How to Apply for Lithuania ETIAS: Complete Guide for British Travellers

From late 2026, British passport holders visiting Lithuania must obtain ETIAS authorisation before travelling. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) applies to all 30 participating countries, including Schengen Area members and Cyprus.

This guide walks you through every step of the ETIAS application process, from gathering documents to receiving approval for your Lithuania trip.

What You Need Before Starting Your ETIAS Application

Before opening the ETIAS application form, gather your valid passport, payment card and personal information to complete the process in one sitting. Having everything ready saves time and reduces errors that could delay your authorisation for Lithuania travel.

Valid Travel Document Requirements

Your UK passport must remain valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from Lithuania and other Schengen countries. 

This three-month buffer is a firm entry requirement that border guards check at airports, ports and land crossings throughout the European Union.

The passport itself cannot be older than 10 years from its original issue date, even if it still shows future validity. Many UK passports issued before 2018 included up to 15 months of ‘extra’ validity rolled over from previous documents, which can push them past the 10-year threshold.

Check your passport’s issue date rather than just the expiry date to avoid problems.

Standard British citizen passports qualify for ETIAS applications, along with British Overseas Citizen, British Subject, and British Protected Person travel documents. 

British National (Overseas) passports also work, though holders should verify their specific status if they’ve spent time in Hong Kong.

Your passport must be machine-readable with a data page containing your photo and personal details. Damaged passports with torn pages, water damage affecting the chip or illegible information get rejected during application processing and at border control.

Personal Information

The application form asks for your full legal name exactly as it appears in your passport, including all middle names. You’ll also provide your date and birth, place of birth (city and country), current nationality and complete home address in the UK.

Expect to enter both parents’ first names during the application. This requirement applies to all ETIAS applicants from visa-exempt countries including the UK, Canada and others, helping authorities verify your identity against international databases.

Your travel document details include your passport number, issue date, expiry date, and the issuing authority (United Kingdom). Double-check these details since even one wrong character means your ETIAS won’t match your passport at check-in or border crossings.

The form requests your education level and current occupation from dropdown menus. If you’re retired, unemployed, or between jobs, select the option that most accurately describes your situation rather than leaving it blank or guessing.

You’ll need a working email address that you check regularly and a phone number where you can receive calls. The ETIAS system uses your email for all official communications including approval notifications, requests for additional information and alerts if your authorisation gets revoked.

Payment Preparation

The application fee costs €20 for most British travellers, payable by debit card, credit card or other online payment methods accepted through the official portal. This fee applies per person, so a family of four adults pays €80 total across four separate applications.

UK citizens under 18 or over 70 years old don’t pay the application fee. Family members of EU countries nationals who can prove their relationship status also qualify for fee exemption, though you’ll still need to complete the full application.

The €20 charge is non-refundable even if authorities refuse your application. Third-party websites and commercial intermediaries often add their own service fees on top of the official €20, sometimes charging £50-100 for simply forwarding your information to the real ETIAS system.

Accepted payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, American Express and other major card networks. The payment processes through secure banking systems that don’t store your card details in the ETIAS database, similar to standard e-commerce transactions.

Budget for the fee in euros rather than pounds since exchange rates affect the exact amount your bank charges. At current rates, €20 converts to roughly £17-18, though this fluctuates with currency markets.

Travel Plans and Destination Details

You must indicate which member state you plan to visit first when entering the Schengen area, which would be Lithuania if you’re flying directly to Vilnius or Kaunas.

If you’re travelling through another country first, like landing in Denmark then continuing to Lithuania, Denmark becomes your first country of stay.

The application asks for an address in your destination country, but you don’t need confirmed hotel bookings yet. A general area like ‘Vilnius city centre’ or the name of the neighbourhood where you plan to stay works fine at this stage.

Specific travel dates aren’t required during the ETIAS application. You can apply months before booking flights, which makes sense since most applications approve within minutes but some take up to 30 days.

Your approved ETIAS lets you visit all 30 participating European countries during short-term stays, not just Lithuania. You can change your plans completely after approval and visit Croatia or any other ETIAS-requiring country instead.

The form asks about your trip purpose using categories like tourism, business, visiting family or friends, medical reasons or transit.

Choose the option that best fits your main reason for travelling, keeping in mind that ETIAS doesn’t replace a Schengen visa for long stays, work or study.

Entry requirements for the EU will soon combine ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System (EES), which launched last October. 

The EES records your entries and exits with biometric data, whilst ETIAS provides the pre-travel authorisation allowing you to board transport to member states in the first place.

The 180-day period calculation starts from your first entry and rolls forward continuously. If you enter Lithuania on 1st March, your 180-day window runs until 28th August, during which you can spend a maximum of 90 days total across all Schengen countries combined.

