Borders open to Lithuanians: what they need to know for those who want to leave

Skvernelis: it is not difficult to leave, but it will

On Wednesday, after the government meeting, Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis emphasized that it will not be difficult to leave the country, it will be difficult to go to Lithuania.

“You will be able to leave Lithuania without any restrictions. And to come, all the special regime that has been applied so far,” said the Prime Minister on travel from other countries, adding that the difficult 14-day self-isolation procedure will have to be overcome. .

The Prime Minister hopes that the permission to leave the country will not be used for tourism.

“I do not think it is advisable to travel to another country at this time, you need to know where you are going. Before we leave, let us consider where we are going or if we can return,” he said.

You can leave Lithuania through the following border control points:

• on the border with Latvia: Būtingė – Rucava, Saločiai – Grenctalė, Smėlynė – Medumi;
• on the border with Belarus: Medininkai – Kamenyj Log, Šalčininkai – Benekainys, Raigardas – Privalka;
• at the Polish border: Lazdijai – Aradninka, Kalvarija – Budzisko;
• on the Russian border: Kybartai – in Chernyshevsk, Panemunė – Sovetsk.

You can enter Lithuania through the following border control points:

• on the border with Latvia: Saločiai – Grenctalė;
• on the Polish border: Calvary – Budzisko.

You can leave Lithuania by ferry:

• Klaipeda – Kiel;
• Klaipeda – Karlshamn;
• Klaipeda – Treleborg.

You can come to Lithuania by ferry:

Poland and Russia do not allow foreigners

The State Border Guard Service (SBGS) draws the attention of those planning to travel by land to the fact that neighboring Poland and Russia currently do not allow foreigners, and those who have gone to Latvia and Belarus will be able to return home alone. through two land points, the media reported.

Until now, only Lithuanian citizens working or living abroad could leave the country during quarantine; These individuals were required to present documents proving this to SBGS officials.

Although Lithuania has opened its borders to all neighboring countries, not all countries currently allow foreigners. According to the SBGS, Poland and Russia currently do not allow people to enter their territories on foot or in personal vehicles, so they can enter them through existing ground control points (Panemunė-Sovetsk, Kybartai-Chernyshevskoye (Russia) and Lazdijai-Aradninka, Kalvarija-Budzisko). (Poland) will fail.

Due to individual exceptions, the SBGS offers to adjust its diplomatic missions.

Those who leave for Belarus will be able to return home only through Poland and Latvia.

Belarus and Latvia, according to the SBGS, currently allow foreigners to enter. Therefore, from Monday it will be possible to leave Latvia through the checkpoints of Būtingė – Rucava, Saločiai – Grenstalė and Smėlynė – Medumi.

People can enter Belarus through the Medininkai-Kamenyj Log, Šalčininkai-Benekainiai and Raigardas-Privalka points currently in operation.

However, travelers to Latvia and Belarus, especially the latter, also have to think about ways to return to Lithuania, and they are extremely limited. After all, the condition remains that the entry of people and / or their personal cars into the territory of Lithuania is only allowed through the Kalvarija-Budzisko points operating on the border with Poland and the Saločiai – Grenstalė points operating on the border with Latvia. This means that a person going to Belarus will be able to return to Belarus only through Poland or Latvia.

It is true that with the permission of the SBGS Commander or his authorized person, it would be possible to return not only through the Kalvarija and Saločiai points. It is only necessary to remember that such cases are exceptional and each time the SBGS is evaluated individually after prior receipt of the documents.

Water transport: three directions from Lithuania, one – to Lithuania

The SBGS website also remembers that since May 4. Lithuanian citizens leaving Lithuania no longer need to present documents certifying that the person permanently resides or works in a foreign state.

Furthermore, it is possible to leave Lithuania by ferry: Klaipdda-Kiel (Germany); Klaipeda-Karlshamn (Sweden) and Klaipeda – Treleborg (Sweden). However, it is possible to reach Lithuania only on the Kiel-Klaipeda ferry.

