Lithuania ends visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats in EU crackdown

Lithuania has officially ended the visa-free travel arrangement for Georgian diplomats and government officials holding diplomatic passports, the government announced on May 22, 2025.

This decision follows the European Union Council’s directive made earlier in January this year, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

As a result, Georgian diplomats and their family members will no longer be able to enter Lithuania for short-term visits without obtaining a visa. Furthermore, they lose access to the simplified procedures previously available for applying for long-term visas.

This move comes after Estonia implemented a similar cancellation of visa-free access for Georgian diplomats and officials. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna commented that the introduction of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports underscores the international community’s rejection of repression against ordinary citizens, protesters, and journalists in Georgia. He also pointed to the impunity of police actions and the silence of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Germany, Poland, and France have also expressed intentions to adopt similar measures restricting visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats. However, Hungary has announced it will maintain the visa-free regime for holders of Georgian diplomatic passports.

Despite these changes, Georgian diplomats and officials still retain the ability to travel visa-free within the European Union if they use their ordinary passports instead of diplomatic ones.

By Tamilla Hasanova