Step-by-Step ETIAS Application Process for UK Citizens

The ETIAS application takes roughly 10-15 minutes to complete through the official online portal or mobile app launching in late 2026. This section walks you through each screen and field you’ll encounter, from creating your application to final submission.

Accessing the Official ETIAS Portal

The only legitimate ETIAS application website is the official EU portal, which will be announced by eu-LISA several months before the system launches. 

Bookmark the verified URL directly from official EU sources rather than clicking links in unsolicited emails or advertisements.

Dozens of third-party websites already advertise ETIAS services despite the system not being operational yet. 

These sites charge inflated fees of £50-150 for simply submitting your information through the real portal, offering no additional value beyond what you can do yourself for €20.

Spot fake websites by checking the URL carefully for official EU domain names and looking for secure connection indicators. Legitimate sites won’t pressure you with countdown timers, urgent warnings about limited availability, or claims that applications are ‘running out.’

The application form supports 24 official EU languages plus English, Norwegian and Icelandic. UK applicants typically choose English, though you can switch languages mid-application if needed using the dropdown menu at the top of each page.

The mobile app provides the same functionality as the website, letting you complete applications on your phone or tablet. Both platforms save your progress automatically, though draft applications delete after 48 hours if you don’t submit them.

Creating Your Application

The opening screen asks you to confirm your citizenship and which country issued your passport. Select ‘United Kingdom’ from the dropdown menu, which triggers the visa waiver pathway rather than requiring a full Schengen visa application.

Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your passport data page, including all middle names even if you don’t use them daily. The system accepts hyphens, apostrophes, and spaces, but avoid adding titles like ‘Mr’ or ‘Dr’ unless your passport includes them.

Your date of birth requires the DD/MM/YYYY format standard in the UK. The place of birth field asks for your birth city and country, which should match your passport exactly even if borders or country names have changed since you were born.

Input your current residential address in the UK using the street number, street name, city, postal code, and country fields. This address receives any physical correspondence if the ETIAS system can’t reach you by email, though most communication happens electronically.

The parents’ first names section catches many applicants off guard. You only need their first given names, not surnames, middle names, or full legal names, and the system accepts ‘Unknown’ if you genuinely don’t have this information.

Travel document details require your passport number, issue date, and expiry date copied character-by-character from your passport. 

The passport number field is case-sensitive, so copy uppercase letters as uppercase and numbers exactly as printed, avoiding confusion between the letter ‘O’ and number ‘0.’

Education and employment questions use dropdown menus with predefined options. Choose your highest completed education level from categories like secondary school, bachelor’s degree, or postgraduate qualification, then select your current occupation from sectors ranging from employed and self-employed to student, retired or unemployed.

The destination section asks which European country you’ll visit first on your trip. If you’re flying directly to Vilnius, select Lithuania. 

If you’re connecting through France, Spain or another Schengen Zone country first, that becomes your primary destination regardless of where you spend most time.

Provide an address or general location in your destination country, but specific hotel details aren’t required. Entering ‘Vilnius Old Town’ or ‘Kaunas city centre’ satisfies this field without needing confirmed bookings.

Security and Background Questions

The criminal conviction section asks whether you’ve ever been convicted of an offence in any country carrying a sentence of at least one year. Traffic violations and minor infractions typically don’t count unless they involved serious crimes like drink-driving causing injury.

Answer truthfully about convictions since ETIAS checks your declaration against international criminal databases. Lying on this question constitutes grounds for immediate refusal, potential bans from future applications, and possible prosecution for fraud.

The war and conflict zone travel history question covers visits to active conflict areas within the past 10 years. The system defines these regions specifically, so visiting Greece or Iceland as a tourist doesn’t trigger this question even if those countries sit near geopolitical tensions.

If you have travelled to recognised conflict zones for work, humanitarian aid or journalism, provide brief context in the additional information field. Legitimate professional reasons receive different assessment than unexplained visits raising security concerns.

The return decision question asks if any country has ever required you to leave its territory, refused you entry or issued a deportation order. This includes formal removal orders, overstay violations and entry refusals at borders worldwide, not just within Europe.

Each ‘yes’ answer to security questions doesn’t automatically disqualify you. The system flags your application for manual review by authorities in the country you listed as your primary destination, who then assess your individual circumstances.

Review and Submit

The review screen displays all information you’ve entered across multiple pages in a single summary view. Read through each section carefully, checking for typos in your passport number, incorrect dates or email address mistakes that would prevent you receiving your authorisation.

The declaration statement requires you to confirm that all information provided is accurate, complete, and truthful. You’re also acknowledging that you understand ETIAS doesn’t guarantee entry to Finland, Latvia, Malta, Norway, Poland, Switzerland or any other participating country since border guards make final decisions.

