Lithuania to Stop Accepting Russian Non-Biometric Passports From June 1

Starting June 1, 2025, Lithuania will no longer recognize Russian-issued non-biometric international passports as valid travel documents, citing national security concerns and a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Lithuania’s Minister of the Interior, Vladislav Kondratovič, said the decision reflects the country’s broader security strategy. Exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for Russian citizens such as opposition figures, independent journalists, and civil society members—provided their entry serves Lithuania’s state interests.

The move follows a joint decision by Lithuania’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interior, officially adopted on May 23. It aligns Lithuania with several EU member states—such as Denmark, Estonia, France, Czechia, and Iceland—that have already banned non-biometric Russian passports.

While some exemptions will apply—such as rail transit between Kaliningrad (Königsberg) and mainland Russia—the overall goal is to minimize risks linked to document forgery and unauthorized entry.

Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, emphasized that biometric passports significantly improve identity verification and reduce the risk of abuse. He cited past incidents involving GRU agents traveling under false identities, calling the new measure a critical step toward enhancing national and regional security.

The banned documents fail to meet ICAO standards, as they lack embedded biometric identifiers like fingerprints or facial recognition data, making them easier to forge and misuse.