Foreign tourists can get to Lithuania easier already
Foreign tourists can already enter Lithuania more easily; from 15 February, no restrictions are imposed on citizens from the EU and the EEA. Also, an entry ban is lifted for nationals of countries that have joined the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The entry ban for foreigners from other third countries will be lifted on 31 March.
‘We’ve been among the countries which applied less stringent restrictions in the EU so far. We are glad to be open to foreign tourists after a long break. We hope that this will encourage tourist flows and the recovery of the tourism sector after a difficult period of pandemic,’ said Minister of the Economy and Innovation Aušrinė Armonaitė.
Since the entry into force of the amendments from 15 February, individuals coming to Lithuania from the EU and EEA countries will no longer have to do a COVID-19 test if the individual is not vaccinated or has not had the COVID disease. The self-isolation requirement for individuals from the EU countries was lifted on 5 February.
Travelers from Israel, the US, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Georgia, Taiwan, Ukraine will also be able to enter Lithuania without restrictions as they recognise and issue the EU’s Digital COVID Certificate.
Individuals who come from third countries who do not comply with the vaccination and contraction criteria applied in Lithuania will have to carry out a PCR test no more than 72 hours before the journey and provide the carrier with a negative result before boarding an aircraft, bus, ferry or other vehicles. Those travelling by their own transport means can bring a negative PCR test result or perform a PCR or antigen test upon arrival in Lithuania.
Nationals and residents of all other third countries will still be subject to an entry ban in Lithuania until 31 March, but exemptions will continue to apply to persons vaccinated with vaccines recognised in Lithuania. Travellers coming from third countries to Lithuania must have received vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA): Covid-19 vaccine Janssen, Comirnaty, Spikevax, Vaxzevria, Nuvaxovid. COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactures in India, is also recognised for tourists coming to Lithuania.
Since 2020, the Ministry of the Economy and Innovation has implemented measures with more than EUR 450 million funding to help the tourism business. Between 2020 and 2021, tour operators and agencies received funding of more than EUR 71 million in loans, subsidies and reimbursements from the State; accommodation providers — over EUR 122 million; caterers — more than EUR 257 million.
This month, the Government approved new measures to assist the tourism business: partial reimbursement of utilities to classified accommodation service providers and subsidies to inbound tour operators. Direct support is expected to reach the tourism sector in Q2 of this year. These new measures foresee an allocation of EUR 4 million.