Lithuania has entered into a lockdown on Wednesday. Here are the key things to know if you are planning on leaving or entering the country.
Although travel between municipalities for non-essential reasons is banned (see the full list of restrictions here), people are allowed to:
– head for a land border
– go to the airport, seaport, or a bus or train station
– pick up or drop off people at the airport, seaport, or a bus or train station
There are no further restrictions on international travel and the country is not considering closing its borders.
Public and intercity transport will continue to operate, but likely on a reduced schedule. So check before you travel – online for the trains here, and for the bus connections here.
The police will be setting up roadblocks and also patrolling the main roads leading to and from towns. According to the police, officers at the checkpoints will evaluate each reason for travelling on a case-by-case basis. You should, however, carry your personal ID and any evidence in physical or digital form to substantiate your reason for travel.
People returning to Lithuania are also free to make their way to their friends, family, or rented accommodation where they will be staying. The police have urged travellers to have as much supporting evidence as possible if stopped at a checkpoint.
Once in Lithuania, however, the ban on contacts between different households continues to apply, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said on Wednesday.
The country’s citizens and residents are also able to travel to a different municipality if they own property there. Coworkers can also travel to a different municipality in the same car, but will need to carry documents showing they work at the same place.
It’s forbidden to:
– take children to relatives, even if they live in the same municipality. Parents are allowed to bring their children home from other municipalities.
– take food or other items to another municipality, unless providing care for people who are ill or are in need.
As all classes have been moved online, students are not allowed to travel to the municipality where they are studying, unless they live there and have supporting documents, such as a housing contract, to prove it.
People are allowed to move house between different municipalities, but will need to have supporting evidence.
For more information, please contact the police on +370 700 60 0000 between 07:00 and 20:00 on workdays, and 08:00 and 17:00 on weekends and holidays.
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