Lithuania

Violent crime is rare.

Car theft and car break-ins can occur. New or expensive vehicles are targeted.

Pickpocketing and bag snatching can occur. Most petty theft occurs on public transport and in bars and restaurants.

To protect yourself from crime:

• avoid walking alone at night
• keep car doors locked, windows up and valuables out of sight
• use guarded car parks where possible

Crime on public transport

Scammers target travellers on trains. They befriend travellers and ask personal questions to work out if they're worth robbing.

If you have concerns about your safety while on public transport, seek help from a transport employee.

File a police report at the nearest police station if you're a victim of crime. Get a copy of the report.

The Lithuanian police can provide translators (see'Local contacts').

LGBTQIA+ safety

Social acceptance of LGBTQIA+ people is not as widespread as in Australia. Individuals have sometimes been harassed. Public displays of affection may attract unwanted attention.  

More information:

• Advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers

Drink spiking

Methanol poisoning

Cyber security

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people are rare but can turn violent.

To protect yourself during periods of unrest:

• avoid crowds, protests and demonstrations where possible
• monitor developments in the media
• follow advice from local authorities

More information:

• Protests and civil unrest

Terrorism is a threat worldwide. Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere and at any time. Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places. 

While there have been no recent terrorist attacks in Lithuania, they can still happen. Terrorists have attacked some European cities. 

If there’s a terrorist incident, leave the area if it’s safe to do so and follow the instructions of local authorities. 

More information:

• Terrorism

Lithuania can experience severe weather, including extremely low winter temperatures.

Be careful when driving. Use winter tyres or chains.

Watch the media and other local news sources for weather advice, and be prepared.

Measles

Measles is a risk in Lithuania. Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel.

More information:

• Measles immunisation service (Department of Health and Aged Care)

Other health risks

Tick-borne diseases are a risk in forested areas. Ticks are common from March to November, and care should be taken when undertaking any outdoor activity, when camping and when in forest or farming areas. The Lithuanian Ministry of Health states ticks can lead to tick-borne Encephalitis or Lyme Borreliosis.

Ask your doctor about health risks and vaccines before you go.

More information

• Infectious diseases

There’s no agreement between Australia and Lithuania for free healthcare. Tourists must pay for all medical care, even if they need to stay in hospital or be evacuated. This can be very expensive. Make sure your travel insurance covers you. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.

Medical professionals are highly trained, and some speak English.

Private medical facilities are well-equipped. However, public facilities don't meet Australian standards.

Doctors and hospitals may require up-front payment before treating you.

In an emergency, you may need to be evacuated. 

When you travel to another country, you must follow their laws. Even if they seem strict compared to Australia's. Before you go, learn about the local laws in that country.

The Australian Government is limited in how and when we can help if you're arrested overseas. We can't get you out of trouble or out of jail. Understand our limits. Read the Consular Services Charter.

Drugs

Penalties for drug offences, even when you only have small amounts, include heavy fines and imprisonment.

More information:

• Carrying or using drugs
• Partying safely

Driving laws

The blood alcohol limit is 0% up to 0.04%, depending on your driving experience and the type of vehicle being driven. Do not drink and drive. Severe penalties for drink-driving include:

• heavy fines
• imprisonment
• losing your driver's licence

Surrogacy 

There are no legal or regulatory policies on surrogacy in Lithuania. Seek independent legal advice. 

The Australian Embassy in Warsaw (accredited to Lithuania) can't provide:

• legal advice about surrogacy
• information on clinics

More information:

• Going overseas for international surrogacy
• Going overseas to adopt a child

Other laws

You're required by law to carry ID with you at all times. You must present your ID to law enforcement officers when requested. 

Some Australian laws still apply even if you’re in another country. You could be charged in Australia if you break these laws overseas.

More information:

• Staying within the law and respecting customs

Lithuania recognises dual nationality. If you’re a Lithuanian-Australian dual national, there are limited consular services we can provide if you're arrested or detained.

Lithuanian males aged 18 and above have military service obligations. You may have to do military service if you're a male Australian-Lithuanian dual national. This applies even if you're of Lithuanian descent and were born outside Lithuania.

If in doubt, contact the nearest Lithuanian Embassy or Consulate to check your dual nationality status. 

Always travel on your Australian passport to and from Australia.

More information:

• Advice for dual nationals

Visas

Lithuania is part of the Schengen area, meaning Australian citizens can enter Lithuania without a visa in some cases. Always carry your passport even within the Schengen area.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest Lithuanian embassy or consulate for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Border measures with Poland

Temporary border checks entering Lithuania’s borders with Poland are in place.

Make sure you:

• carry your passport when crossing borders, including within the Schengen area, and
• monitor border conditions by checking local information and directly with transport providers.

The new European Union's (EU) Entry/Exit System (EES) for registering all non-EU nationals, including Australians, travelling in or out of the Schengen area, has started.

