Lithuanian identity card

The Lithuanian identity card is an official non-compulsory identity document issued to Lithuanian nationals. It is issued by the Migration department in Lithuania and certain diplomatic missions. The cards were first introduced in 2003.

Use

The ID card facilitates travel within the European Union and Schengen Area, as well as some other non-EU countries. Within the European Union, it is may also be used as a primary evidence of the Lithuanian citizenship, as an alternative to the Lithuanian passport.

As electronic signature device

Since 2009, Personal Identity Cards are equipped with contact chips, allowing their usage as digital signature devices with a smart card reader. The Identity documents personalisation centre under the Lithuanian Ministry of the Interior provides digital signature software for Windows, Linux and Mac OS environments.

History

The first Lithuanian Personal Identity Cards were issued in January 2003. The issuance of these card continued until January, 2009, when they were superseded with biometric and digital signature-capable second-generation personal identity cards. In July 2012 issuance of slightly altered third-generation personal identity cards started.