The state no longer restricts the departure of citizens outside the country, as was the case in Soviet times. So Belarusians have access to most countries of the world for recreation, work, training. A visa to Lithuania for Belarusians is one of the ways to get into the European Union relatively easily. However, obtaining such a visa is complicated by a number of subtleties, which are desirable to know in advance.
The popularity of a visa to Lithuania
Do Belarusians need a visa to Lithuania? Traveling to this country has become very popular. Some citizens go here in search of better salaries, but many Belarusians just go to the Baltic Sea to relax, because Lithuania is a European country on the coast, which means there are beautiful resorts, amazing views, quality service.
Obtaining a visa to Lithuania for Belarusians is an opportunity to freely visit a European country for tourism, recreation, reunion with relatives, training or employment. In addition, the second mother tongue for the majority of the population of Lithuania is precisely Russian, which, however, is spoken by residents of all countries - former Soviet republics of the USSR. Therefore, a foreign tourist from these countries does not need to worry that they will not understand him - they speak Russian here quite clearly.
Belarusians often go to Lithuania for goods. To make purchases in Vilnius is several times cheaper, and the quality of the purchased goods is European high.
Schengen Area
The realities of recent years have significantly changed the procedure for obtaining visas in Europe. Now a fairly significant number of post-Soviet states are becoming members of the European Union or entering the Schengen zone. And although this makes it difficult for residents of those countries that are not members of these coalitions to enter, Schengen also gives certain advantages to these sections of the population.
The Schengen visa to Lithuania for Belarusians was earlier issued more difficult, now the procedure is somewhat simplified. Its receipt enables the residents of Belarus without special difficulties to visit many European countries that are members of the Schengen zone. That is, a visa to Lithuania for Belarusians has become transit, as it provides the same opportunities as another Schengen one. And since Belarus is a Lithuanian neighbor by geographical location, it treats Belarusian residents quite loyally and refusals are not frequent.
The two largest airports in Lithuania work with airlines that transport passengers at reasonable prices in a large number of destinations. Thanks to this, Lithuania is often chosen as a transit country for travel to Schengen states.
Package of documents for applying for a visa to Lithuania
In order to obtain a visa to Lithuania for Belarusians, it is necessary to provide certain documents. Among them are the following:
- International passport. The validity of the document must not expire earlier than three months after the end of the trip or the validity of the visa received, otherwise a refusal will be given.
- The photo. The picture must be in color, of a standard size, the face of a citizen who wants to obtain a visa should be 80% of the space; the image should be taken during the last calendar year, but it is best to take a new picture shortly before submitting the package of documents to the visa center.
- Documents confirming the availability of financial resources in sufficient quantities.
- European type medical insurance for 30 thousand euros.
- A completed visa application form.
Visa application by yourself
It should be noted that the attempt to apply for a visa to Lithuania for Belarusians can cause many difficulties. If the applicant is traveling, but is not going to contact the travel agency, additional documents may be required. The list of papers changes from time to time. In addition to airline tickets (including return flights), hotel or hotel reservations, invitations from a relative (if any) may require:
- certificate from the workplace on official employment;
- documents on the availability of sufficient income for the last six months;
- bank statement on the status of the personal account (in addition, you need to have a plastic card that allows you to pay for purchases abroad, that is, a universal card);
- an invitation from a Lithuanian employer if a citizen of Belarus is sent to work;
- an employment contract with a Lithuanian employer, if such a document has already been signed;
- an invitation from a Lithuanian university if a resident of Belarus enters training, or a certificate stating that a student is already studying in Lithuania.
On a personal bank account you need to have a stock of funds at the rate of 40 euros per day of life in Lithuania.
Where to apply for a visa to residents of different cities of Belarus
To obtain a visa to Lithuania for Belarusians you need to go through a certain procedure. The prepared set of documents must be transferred to the diplomatic institutions of Lithuania. If you are constantly registered in Grodno or Brest, as well as in the areas related to them, then for applying for and obtaining a visa you must contact the Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania, located in Grodno.
Citizens of other regions and the capital of Belarus need to go to Minsk and go directly to the embassy or any other diplomatic bodies of Lithuania in this city.
Registration in the queue and filling out the application form
Before a personal visit to a diplomatic institution, you must undergo several mandatory events. Without preliminary registration, visitors are not accepted on the website of the Lithuanian Embassy. The most important point is to fill out an application form. It serves as a kind of petition for the acquisition of a Schengen visa to Lithuania for Belarusians.
Information in the questionnaire can be entered online, but you need to transfer data from documents clearly and neatly, avoiding any errors. All data in the document lines should be written only in Latin letters. Upon completion of the questionnaire, it must be registered on the embassy website, printed and signed. The document will then need to be attached to the set of prepared papers.
After registering on the embassy's website, the user will be offered a list of free dates, among which you can choose the most convenient time for yourself to visit a diplomatic institution. After the procedure, the visitor will be registered with a registration coupon, which must be printed. It will need to be shown along with a passport at a diplomatic institution in Lithuania.
The time is marked on the registration coupon, but it is necessary to arrive at the diplomatic body in advance, since the reception takes place in the order of the electronic queue, which you need to become in the institution. According to her, visitors submit documents.
Visa application fee
The next step is to pay the consular fee. This is the fee for the registration coupon received before and all the costs associated with the consideration of documents, as well as visa processing.
If the payment is made directly, without intermediaries, then the fee for an ordinary resident of Belarus over 12 years old will be 60 euros. Consular fee is a prerequisite for obtaining a visa to Lithuania for Belarusians. The receipt of payment must be attached to the main package of documents.
Visa with a single entry to Lithuania
All types of visas to Lithuania for residents of Belarus are divided into categories, depending on the objectives of the trip and the period allocated to stay in Lithuania. For example, there is a single entry visa. The positive side of its execution is that it is quite simple to get it, since the official position of Lithuanian diplomats on this type of document is not very strict. It is also not too difficult to obtain a transit visa through Lithuania for Belarusians.
A single entry visa is issued for a period of up to a month and allows you to cross the border with the state only once. If you leave Lithuania before the visa expires, you will not be able to enter again - the visa will be canceled. This is a single entry visa rule - one arrival, one departure.
Multiple entry visa to Lithuania
There is also a multiple entry visa to Lithuania for Belarusians, or multivisa. For its execution it will be necessary to make a greater amount of effort, prepare all the necessary documents and justify why the applicant needs it exclusively.
Multivisa offers the owner many amenities. For example, it becomes possible to visit Lithuania an unlimited number of times during the entire duration of the visa, that is, you can leave and enter as much as you like.
At the same time, a multiple Schengen visa allows you to visit other European countries. Multivisa is valid for a period of 3 months to 5 years, depending on the purpose of the trip.
The paperwork for Lithuania for residents of Belarus takes a different time: up to one to three weeks. In the case of additional checks or the need to provide additional documents, the deadline increases. Only a tourist visa, valid for up to 30 days, is issued pretty quickly.