European countries using the EES will gradually introduce the system at their external borders. Data collection will be introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026.

After it is fully implemented, EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports.

The registration process should only take a few minutes but there may be longer border queues when the new system starts.

When travelling into and out of the Schengen area, for short stays, you may need to 

• have your fingerprints and photo taken
• answer Schengen Border Code questions

This creates a digital record that registers your biometric details.

If you revisit the Schengen area within 3 years of creating your digital record, you'll only need to provide either your fingerprint or photograph at the border on entry and exit.

If you frequently travel to Schengen areas for work and/or leisure purposes, you must ensure that your total stay in the Schengen area is no more than 90 days in every 180 days. Be aware of immigration penalties and enforcement for exceeding the limit in any individual country you plan to travel to or through.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Before you travel, contact the nearest embassy or consulate for details on entry requirements .

More information:

• Visas and entry requirements in Europe and the Schengen Area

Travelling with children

A consent letter from at least one parent is required if a child lives in Lithuania and is:

• is travelling alone
• or with an unrelated adult

In certain situations, a child travelling with only one parent may also be required to have a consent letter from the other parent or have other documentation, such as a court order.

The letter must be notarised by a Lithuanian notary or a Lithuanian Embassy or Consulate. 

Any adult accompanying the child must have their details in the letter, including their:

• names
• dates of birth
• personal ID numbers (if relevant)
• passport numbers and ID cards (if relevant), including the issuing authority, issue date and expiry date

Travel insurance

If you're a non-EU citizen visiting Lithuania, you must show proof of valid travel insurance.

If you arrive without travel insurance, you may have to buy it at the border.

More information:

• Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Validity

Lost or stolen passport

Passport with 'X' gender identifier 

Lithuania's official currency is the Euro.

Declare amounts over 10,000 euros or equivalent if you travel between Lithuania and any non-European Union (EU) country. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.

If you fail to declare or you give incorrect information on entry or exit, authorities will fine you.

You should check with local authorities in the countries you're leaving, entering or passing through whether you must declare higher amounts of currency.

Border crossings

The Curonian Spit is divided between Lithuania and the Russian Federation at the Nida border crossing. Be cautious while travelling in regions bordering Russia and Belarus. Do not travel to Russia and Belarus.

Border crossings between Lithuania and Belarus can close at short notice. Localised disruptions to some cross-border road and rail transport services can happen. Do not travel to Belarus.

Allow extra time to cover disruptions. 

Always carry your passport even within the Schengen area.

Driving permits

To drive in Lithuania, you need both:

• a valid Australian driver's licence
• an International Driving Permit (IDP)

Permanent residents of Lithuania need to apply for a local licence. Refer to The State Enterprise Regitra.

More information:

• Driving or riding

Road travel

Driving in winter can be dangerous due to snow and icy conditions. Black ice on roads is a common hazard.

Snow clearing is efficient in cities. However, highways and roads in rural areas can be blocked for long periods.

By law, you must:

• use winter tyres from 10 November to 1 April
• Headlights must always be on when driving
• have valid car insurance

Contact your car hire provider for updates on car rental requirements, including the minimum age.

More information:

• Driving or riding

Motorcycles

Lithuania has strict guidelines for motorbike use, including wearing helmets and reflective clothing.

Always wear a helmet.

Taxis

Use official licensed taxis. These display yellow license plates starting with the letter ‘T’

Rideshare apps are also available

Rail travel

In winter, heavy snow can disrupt train travel.

Public transport

Towns have limited public transport.

Have the right ticket to avoid fines.

More information:

• Transport and getting around safely

Air travel

Check Lithuania's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

• Air travel

Depending on what you need, contact your:

• family and friends
• travel agent
• insurance provider
• employer
• airline

Fire and rescue services

Call 112.

Medical emergencies

Call 112.

Police

Call 112.

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Crisis Notification App

The LT72 mobile phone Crisis Notification App, developed by the Fire and Rescue Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, is an innovative tool for providing timely alerts, valuable disaster prevention information, and instructions in the case of emergency situations.

The Australian Government aims to provide high quality consular assistance. There are limits to what we can do. Read the Consular Services Charter to understand how we can assist you overseas.

Australia has an Honorary Consul in Vilnius, Lithuania. The office provides some consular assistance but can't issue passports or perform notarial acts.

Australian Consulate, Vilnius

Vilniaus St 23
LT-01402, Vilnius, Lithuania

Phone: +370 5 212 3369
E-mail: australia@consulate.lt

For full consular assistance, contact the Australian Embassy in Poland.

Australian Embassy, Warsaw

Rondo ONZ 1
8th floor
00-124 Warsaw, Poland

Phone: +4822 521 3444
Website: poland.embassy.gov.au
E-mail: ambasada.australia@dfat.gov.au
X: @AusAmbPoland
Facebook: @AustraliainPolandandCzechRepublicandLithuania

Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

• +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
• 1300 555 135 in Australia