If you have watched the news recently, you may have read or heard that the Commission of the European Union has just announced progress on what it hopes to help cope with a growing feeling of insecurity in Europe. This is the ETIAS system, or European Travel Information Authorization System, which should come into service in early 2020, which is far from being the case. This is a European visa exemption that will allow travelers to apply online for permission to travel to Europe. It will cost a small amount (€ 5) for people over the age of 18 and once it has been approved, it will last 5 years. It will not affect everyone. This will certainly not change the freedom of EU citizens to visit the respective countries, but this will affect the many third-country nationals who have not needed an authorization or authorization. 39, a visa to date.
Lithuania is part of Schengen. how does this affect ETIAS?
It's just right. Lithuania is a member of the Schengen Area and a full member of the EU. This will not affect the requirement to obtain ETIAS approval before going to Lithuania if it is there that you are heading. In fact, the ETIAS system will encompass all 26 countries of the Schengen area. Schengen has been formed so that the majority of EU countries can have a common border arrangement. If you go to Europe after putting ETIAS into service, you will find that your authorization does not only apply to one country but will be valid throughout the Schengen area. The details have not yet been fully elucidated, as there could be further discussions about how ETIAS applies to places like Ireland, which is determined to stay in the EU (unlike Britain), but not Schengen.
What does Lithuania like to visit?
Lithuania, like its Baltic neighbors of Latvia and Estonia, is under visiting, although this situation is changing gradually as many Europeans in particular are still looking for a different place to visit. It has not yet been taken into account by non-European visitors.
Visitors to Lithuania will find similar attractions, but not exactly the same as their neighbors along the Baltic Sea. Lithuania tends to be rather flat, but it has many forests and a large part has been protected as a national park. It also has the sandy beaches along the Baltic Sea that make the country's coast an attractive proposition in summer.
The last but not the least is the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius. It is a very nice city with a lot of evidence of the proud and courageous attempt of Lithuania to maintain its independence through the years.
Will I need an ETIAS Lithuania visa waiver?
Not yet, because the EU is still finalizing the details and it is not expected that it starts before the beginning of 2020. If you will need to apply online yourself in the years to come depends on your nationality. If you hold a passport from the EU or a national of a Schengen country, you will certainly not be concerned. But if you are a national of one of the 60 different countries that have not had to worry about visas so far, then you will probably have to follow the ETIAS process after its official launch. If you have already applied for a visa, it will not change. Find out if you can avoir besoin d'un ETIAS