Lithuania: Authorities to introduce new COVID-19 testing requirements for international arrivals from March 10 /update 23

Lithuania to change international COVID-19-related entry requirements from March 10; significant business and travel disruptions remain.

Event

Officials have announced that from March 10, all international arrivals will require evidence of a negative COVID-19 polymerase (PCR) test result taken within 72 hours prior to arrival; antigen rapid tests will not be accepted. Transport crew, transit passengers, those under the age of 16 years, and those who have evidence of COVID-19 vaccination or recovery will be exempt.

As of March 5, all travelers entering Lithuania must complete a passenger questionnaire and present evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours prior to arrival, or take a test within 24 hours after their arrival. Regardless of the test result, all travelers must self-isolate for 10 days. The self-isolation period can be reduced if the traveler takes a COVID-19 test returning a negative result on or after the seventh day of self-isolation.

Individuals traveling from Albania, Andorra, Bahrain, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lebanon, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Turks and Caicos Islands, UK, and the US are not permitted to leave their place of self-isolation except to seek emergency medical attention or for other specifically defined urgent reasons; all non-emergency movements require prior permission from the National Public Health Centre (NVSC). Arrivals from all other countries are permitted to walk up to 1 km (0.6 miles) from their place of self-isolation for limited reasons, such as handling legal matters or attending a funeral.

Travelers who possess a medical certificate confirming they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or that they have had COVID-19 within the 90 days prior to entry are exempt from the requirement to self-isolate. All individuals arriving in Lithuania via public or private transport must register online with the NVSC at least 24 hours before arrival; this does not apply to persons transiting by air and remaining airside for the duration of their layovers.

Domestic Restrictions

Officials will relax some domestic restrictions from March 6, with the following measures:

The ceiling on outdoor social meetings will rise from two people to five people from a maximum of two households.
Outdoor museums, galleries, zoos, and other outdoor venues will resume operations.

A ban on travel between municipalities is in effect until at least March 15, though residents of Alytus, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Panevezys, Siauliai, and Vilnius are permitted to travel within their surrounding "ring municipalities." The following domestic restrictions are in place until March 31:

All persons must remain at home unless they are shopping for groceries, engaged in essential work, performing exercise in the company of household members, seeking medical attention, or attending to urgent tasks.
A limited number of nonessential businesses in premises with no more than 300 square meters (3229 square feet) of floor space may operate.
Masks must be worn in all enclosed public spaces and where 2 meters of physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.