​​​​​​​When going to the border section with Russia, separate permits will no longer be needed

If a person arrives in the territories of the municipalities of Neringa, Šilutė, Pagėgiai, Tauragė, Jurbarkas, Šakii and Vilkaviškis, which are located on the border section, there is no need to worry about the VSAT permit to enter. This means that the permission to enter this border section is considered issued.

Such a permit is not required when going to the territory of the city of Šalčininkai, part of which falls within the border section.

True, the procedure for entering the border waters does not change.

More than two weeks ago, after the state of emergency ended in Lithuania, the state-level state of emergency remained in force in the country due to the massive influx of foreigners.

Among the new provisions of the Law on the State Border and its Protection of the Republic of Lithuania recently adopted by the Seimas was the one regulating access to the border section in the event of such a declared emergency situation due to illegal migration.

This is relevant for a small group of persons, as the procedure for entering the border section has not changed for residents of the border section and many other categories.

The provision was established that during such an emergency situation (due to a massive influx of foreigners), persons can enter the border section with a permit issued by the State Security Service.

The border section is a strip up to 5 kilometers wide deep into the territory of Lithuania from the state border, which runs on land, through the border waters.

It is emphasized that most individuals do not need such separate permits.

The procedure that came into force a little more than two weeks ago defined the categories of persons who are exempt from the requirement to have a VSAT permit to enter the border section.

From May 20 this list is supplemented by one more category – permission to enter the border section is no longer required when going to the territories of Neringa, Šilutė, Pagėgii, Tauragė, Jurbarkas, Šakii, Vilkaviškis municipalities and the city of Šalčininkai, which are located in the border section, with the exception of the border waters located in these areas.

VSAT also draws attention to the fact that persons who have permits to enter the State Border Protection Zone, border waters and border strip can go to the border section without a permit.

Border guards remind that the requirement to have a permit issued by VSAT does not apply to persons:

– for those who live in the border area and/or are the owners or users of real estate located in the border area;

– for those working or studying in the border section;

– those carrying out economic, commercial activities or maintenance activities of roads, communication lines and other objects of public interest in the border section;

– on highways, regional or district roads or railways located in the border section or crossing the border section;

– those crossing the state border through border checkpoints or going to a workplace located at a border checkpoint;

– those carrying out the construction, installation and/or maintenance of state border protection facilities and equipment.

There are also cases where the permit to enter the border section is considered issued and additional care is not required for the following groups:

– for performing the functions of state and municipal institutions and bodies;

– those going to the funeral of close relatives and to services for them;

– for those going to care for the patient;

– for those going to visit the cemetery;

– to provide or purchase services going to border settlements.

Such persons intending to enter the border section or present at the border section will have to submit documents proving their legal presence or entry to the border section to the officer performing the inspection.

In addition, there are several cases where permits can be obtained in the ways mentioned below.

As a matter of urgency, persons can apply to the border checkpoints by phone or e-mail to obtain a one-time permit. The permit is issued by the head of the border checkpoint shift, if the person’s presence does not interfere with the provision of state border protection.

In exceptional cases, when the person did not have the opportunity to apply for a one-time permit by phone or e-mail, the permit can be issued on the spot by the decision of the border guard shift supervisor, if the person’s presence does not interfere with the state border protection.

For other persons going to the border section, requests for access to it are submitted in writing or by electronic means to the VSAT border units or their structural units. Their list and other necessary information is available here.