Lithuania cancels temporary residence permits for 145 Russian citizens

Vilnius has revoked the temporary residence permits (TRPs) of 145 Russian citizens, the Migration Department of Lithuania announced.

"On December 5, the department decided to cancel the temporary residence permits issued to 145 Russian citizens," the statement, cited by TASS, said.

According to Lithuanian authorities, the permits were revoked due to excessively frequent trips to Russia or Belarus, which are prohibited under Lithuanian law and outlined in the country’s national sanctions regime. This system was first introduced in 2023 and has been repeatedly extended. The most recent extension, approved by the Lithuanian parliament in April 2025, expands the measures and will remain in effect until May 2026. Under the current rules, TRPs are automatically cancelled for any individual who travels more than once to Russia or Belarus within a three-month period.

The revocations are part of Lithuania’s broader law, “On the Establishment of Restrictive Measures in Connection with Military Aggression Against Ukraine,” which was adopted in 2023 and extended last spring until May 2, 2026. This law restricts Russians and Belarusians from obtaining Schengen visas, national visas, and temporary residence permits. Applications are accepted only through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and only for individuals who already hold a valid visa or residence document issued within the EU.

Travellers entering Lithuania outside EU borders are subject to additional checks for national security risks and other criteria. Russian and Belarusian citizens are prohibited from bringing Ukrainian hryvnias, as well as agricultural products and animal feed produced in their countries. Moreover, without a residence permit, Russians are not allowed to purchase real estate in Lithuania.

Since June 1, 2025, rules for transit passengers travelling through Lithuania to Kaliningrad have been tightened. Border authorities have begun denying boarding to Russian citizens holding non-biometric passports, even if these passports include valid simplified transit documents (STDs). This follows a joint order from Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs, issued on May 23, 2025, which clarified that such passports do not confer the right to enter the country.

The only exception is for holders of railway simplified transit documents, which are treated as equivalent to a visa and allow travellers to remain in Lithuania for up to six hours.

By Tamilla Hasanova