Lithuanian Passport in 2025: Everything You Need to Know

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In the latest 2025 rankings (Henley Passport Index Q4 2025 and Arton Capital’s Passport Index), the Lithuanian passport shares 7th–8th place worldwide with Latvia, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

Holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 187 countries and territories, putting it ahead of the United States (186), Canada (185), and almost all non-EU European passports.

Where You Can Travel Visa-Free (Highlights)

All 27 EU countries + Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein (unlimited stay)
United Kingdom & Ireland – 180 days
United States – 90 days (ESTA required)
Canada, Australia, New Zealand – eTA or eVisitor
Japan, South Korea, Singapore, UAE – 90 days
Almost entire Latin America (Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, etc.)
Turkey – 90 days
Most Balkan non-EU countries (Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, etc.)

Only a few countries still require a traditional visa in advance: Russia, Belarus, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and a handful of African states.

Why the Lithuanian Passport Is So Strong

Being an EU member since 2004 and part of the Schengen Area gives automatic visa-free access to the entire European continent. On top of that, Lithuania has negotiated dozens of bilateral visa-waiver agreements, especially with Asian and Latin American countries in the last decade.

Modern Design & Biometric Features

The current series (issued since 2022) is one of the most secure in the world:

Fully polycarbonate structure
3D color portrait that changes when tilted
Kinegram holograms and optically variable ink
Secondary ghost image visible only under UV light
e-Passport chip with fingerprints and BAC/EAC protection

The inside pages showcase Lithuanian landmarks (Trakai Castle, Hill of Crosses, Curonian Spit) and famous personalities (Jonas Basanavičius, Čiurlionis, Emma Goldman – who was born in what is now Lithuania).

Who Can Get Lithuanian Passport

By descent (most popular route in 2025) If your parent, grandparent, or even great-grandparent was a citizen of independent Lithuania (1918–1940), you are almost certainly eligible to restore citizenship – and keep your current passport in most cases.
By naturalization10 years of permanent residence (or 5–7 years in special cases)
B1-level Lithuanian language exam
Exam on the Constitution
No dual citizenship allowed for this category (with rare exceptions)
Born in Lithuania to foreign parents – only if otherwise stateless
Adoption, marriage, or exceptional merit – very limited cases

Dual Citizenship Boom

Thanks to the 2019–2023 legislative changes, more than 60,000 people (mostly from the USA, UK, Israel, South Africa, Argentina, and Brazil) have reclaimed Lithuanian citizenship in the last five years without giving up their original nationality. The trend continues to grow in 2025.

Cost and Processing Time (2025)

First-time passport inside Lithuania: €100
Renewal abroad at embassy: €120–€150
Express (5 business days): +100 %
Standard processing: 4–6 weeks
Courier delivery available worldwide

Little-Known Perks

You can enter Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave visa-free by train or car (special simplified regime)
Lithuanian citizens pay domestic EU tuition fees in every EU country
Access to ETIAS pre-authorization (starting mid-2025) will be automatic and free for Lithuanians, while many non-EU citizens will pay €7

lithuanian passport remains one of the most attractive in the world in 2025 – combining near-top-tier mobility, full European rights, and relatively straightforward citizenship-by-descent rules for millions of eligible descendants around the globe.