Lithuania Business Visa - Definitive Guide

Issued for individuals entering Lithuania for the purpose of taking part in business-related activities, the permit is a subcategory of the Schengen C visa. Also known as the Lithuania Schengen business visa, it is issued as a single entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry type. However, nationals of other Schengen nations and from the visa-exempt countries do not require a permit to enter Lithuania. 

To apply for a business permit, you must do it online. However, the submission has to be done offline at the embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in New Delhi, or one of the VACs located across India. Before starting the application, you must check if you are eligible to travel to the country on business. After this, proceed to obtain all the documents necessary for the process. You may make the application as follows - 

• Visit the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania and open the portal for the online application.
• Fill in the application form. The form for the Schengen business visa application is the same as the rest. You will simply have to mention your purpose of visit as ‘business’. 
• Submit the application online and take a print out of the completed application form. 
• Proceed to book an appointment at one of the embassy-appointed Visa Application Centres (VAC) or directly at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania situated in New Delhi. You can do this by using the online services provided by the embassy or the VAC. 
• Visit the appointment centre with the documents, the completed application form, and the fees. You will also have to submit the biometrics here. 

Note that if you have submitted your biometrics for a Schengen VIS (Visa Information System) in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. Keep in mind that you must submit genuine documents and information. Providing fake documents and false information can get your application rejected. Visa rejection is a serious issue and can affect your future travel plans. 

To be able to apply for this category permit, you must meet the following conditions. If you are not eligible, you must not apply for this. You may then apply for the category you are eligible for. 

• You must be living in a country where you are lodging the application. If you are residing in a residence permit in any foreign nation, you may apply it to the respective visa authority in that country.
• You must possess a valid passport meeting the specifications.
• Your primary purpose of the visit must be to take part in business-related activities.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your entire expenses during the stay in the country.
• You must apply for the permit only if -

• 1. Lithuania is your only destination, or
  2. Lithuania is one of your multiple Schengen destinations, in which case you will be spending the majority of the time here, or, 
  3. Lithuania is your port of entry into the Schengen region.

As per the requirements, the following are the list of documents you must submit for a successful   - 

• A valid passport- 

• 1. It must have at least 2 blank pages.
  2. Passports older than 10 years are not allowed.
  3. It should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
  4. Old passports, if any, are to be attached.
• A covering letter from the sending company - 
  1. This should include the visitor’s basic details and source of funds. 
  2. It should clearly state the purpose and duration of the visit.
  3. It must be on the company letterhead and must contain the seal. 
  4. It should be addressed to the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania.
• Invitation letter from the Lithuanian organisation/company stating complete details of the visit, or entry tickets to trade fairs, conferences in Lithuania etc
• Registration certificate of the Indian company.
• A letter of Invitation from the Migration Department of Lithuania permitting you to stay temporarily in Lithuania, or documents confirming the purpose and details of the planned visit such as itinerary prepared by a travel agency, hotel bookings, flight bookings, etc.
• Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros
• Proof of occupation - 

Proof of occupation such as employment letter, Copy of business license, etc

• Financial documents -

Financial documents such as bank statements of the past 3 months, Passbook copy, ITR, etc.

• Dimensions: 35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription glasses
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The time taken to process the application is dependent on several factors. Some of these include the entry type, the stay duration and validity, volume of application at the embassy, you previous travel history, and so on. Due to the fact that you cannot estimate the exact time taken, it is suggested that you apply well in advance to avoid any complications. 

The fees for the business permit depends on the biometric charges, the entry type, as well as any other fees levied by the VAC. It may also vary depending upon the currency rates. As a result, you must check the exact fees before starting the application. 

Post the submission, your application will begin processing. The processing is done by the embassy. Even if you have submitted the application at the VAC, they have no control over any aspect of the processing. The VAC solely collects the applications and then forward them to the VAC. If approved, you may collect your application directly from the VAC, or have it delivered to you for an additional charge. 

Once your application has been submitted, you can begin tracking it. You can visit https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-Passporttracking/Track and enter your reference number and date of birth to know the status. Alternately, you can contact the travel agent through whom you have applied for the visa. 

Once you are in possession of this permit, you must keep in mind the following points to ensure that you do not face any difficulties throughout your journey. 

• Note the stay duration, validity, and entry type mentioned on the visa sticker. Your visit must be in accordance with this.
• Carry all the documents necessary before travelling including a personal ID, passport, visa, etc. 
• Ensure that you travel to Lithuania within 6 months of the issue date, or as mentioned on the sticker. After this date, your permit will become invalid. 
• While you are travelling within the country, carry a copy of the travel documents with you. If you are travelling to other countries within the Schengen, you will have to carry the original travel documents.
• While you are in a business category, you cannot take part in work-related activities.
• You will not be able to extend the permit under normal conditions.
• You are permitted to move freely within the Schengen zone.