republic of Lithuania is prohibited;
75. 1.
76. is acting as an intermediary for other persons who wish to execute a letter of invitation; 28.1.
77. attempts to execute a letter of invitation by fraud; 28.
78. a legal person: 28.2.
79. who has not been registered in the Republic of Lithuania in the established manner; 28.2.
80. who is not engaged in the Republic of Lithuania in any economic-commercial or other activities, specified in the founding documents of the legal person and does not pay taxes established by law; 28.2.
81. who applies for confirmation of a letter of invitation to an alien who is prohibited from entering the Republic of Lithuania; 28.2.
82. who acts as an intermediary for other persons who wish to execute a letter of invitation; 28.2.
83. who attempts to execute a letter of invitation by fraud; 28.2.
84. who is engaged in activities other than those specified in the enterprise registration documents.
85. If the migration service refuses to confirm a letter of invitation for an alien’s temporary visit to the Republic of Lithuania, a natural or legal person of the Republic of Lithuania may repeatedly file an application requesting confirmation of the invitation upon the vanishing of the reasons for which confirmation has been refused.
86. Stamp duty shall be payable for confirmation of a natural or legal person’s letter of invitation required for an alien’s temporary visit to the Republic of Lithuania. The form of the letter of invitation as well as confirmation procedure shall be laid down by the Ministry of the interior upon consultation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Special Visas
87. Special visas shall be issued to aliens who come to the Republic of Lithuania to work, engage in economic-commercial activities, perform activities relating to religious rites, study, undergo treatment, improve qualifications, carry out research at research and educational institutions, or live with their family members (to children under the age of 18 years, the spouse, parents who are of retirement age or incapable of work due to disability) and in other special cases.
88. Special visas are multiple-entry visas and shall be issued for a period not exceeding 2 months, whereafter new special visas may be issued .
89. Special visas shall be issued by diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Lithuania abroad upon the authorisation of the Department of Migration under Ministry of the Interior. If an alien is in the Republic of Lithuania, a decision regarding the issuance of a new special visa shall be taken by the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior.
90. An alien who has been issued with a special visa must within 7 days from his entry of the Republic of Lithuania (receipt of a new special visa in the Republic of Lithuania) notify of his entry the migration service on the territory serviced by which the alien is residing. The alien must fill out an arrival note which will be used for his registration. Transit Visas
91. An alien who has to cross the territory of the Republic of Lithuania by transit may be issued with a transit visa. Every time the period of stay with the visa in the Republic of Lithuania is not longer than 48 hours.
92. Transit visas shall be issued to aliens who hold a visa of the country to which they are travelling through the Republic of Lithuania or those who are exempt from any visa requirements when entering a third country.
93. There shall be single entry, double entry and multiple entry transit visas. A single entry transit visa grants an alien the right to travel through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania once (forward direction). A double entry transit visa grants an alien the right to go through the territory of the Republic of Lithuania twice (forwards and backwards). A multiple entry transit visas grants an alien the right to cross the territory of the Republic of Lithuania many times during the period of visa validity. A double entry and multiple entry transit visa may be issued for no longer than 1-year period. Group Visas
94. A group of aliens (consisting of 5 to 30 persons) which is entering the Republic of Lithuania may be issued a regular group visa provided that a group leader has been appointed, the group has a common purpose and route of travel, also the same time and place of arrival, stay and departure.
95. When filing an application in a state, whose nationality they do not have, aliens must present documents proving their lawful stay in the state.
96. Consular fee or stamp duty shall be payable for visa issuance and extension as well as for services related to the issuance of visas.
97. As necessary, the Ministry of the Interior may, upon consultation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, draw up a list of states whose nationals and permanent residents may be issued with visas only upon authorisation of the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior.
98. The decision to issue or to refuse a visa shall be taken by the authorised officer of the appropriate state service. In case of uncertainty or doubt as regards the issuance of visas (except for diplomatic and service visas), the decision shall be taken by the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior, and with respect to diplomatic and service visas - the Consular Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
99. A visas shall be denied, if: 44.
100. the alien presents a travel document which is not valid in the Republic of Lithuania; 44.
101. the alien is on the list of persons prohibited from entering the Republic of Lithuania; 44.
102. the alien’s entry in the Republic of Lithuania poses a threat to state security, public order, health and morality of the population of the Republic of Lithuania ; 44.
103. the alien has committed crimes against humanity, is a war criminal or participant in mass repressive actions; 44.
104. requested by a state officer, the alien cannot produce documents confirming the purpose and terms of his journey, also the fact that he possesses enough funds necessary in order to stay in the Republic of Lithuania, make a journey back to his country, or go to another country to which he has right to go; 44.
105. when applying for a visa, the alien has presented incorrect data; 44.
106. the alien has presented a travel document with signs of forgery; 44.
107. the alien has demonstrated by words or actions disrespect for the Republic of Lithuania; 44.
108. in other cases provided for by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and Resolutions of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania .
109. After a visa is refused, the alien’s passport shall be marked with the inscription “Visa refused”.
110. The alien’s visa may be cancelled if: 46.
111. the visa has been obtained by fraud; 46.
112. the alien commits an offence or an administrative violation of law; 46.
113. the circumstances specified in paragraph 44 are disclosed.
114. A decision concerning the cancellation of a visa shall be taken by: 47.
115. prior to the alien’s entry of the Republic of Lithuania - a diplomatic mission and consular office of the Republic of Lithuania which shall notify the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior of the decision. 47.
116. when the alien is at the border check point - by the Border Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior upon consultation with the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior or upon the authorisation by the Department; 47.
117. when the alien is in the Republic of Lithuania - by the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior.
118. The decision on the cancellation of the diplomatic or service visa shall be taken by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
119. The Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior shall keep the list of aliens who are banned from entering the Republic of Lithuania. The ban from entering the Republic of Lithuania may be imposed on the alien for a specified or indefinite period. Record Keeping of the Issuance of Visas
120. The record of the issuance of visas shall be kept by the Ministry of the Interior in conjunction with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs according to the procedure set forth by the ministries.
121. The special visas shall be registered by the Department of Migration under the Ministry of the Interior according to the data presented by migration services. International Treaties
122. If international treaties provide otherwise than established by these Regulations, the rules of the international treaty shall apply.