Includes information on acceptable business etiquette, dress, business cards, gifts, etc.
Last Published: 8/5/2019

Most international visitors to Lithuania arrive at Vilnius International Airport, about four miles south of the capital city.  The largest of three passenger airports in Lithuania, Vilnius Airport is served by more than 20 scheduled and charter airlines with nonstop flights to more than a dozen European cities.  Visitors from the United States and Canada can make connections via these cities.  An affordable alternative to Vilnius Airport is Kaunas Airport, about one hour's drive northwest of Vilnius.  Several low-cost European airlines, including Ryanair, fly into this airport.

Visitors from the United States who drive in Lithuania are required to carry an International Driving Permit with their home driver's license.  This document is available at AAA offices in the United States. 

Business Customs

Lithuanians are usually punctual for meetings and visitors are expected to arrive on time.  Generally, it is always a good idea to arrive about ten minutes before your appointment, in order to allow time to prepare for the meeting.  If you know that you are going to be delayed, it is advisable to call ahead and apologize for your delay.  Lithuanians favor face-to-face meetings because they need to foster relationships for mutual understanding.  Punctuality may not be as strict in social situations.

Business partners do not expect presents at the first meeting, but small gifts to business associates are generally acceptable, and you might be expected to bring a souvenir from your own country, something small and unique that represents your country or your company.  In business, conservative/classic clothing is common.  Men tend to wear a dark suit with a tie, while women might wear a trouser suit, or jacket and skirt. For business meetings, a suit is always appropriate for both men and women.  Lithuanians expect their foreign business associates to be well-dressed, and business attire is appropriate for almost all formal occasions.

During normal working hours, there is a less formal code.  Men take off their jackets and often wear short sleeved shirts.  In small and medium-sized companies, there is often no dress code, with many opting for business casual, unless they have some sort of business meeting or formal event to attend.

Travel Advisory

More info on travel in Lithuania

Visa Requirements

U.S. citizens do not need a visa to travel to Lithuania if they plan to stay no longer than 90 days in a half year, counting from the first day of entry.  For longer stays, work, study, or residece in Lithuania, a U.S. citizen must obtain a temporary residence permit.  The 90-day period begins with entry to any of the Schengen group countries.  Multiple visits to Schengen countries may not exceed 90 days in any 6 month period.  More information on traveling to the Schengen area is available at U.S. Passports & International Travel - Schengen FAQs

To travel to Lithuania, U.S. citizens must hold a valid U.S. passport with a term of validity that exceeds the intended period of stay in Lithuania by at least three months and a valid health insurance policy for international travel, which covers all costs relating to emergency medical care during the stay in Lithuania, including the transportation costs from Lithuania to the place of permanent residence of the individual in case of his/her severe medical condition or death.
Information regarding extension of the stay or how to receive an entry visa for the purpose of work, education, training, or other professional activity may be obtained from the Embassy of Lithuania in the United States https://usa.mfa.lt/.  

Currency

Lithuania is an EU member state which joined the Eurozone by adopting the euro on  January 1, 2015.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Telecommunication service providers offer high quality solutions depending on client needs.  EU mobile users traveling to other countries in the EU are able to call, text or surf the net without paying any extra charges.
Electrical outlets in Lithuania supply electricity at 220 volts AC. 

Transportation

Lithuanian roads are among the best in eastern Europe.  Lithuania has a network of four-lane highways connecting Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, and Palanga.  Smaller towns are accessible by well-kept asphalt roads.  Some villages can be reached only by gravel roads.  Car rental is readily available in the airports.

Lithuanian railroads are not on par with those in western Europe.  Before planning to go somewhere by rail, you should first check the map of Lithuanian railroads to determine if both your origin and destination have a rail connection and whether there is a relatively straight route.  Moreover, not every rail line has passenger traffic, as the railroads lost market share to bus services over the past 25 years.  Even where the rail services exist, they are less frequent than bus counterparts.
Although Lithuania has three passenger airports, there are no internal domestic flights.  Good road connections and the small country size ensure quicker transportation by car than by plane.

Language

The  official language in Lithuania is Lithuanian (native to some 85% of the population and spoken by 96%). 
The largest minority languages are Russian and Polish, spoken natively by 8,2% and 5,8% of the population, respectively. More than 97% of the country’s population speaks at least one foreign language.

English is the most popular foreign language in Lithuania today.  It is  spoken by more than 30% of the population and is extremely common among young professionals.  Over 80% of 20-34 year olds with a university degree are proficient in English.  English is widely accepted in business settings. 

Health

Healthcare in Lithuania is of a high standard with numbers of doctors per 1000 people greater than in most western societies.  Hospitals are well-equipped to perform even the most difficult surgeries.  Doctors are well-trained and sought-after by western hospitals.  There is generally no need to get any vaccination before going to Lithuania.  Major infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV are extremely rare.  Ticks are common, and tick-borne encephalitis is a concern for individuals who spend time in forested areas of Lithuania. For Lithuanians and EU citizens, most medical services are free of charge. 

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

The local time in Lithuania is Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time) + 2 hours.
Daylight Savings Time is observed in Lithuania.  It begins at 2 a.m. local time on the last Sunday in March, and it ends at 2 a.m. local time on the last Sunday in October.

Lithuania observes a five-day workweek, with eight working hours per day and 40 working hours per week.  The work day typically lasts from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for manufacturing-related industries, or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for service institutions, including a one-hour lunch.

National Holidays in Lithuania 2019
Jan. 1,  Tue           New Year's Day
Feb. 16  Sat          Independence Day
Mar. 11 Mon        Independence Restoration Day
Apr. 21  Sun         Easter Sunday
Apr. 22  Mon       Easter Monday
May 1    Wed        Labor Day
May 4    Sun         Mother's Day
Jun. 2     Sun         Father's Day
Jun. 24   Mon       St John's Day
Jul. 6      Sat          King Mindaugas' Day
Aug. 15 Thu         Assumption Day
Nov. 1    Fri           All Saints' Day
Dec. 24  Tue         Christmas Eve
Dec. 25  Wed        Christmas Day
Dec. 26  Thu         2nd Day of Christmas

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

There are no restrictions on entry for personal belongings, unless they are items regulated by customs regulations and subject to import license requirements, such as firearms, drugs, jewelry, tobacco, or alcohol.  In such cases, the traveler will be asked to fill in a customs declaration form.  

Travel Related Web Resources

Lithuanian Customs

European Union Customs
Travel information
Weather forecast
Living in Lithuania
U.S. Embassy Vilnius
World Health Organization
State Department consular information sheet
 

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