LITHUANIAN CITIZENS CAN TRAVEL TO CANADA VISA-FREE
Canada lifts visa requirements for Lithuanian citizens
Citizens of Lithuania will no longer require visas to visit Canada. Visa – free status is effective immediately. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Petras Vaitiekūnas welcomed the news in Vilnius, calling the decision by the Government of Canada “an important and historic step in Lithuanian – Canadian relations”. He also noted it was the result of good cooperation between Lithuanian and Canadian institutions.
The easing of visa restrictions was announced on March 1 by Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley at a press conference attended by Lithuania’s Ambassador Gintė Damušis and the ambassadors of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and European Union. “It was the right decision”, said Ambassador Gintė Damušis at the press conference in Mississauga, adding that “a visa-free regime will promote more trade and tourism and stronger bilateral contacts between Lithuania and Canada”.
“Canada enjoys strong ties with these countries”, said Minister Finley. “Lifting the visa requirement will help build those relations to the benefit of Canadians and the citizens of Poland, Slovakia, Lithuania and Hungary.”
According to Canadian statistics, there were 989 temporary resident visas issued in 2006 for citizens of Lithuania, 33,363 for citizens of Poland, 6385 for citizens of Hungary and 3780 for citizens of Slovakia.
Travelers from Lithuania will be required to carry an e-passport for visa-free travel to Canada after 2009.