If someone applied on your behalf using the declaration of representation process, their details appear here too. Both you and your representative legally affirm the accuracy of the application and understand the consequences of providing false information.

Click the ‘Submit’ button only after verifying everything. The system immediately generates a unique application reference number displayed on screen and sent to your email address within seconds.

Payment Processing

The payment screen appears immediately after submission, showing the €20 fee in euros and your local currency equivalent. The system doesn’t process your application until payment completes successfully, so don’t close the browser window or navigate away during this step.

Enter your debit or credit card details in the secure payment form, which connects directly to banking systems rather than storing information in ETIAS databases. The transaction processes through standard payment gateways used by online retailers and travel booking sites.

Payment confirmation appears on screen within seconds of approval, along with a transaction reference number. You’ll receive a separate email confirming payment and noting that your application has entered the processing queue.

Your application number and payment confirmation together prove you’ve completed the ETIAS process. Save both emails and write down your application reference number for checking status updates and accessing your authorisation later.

Understanding ETIAS Processing Times and What to Expect

Most UK applications receive approval within minutes of submission, though the official processing window extends up to 96 hours. Understanding these timeframes helps you plan when to apply and what to do if your ETIAS travel authorisation takes longer than expected.

Standard Processing Timeline

The automated screening system evaluates over 95% of applications immediately after payment clears. You’ll typically receive your approval email before you’ve closed the browser tab or put your phone down.

The system cross-references your details against security databases, immigration records and watchlists maintained by European border authorities. This automated check happens in seconds for most applicants from visa-exempt countries like the UK, Australia and other low-risk nations.

If the automated system can’t make an immediate decision, your application enters manual review by authorities in the country you listed as your primary destination. 

Belgium processes applications differently than Bulgaria or Germany, though all follow the same maximum timeframes set by EU regulations.

The 96-hour maximum means you’ll receive a decision within four days of submission in most cases. This countdown starts from when your payment processes, not when you began filling out the form.

Email notifications arrive at each processing stage, starting with payment confirmation, then application submission acknowledgement and finally your approval or a request for more information. 

Check your spam and junk folders if you haven’t received confirmation within 10 minutes of submitting, since some email providers flag automated messages from unfamiliar domains.

Extended Processing Scenarios

Applications flagged during automated screening trigger requests for additional information or documentation within the initial 96-hour window. You’ll receive an email specifying exactly what authorities need, why they need it and the deadline for providing it.

The deadline for submitting requested materials is typically 10 days from the notification date. Missing this deadline results in automatic refusal without further review, so respond promptly even if gathering the documents takes effort.

Common reasons for additional information requests include unclear criminal record declarations, unexplained gaps in travel history or answers that contradict publicly available information about you.

Authorities might ask for court documents, employment verification letters or detailed explanations of previous immigration issues.

Submitting the requested materials adds up to 14 days to your total processing time beyond the initial 96 hours. The clock restarts once authorities receive your documents, with another 96-hour window for them to review everything and make a final decision.

Interview invitations represent the most intensive level of scrutiny, adding up to 30 days to your application timeline. You’ll receive an email specifying whether to attend in person at the nearest consulate of the country processing your application or participate via video call.

The interview covers your travel plans, background and any flags raised during screening. Authorities in Italy might focus on different concerns than those in Germany, reflecting each country’s specific security priorities and assessment criteria.

Decisions following interviews arrive within 48 hours of the meeting. This final decision is either approval, refusal with appeal information, or in rare cases, a request for additional materials discovered during the interview conversation.

Application Status Tracking

The ETIAS website includes a status checker where you enter your application reference number and passport details. The system shows whether your application is pending, approved, refused, or requires action from you.

Status updates don’t refresh in real-time during automated processing. Your application might show ‘pending’ for minutes or hours even if the system has already made a decision, with the status updating only when the approval email sends.

Applications in manual review display ‘under assessment’ or similar language indicating human evaluation. This status doesn’t reveal which country is reviewing your application or what specific concerns triggered the manual check.

If your status shows ‘additional information required,’ click through to view the specific request and upload documents directly through the portal. The system tracks when you submit materials and confirms receipt with an automated email.

The application number provided at submission is your only way to access status information. Write it down separately from your email since you’ll need it to check progress if approval emails don’t arrive or if technical issues prevent you accessing your email account.

Get Ready for Hassle-Free Lithuania Travel

Applying for your Lithuania ETIAS involves gathering your valid passport and payment card, completing a straightforward online form with personal and travel details and paying the €20 fee. 

Most Britisg travellers receive instant approval within minutes, making the entire process take just 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish. 

Since ETIAS launches in late 2026, check the official EU portal a few months before your trip for any updated requirements or the exact operational start date. 

With proper preparation and accurate information, your ETIAS authorisation clears the way for exploring Lithuania and 29 other European countries without complications.