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Visa Information
General information
Lithuanian citizens are allowed to move and travel within the European Union visa free. If a Lithuanian citizen intends to stay more than 90 days within a period of 180 days in Germany, he/ she has to register directly at the place of residence in Germany.
Citizens of non-EU countries who live in Lithuania having a Lithuanian residence permit or a long term visa (category “D”) are allowed to travel to Germany visa free if they stay not longer than 90 days within a period of 180 days and travel for business or family visit purposes only. If they intend to work, a work permit issued by the embassy is required.
Foreign students holding a Lithuanian residence permit while studying in Lithuania, who intend to study in Germany under a student exchange programme for not more than 360 days, do not require a German visa or residence permit if they have a certificate about the entry and residence for study purposes according to EU regulation 2016/801/EU, issued by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF). This certificate is issued upon request of the German university by the BAMF. Please contact your university for further information.
In all other cases a German visa has to be obtained before entering Germany. This applies especially, if you intend to work in Germany.
The embassy is only competent for applicants residing in Lithuania for at least six months. Documents proving your residence in Lithuania (not your residence permit) might be requested.
Visa categories
Your visa category depends on your length of stay as well as your purpose of stay. Please check our Visa Navigator to determine your visa category.
For stays up to 90 days you have to apply for a Schengen visa. Schengen visa cannot be prolonged in Germany.
For stays longer than 90 days you have to apply for a national visa. National visas can be prolonged in Germany.
Preparing your application
As soon as you plan to stay in Germany and you require a visa you should start to prepare your application. The whole visa process may take several months. You can submit your visa application three months prior to your intended date of entry.
Prepare your application according to the following steps:
Step 1: Read the following information carefully to know which documents are required. Contact the embassy here if you have any question regarding the required documents or if you cannot find detailed information on your intended purpose of stay (e.g. family reunion with a minor child, Au Pair).
Step 2: Prepare all required documents according to the information in the relevant fact sheet (see below). All documents have to be submited in original accompanied by one simple copy. All originals will be returned during your visit at the embassy. Please note that all documents have to be submitted in German or English. The embassy may request additional documents, however missing documents may result in the rejection of your application.
Step 3: Fill in the visa application and bring one printout when submitting your application.
Step 4: Book your appointment in the appropriate appointment category. Please bring a printout of your confirmation email with you.
Submitting your application
You have to submit your application in person. Minors have to be accompanied by their custody holders. During your appointment the embassy will check your documents, discuss your application and take your fingerprints and picture. The visa fee can be paid in cash or by credit card (Master, Visa).
Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
If you do not speak German, Lithuanian, English or Russian (official and working language at the embassy), make sure to be able to answer any additional questions regarding your applications by other means. Be aware that the use of cell phones is not allowed in the consular section. Therefore translating programmes cannot be used.
Processing your application
The embassy will process your application, if necessary in cooperation with the competent aliens‘ authority or agency of labour in Germany. During this process it will be decided if your applications meets the relevant requirements. Processing times varies depending on your purpose of stay and may take between some working days and several months. Therefore, please read the information in the relevant fact sheets carefully.
Upon submitting your application the embassy will inform you about the probable processing time. Please refrain from status updates requests during that time as they do not accelerate the visa process.
As soon as final decision about your application can be made, the embassy will contact you.
If you have questions regarding your application or if you have to submit additional documents, always include your file number (see your receipt of payment) as well as your full name and your date of birth. Be aware that information on visa applications can only be given to the applicant, his/ her custody holder or a person with power of attorney.
Pick-up your visa and your stay in Germany
You can pick-up your visa/ your passport without appointment Monday through Thursday between 9am and 2.30pm. Please bring your receipt of payment with you.
Check your visa if all given information is correct. A change of dates etc might not be free of charge. Your visa includes your full name, your passport number and your picture as well as the number of days you are allowed to stay . It also informs about the validity of your visa, i.e. the time you have until you have to obtain your residence permit in Germany. Furthermore, your visa includes additional information such as your work permit.
The embassy recommends to contact the aliens‘ authority directly after your arrival in Germany in order to apply for your residence permit. Be aware that the aliens‘ authority might be well book in advance. Without a valit visa or residence permit you stay illegally in Germany.
A national German visa (category “D”) allows you to stay in other Schengen countries up to 90 days in a period of 180 days.
Rejection of your application
A rejection of your visa application may be based on several reasons. Detailed information is given in your refusal letter. Due to data protection regulations information on rejections may be given only to the applicant or a person with written power of attorney. Information will not be shared with any other persons, even the inviting party.
If you wish to object the refusal, you have to do so within one month after receiving the refusal letter (so-called Remonstration) or you go to court in Berlin (Verwaltungsgericht Berlin). If a third person objects in your place, you have to issue a power of attorney. The objection letter has to be submitted to the embassyin writing, by fax or signed and scanne das pdf document by email. Your application will then be checked for a second time. If it will be rejected once again, more detailed information on the refusal reasons will be shared in writing. You may object to that second refusal you may go to court in Berlin (Verwaltungsgericht Berlin).
Fact sheets and forms
Application forms and general information:
- Application form (pdf)
- Information on blocked accounts
Fact sheets for different purposes of stay:
- Study