Information for Conscripts

Information for Conscripts

General information for conscripts of the Republic of Lithuania living abroad

To prepare citizens for the defense of the Republic of Lithuania, every year a part of citizens aged 18 to 23 are called up for compulsory military service (hereinafter referred to as CMS). Every citizen of the Republic of Lithuania has the constitutional rights and duties of a citizen, as well as military obligations, regardless of his or her place of residence. Departure alone (declaration of departure) does not release from the performance of the duties of a conscript, as conscription arises from the possession of the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania. If mobilization were announced in Lithuania, Lithuanians living abroad would not be subject to any exemptions and would have to come to their regional military conscription and recruitment section (hereinafter RMCRS).

Each year the conscription to the CMS begins with the compilation of the lists of conscripts for the calendar year. You can find the compiled lists here. IMPORTANT: Every citizen of conscription age must independently check that he has not been included in the lists of conscripts for a calendar year. If you are on the conscripts list, it is not necessary to come immediately, you can first contact your RMCRS remotely.

Submission of documents remotely. How to do it?

You can contact and submit the required documents and data to RMCRS:

• Upon arrival at RMCRS in person and submission of an identity document;
• through an authorized person (notary or through www.igaliojimai.lt);
• through registered postal item (attach a copy of a valid identity document, this copy does not require notarization);
• by electronic means after signing with a qualified electronic signature (for example, www.gosign.lt/lt/);
• through the information system for the delivery of electronic messages and documents E-delivery, necessarily indicating the name, surname, date of birth, and serial number in the list of conscripts or by sending a copy of a valid identity document.

Documents in a foreign language (except English) must be submitted together with a translation into Lithuanian. Translations must be accompanied by original documents (documents should be signed by the translator or certified by the office) or copies of documents (usually notarized) certified following the procedure established by legal acts

Duties of conscripts residing abroad

• Conscripts, men between the ages of 18 and 60 who have moved to another country for a period longer than 6 months, must immediately inform their RMCRS (in whose territory the conscript resided before leaving) of any change in their actual place of residence, work or study. This information is needed to keep military records, it would help to contact military conscripts when mobilization is announced or when conscription is announced.
• Your signed and scanned report (available in a form from your RMCRS) about your actual place of residence, work, or study, along with the scanned identity document, should be sent to your RMCRS email.

Dual citizenship

• Possession of dual citizenship does not relieve a person of conscript duties. The fact of a person's citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania is visible in the Population Register, the data of which is used by the military conscription and recruitment service, which administers the register of military conscripts of the Republic of Lithuania. Until the military conscription and recruitment service receives data from these official state registers that the person has lost the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, they shall perform military service procedures (including the court of administrative offenses).

Reimbursement of travel expenses

• Conscripts called up for compulsory military service are reimbursed for travel expenses (round-trip to RMCRS, Military Medical Examination Commission, and place of service).
• Conscripts living in Lithuania get compensation of no more than 6 euros per trip. Conscripts residing in Europe are reimbursed up to a maximum of 101.40 euros per trip, while those residents outside Europe are reimbursed up to a maximum of 390 euros.

Military Medical Examination Commission

• The suitability of conscripts for military service is determined only in Lithuania by performing a health examination in the Military Medical Examination Commission. Conscripts shall be appointed to perform the CMSonly after their health has been examined following the procedure established by law and it has been agreed that they are fit to perform it.

Military service in a foreign country

• A citizen of the Republic of Lithuania wishing to perform military service in a foreign country must apply for a permit from the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (apply to the Ministry of the Interior). After performing service in NATO or European Union member states with this permit, it is possible to apply to the Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces for crediting compulsory service.
• If a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, without the permission of the Government, serves in the military of a foreign country - according to Article 24 paragraph 4 of the Law on Citizenship, loses the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania.

Active reserve

• After completing the CMS, soldiers are assigned to the service in the active army personnel reserve. The duration of service in the active reserve is 10 years from the time of appointment. Conscripts assigned to the active reserve shall participate in exercises and training for a period of 20 to 60 days during the period of service in the active reserve.

Avoidance of liability

• Persons who do not perform the duties of a conscript are subject to administrative liability, which provides for a fine of 30 to 60 euros. Repeated failure to comply with such obligations may result in a fine of up to € 140. Avoidance of conscription may result in administrative liability of a fine of between € 140 and € 300. After several times applying administrative liability, criminal liability may be initiated against a person, under Article 314 paragraph 2 of the CC.

If you have any questions, contact your military service specialists here.