[Lithuania No Longer Recognizes Russian Non-Biometric Passports]
On May 23, the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website released a message stating that the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior jointly decided that Russian passports without biometric information will no longer be considered valid entry documents.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior pointed out that passports without biometric data are easier to forge and may be used by Russian special departments for overseas operations. Starting from June 1, 2025, Russian citizens holding such passports will be prohibited from entering Lithuania.
However, there are exceptions: representatives of Russian democratic forces, opposition figures, independent media, and public representatives whose itineraries align with Lithuanian interests may apply for individual approval to enter.
This regulation sets a transitional policy:
-- Russian citizens holding residence permits in Lithuania or other EU or Schengen area countries can enter using non-biometric passports until December 1, 2025 (must switch to biometric passports during this period).
-- The transit of Russian citizens traveling by rail between Kaliningrad and the mainland is not subject to the new regulations.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentioned that previously, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Denmark, and Iceland had announced the cessation of accepting Russian non-biometric passports. Russian citizens can choose whether to apply for passports with biometric information on their own. Non-biometric passports are processed faster and at a lower cost, but those residing abroad long-term need to mail them from Russia, which takes a longer time.
Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832912360155148/
Disclaimer: This article solely represents the views of the author.