From 1 December, the Lithuanian Ministry of the Interior will require all goods vehicles leaving Lithuania via the EU’s external borders to pre-register their departure in an electronic queue system (EVIS). This measure applies to the Medininkai and Šalčininkai crossings with Belarus and the Kybartai crossing with Russia. The Lithuanian government passed the resolution several weeks ago, aiming to regulate truck queues and maintain public order at border crossings.
The system allows hauliers to book a crossing time in advance, which authorities recommend to avoid delays. Trucks arriving without pre-registration will be assigned the next available slot, but pre-booking is encouraged to improve route planning and delivery schedules. Mindaugas Zobiela, head of the Border Control Points Directorate, highlighted the importance of early registration for more predictable traffic management.
Parking areas near the border crossings provide free parking for up to one hour. Beyond that, a fee is charged. New facilities, including showers and toilets, are being added at Medininkai, Šalčininkai, and Kybartai. A new parking area for 550 vehicles is expected to open near Šalčininkai later this year.
Lithuanian Customs anticipates that the pre-registration system will ease the workload of customs officers, enhance cargo control, and improve border efficiency. Darius Žvironas, Director General of the Customs Department, stated that the system will enable better planning of customs operations based on traffic flow.
Past experience shows that truck queues can reach up to 900 vehicles, forming lines as long as 23 kilometres, especially in December and April before Christmas and Easter. The authorities expect the new system to significantly reduce these wait times.
This policy is also part of Lithuania’s strategy to address security concerns linked to the Belarusian regime. Earlier, Lithuania closed four border crossings with Belarus, which increased pressure on the remaining checkpoints. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre, emphasized that pre-registration is essential for maintaining security and mitigating risks associated with concentrated truck traffic.
The Ministry of the Interior and various government agencies have worked closely to implement this system, ensuring coordination between national and local institutions. Enhanced security measures, including police monitoring and improved signage, have also been introduced to maintain order at border points.