Lithuania
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- Unclear restrictions - it is not clear to what extent restrictions apply.
Restrictions on entry to Lithuania
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Lithuania based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Lithuania does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
This was confirmed by the then Minister of Health in a press release given by UNAIDS/WHO in 2015. To our knowledge there has been no change to this position since 2015.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Lithuania
It is unclear whether Lithuania imposes restrictions on short-term stay of people living with HIV.
While the position stated by the Minister of Health in 2015 included ‘temporary residence’, under a 2022 law, residency permit applicants are obliged to declare conditions which may pose a threat to public health.
According to the Law on the legal status of foreigners, 29 April 2004 No. IX-2206 (As last amended on 17 March 2022 – No XIV-946), among the grounds for refusal, annulment and revocation of a national visa (article 19) is the fact that the stay in the Republic of Lithuania may represent a threat to national security, public policy or public health.
The website of the Migration Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania has a list of the documents needed, there is a list of supporting documents that should be included with a visa application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Lithuania
It is unclear whether Lithuania imposes restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV.
As above, the position stated in 2015 included permanent residence, however the same conditions for residency permits stated above apply.
According to the information available on the website of the Migration Department under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, none of the documents required for various categories of stays longer than 90 days in a 180 day period make reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Treatment access in Lithuania
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Lithuania. However, it is not clear whether non-nationals are able to access this treatment in the same way as nationals.
In Lithuania, healthcare access for asylum seekers, refugees, and undocumented migrants operates under specific guidelines:
- During the initial three months of their asylum process, asylum seekers are eligible for free emergency medical care and social services at designated centers like the Aliens’ Registration Centre or Refugees’ Reception Centre.
- Refugees benefit from free healthcare throughout their integration period, with compulsory health insurance funded by the state. Once the integration period ends, they fall under the regular health insurance system: Those employed have insurance covered by their employer. Those who are self-employed manage their own insurance; those registered with the labour exchange receive state-funded insurance.
- Undocumented Migrants are entitled to free emergency healthcare but must pay out of pocket for any primary or secondary medical services.
It is not clear what procedure applies for regular migrants.
Sources
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Lithuania page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Migrants are able to access HIV services | N/A |
Refugees and asylum seekers
Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | N/A |
Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.