The SBGS advises that it is prohibited to carry passengers on ferry flights to Lithuania from Karlshamn and Treleborg if they do not carry international freight. In exceptional cases, the decision on the permit will be made by the Government of Lithuania on the proposal of the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

From May 13. regular flights from Vilnius

Regular passenger flights will continue at Vilnius airport starting May 13, as Lithuania and some European countries relax restrictions on the coronavirus quarantine and agree on the need for specific cross-border flights. The first two routes from Vilnius airport are Riga and Frankfurt, according to a report by Lithuanian airports.

Flights from Vilnius to Frankfurt will take place three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. They have been organized by Lufthansa since May 13.

On the same day in May, the daily airBaltic flight will start from Vilnius Airport to Riga.

More airlines are forecast to resume flights at the country’s airports in the second half of May, but a final decision is expected from the airlines themselves. Lithuanian airports are also preparing for the resumption of passenger flights, and new security measures are being coordinated for passengers within the airport.

BNS previously said that Wizz Air, Belavia, LOT, Brussels Airlines, Ukraine International and SAS also plan to resume flights from mid-May.

Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air also announces ticket sales from Vilnius to London from May 13, and to Milan, Oslo, Paris and other cities from May 17.

In a comment from Wizz Air, BNS says it is too early to talk about the first trips from Lithuania.

Michael O’Leary, chief executive of Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, said in an interview with the Financial Times that he thought air traffic restrictions in Europe would be lifted in July, when Ryanair plans to restore 40 percent. flights and expects planes to fill 50 to 60 percent. The company expects to recover 60 percent in August and up to 80 percent in September. flights.

However, he stressed that the company will not resume flights if it is necessary to leave the center seats in each row empty, thus maintaining a greater distance between people.

After returning to Lithuania, two weeks of self-isolation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds that all foreign citizens can leave Lithuania, and since Monday all Lithuanian citizens can also leave.

However, the entry of foreigners to Lithuania is still prohibited. This prohibition does not apply to international cargo carriers, diplomats, persons serving in NATO military units, and their personnel and families. The exception also applies to foreigners who are family members (parents (adoptive parents), children (adopted), spouses, guardians) of Lithuanian citizens or citizens of other Member States of the European Union residing in Lithuania.

Crew and crew members who carry out international commercial transport in all types of vehicles pass through the territory of Lithuania without the necessary stop.

All returnees or arrivals from foreign countries to Lithuania must be isolated for 14 days.

Recommendations for passengers

The Ministry of Health (SAM) has developed guidelines and obligations for international flight operators and carriers, airports, ground services, employees and passengers.

In accordance with these recommendations, it is proposed to organize the passenger seat in the aircraft cabin based on chess and to ensure that passengers over 6 years old wear masks or face shields throughout the flight, according to the press release.

They are also instructed to ensure that only staff without upper respiratory disease, acute intestinal infections, etc. work during flights. signs of illness (eg runny nose, cough, sneezing, shortness of breath, etc.) and the health of workers is constantly monitored.

Flight organizers and carriers must ensure the possibility of adequate hygiene and / or disinfection of the passengers’ hands during the flight (if necessary, the provision of disinfecting wipes).

Groundhandling services at international airports should measure the temperature of each passenger at the airport entrance and assess the occurrence of acute symptoms of upper respiratory disease (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath). If a passenger is diagnosed with symptoms of acute upper respiratory illness (fever, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath), these passengers should be prevented from flying.

Passengers arriving at airports must also follow certain rules. Passengers over 6 years of age must wear masks or face masks during their stay at the airport and maintain a safe distance of at least 2 meters in the waiting rooms. This obligation does not apply to family members.

Delphi recalls that the quarantine was introduced in Lithuania on March 14 and entered into force on March 16. The quarantine currently runs through May 11. Skvernel said there was still a good chance the quarantine would be extended on May 11.