Lithuania Travel Guide
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Guide
Lithuania closed its border with Belarus over balloons. In October 2025, dozens of meteorological balloons carrying cigarettes drifted from Belarus into Lithuanian airspace, four flight suspensions hit Vilnius Airport and one hit Kaunas, 140 flights were cancelled, and more than 20,000 passengers were affected. Lithuania shut its two open crossings, Medininkai and Šalčininkai, through 30 November, and they reopened around 20 November after weeks of closure.
Four other crossings had already been closed earlier, in 2023 and 2024. In 2026, guides describe only two reliably usable for private cars, Kamenny Log on the Belarusian side of Medininkai and Benyakoni on the side of Šalčininkai, with Kotlovka on a restricted basis and Lavoriškės closed to private vehicles. The prime minister has said the border could be closed again if the threats persist.
Border crossings
- Medininkai and Šalčininkai, open, but at the government's pleasure
During the October 2025 closure, Medininkai stayed open only to diplomats, couriers, and Kaliningrad transit passengers with simplified documents, and to citizens of Lithuania, the EU, EEA, and NATO members, plus foreign nationals with temporary residence permits or humanitarian visas. Most other travelers faced a complete closure.
- Kaliningrad transit
Russian transit to and from Kaliningrad through Lithuania is a separate arrangement. The foreign minister raised the possibility of suspending it in October 2025, arguing that no agreement concluded in peacetime can restrict a state's national security measures.
- Poland, checked from the Polish side
Poland has run temporary controls on its Lithuanian frontier since July 2025, at around 13 locations, extended into 2027, as described in this site's Poland guide.
Transit routes
- Vilnius airport can be shut by balloons
The October 2025 disruptions show how the border tension reaches ordinary passengers, so build slack into a tight connection.
- Latvia and Lithuania are both in Schengen
The line between Latvia and Lithuania is an internal Schengen border, but check Latvia's Belarus situation if you were planning to continue east.
Entry point notes
- Schengen entry rules apply
For most visa exempt visitors, that means 90 days in any 180 day period, with the EES recording entries and exits.
- Belarus crossings are not for casual travelers
Access has been limited to specific categories of traveler before, so do not plan an onward trip to Belarus without checking current rules.