Turkish National Detained in Lithuania for Attempting Entry with Forged Schengen Visa

A 32-year-old Turkish citizen was detained by Lithuanian authorities at Vilnius International Airport after attempting to enter the country with a forged Schengen visa. The incident occurred on Tuesday night, following the arrival of a flight from Munich, Germany.

Forged Visa Discovered at Border Control

During routine passport control, officers from the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service noticed inconsistencies in the visa details presented by the Turkish national. The visa—reportedly issued by France—was a multiple-entry document allowing a 90-day stay within the Schengen Area.

While the official system data showed the visa was valid from February 9, 2022, to April 9, 2025, the physical visa attached to the passport had been altered to reflect an expiration date of February 9, 2025.

A closer inspection revealed clear signs of tampering, including:

• Altered validity dates
• Scraped document surface
• Damaged protective security grid

Detained and Under Investigation

Upon confirming the document was forged, the individual was immediately placed in a temporary detention facility operated by the Vilnius Border Guard Unit. A pre-trial investigation is now underway to determine the full extent of the forgery and any potential intent behind the attempted illegal entry.

The forged visa has been confiscated and is currently being examined by Lithuanian authorities as part of the investigation.

Legal Consequences Under Lithuanian Law

Lithuania imposes strict penalties for presenting forged travel documents, including:

• Monetary fines
• Community service
• Imprisonment of up to three years

The exact consequences in this case will be determined as the investigation progresses. Authorities have not yet disclosed whether the individual intended to stay in Lithuania or use it as a transit point to another Schengen country.

Growing Trend of Visa Fraud in the EU

Lithuania is not alone in facing such incidents. Several Schengen member states have recently reported increased attempts by foreign nationals to enter using counterfeit visas. As fraudulent document use becomes more sophisticated, border authorities across the EU are stepping up efforts to detect and prevent visa fraud.

EU's Response: The Entry/Exit System (EES)

To combat such practices and improve border control, the EU plans to roll out the Entry/Exit System (EES) in the near future. This system will:

• Register non-EU travelers entering and exiting the Schengen Area
• Use biometric data and advanced tracking methods
• Help detect overstayers, identity fraud, and illegal re-entry attempts

The EES aims to close existing security gaps in the Schengen visa system and improve the accuracy of traveler monitoring across Europe.