As of Monday, people coming to Lithuania from almost every foreign country will need to get tested for Covid-19 no more than 48 hours before departure or within 24 hours after arrival, as well as self-isolate for two weeks.
Only arrivals from Greece, Finland and parts of Norway are exempt. People coming from Norway's Oslo, Viken or Rogaland will still be required to have a coronavirus test and self-isolate.
Some 200 countries have been placed on Lithuania's list of affected countries, including practically every European country as well as Estonia and Latvia.
The changes in entry requirements come in response to the spreading of a new, more infectious Covid-19 mutation, as well as the worsening coronavirus situation in Europe.
Stricter conditions from countries with new Covid-19 strain
Countries where the new coronavirus variant has been spreading include Ireland, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Brazil, Israel, and South Africa.
Arrivals from these countries will have to self-isolate in a separate apartment or a house, or on another well-isolated floor of a private house, in a separate apartment, or in a separate isolated room with a separate bathroom.
Self-isolation will be possible in the same premises only with the people that travelled together, except children, who will be allowed to stay with other family members, who will be subject to the same period of self-isolation.
"Stricter isolation conditions apply to arrivals from mutation-affected countries as they cannot go for a walk and are allowed to leave the place of isolation if they need urgent medical assistance and have to go to a medical facility, or they have to go to a mobile point," the Health Ministry said.
The ministry notes that certain isolation exceptions apply to certain professions and people arriving for medical reasons or serious family matters, including funerals and visiting patients with terminal states. They are only required to have a coronavirus test done.
General entry requirements
Travellers from other affected countries that haven't detected the new coronavirus variant may take a walk within the radius of one kilometre from their homes.
They can also self-isolate in the same apartment with non-travelling family members, but are required to stay in a separate room and limit their movements around the house.
According to the Health Ministry, the 14-day self-isolation period can also be shortened after a person gets tested for Covid-19 on the tenth day of isolation at his or her own expense.
People transiting through Lithuania are not required to isolate or get tested for Covid-19.
The test and isolation requirement also does not apply to people who had the virus less than 90 days before arrival or have been fully vaccinated. They will need to show a medical or vaccination certificate, translated into Lithuanian, English or Russian.
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