Descendants of Lithuanian nationals have historically faced some hurdles in acquiring citizenship by descent. After regaining independence in 1990, the laws of Lithuania’s citizenship by ancestry policy changed.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re using this route to seek Lithuanian citizenship through an ancestor and become a citizen of Lithuania.
Who Qualifies for Lithuanian Citizenship Through Ancestry?
Before outlining the steps on how to prove ancestry for Lithuania citizenship, note which descendants qualify, according to the Migration Dept. under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania.
These include descendants of parents, grandparents, and even up to great-grandparents who held Lithuanian citizenship in some cases. Descendants of certain exiled Lithuanians and certain individuals who voluntarily fled Lithuania may also qualify.
Lithuanian Ancestry Through Parent, Grandparent, or Great-Grandparent
The most distant ancestor to qualify for Lithuanian dual citizenship by descent is a great-grandparent. There are a few criteria you need to meet to qualify in this way. A descendant must first be able to prove that their great-grandparent was a Lithuanian citizen as of June 15, 1940. Furthermore, the great-grandparent must not have lost their Lithuanian citizenship through legal processes such as renunciation.
Ancestry Through Parent, Grandparent, or Great-Grandparent
To prove eligibility by descent, applicants have to have proof of their Lithuanian ancestry. This can be in the form of birth, marriage, or death certificates that trace lineage to a Lithuanian ancestor. Applicants also must prove that this ancestor held citizenship prior to June 15, 1940.
Additionally, applicants should have a valid passport or government-issued ID, criminal record clearance documentation, and a certificate issued by their current country of residence. If you’re applying within Lithuania, you must have proof of residency there.
Ancestry as a Descendant of an Exiled Person
You may also qualify for Lithuania lineage citizenship if your ancestor fled Lithuania during times of occupation or was exiled from the country between June 15, 1940, and March 11, 1990. An exile would have held citizenship prior to June 15, 1940, and been forcibly expelled from the country by courts or institutions during the aforementioned time period. Exile status also depends on the ancestor having not returned to Lithuania as a permanent resident at any point during that period.
Moreover, if a descendant of an exiled person was born prior to April 1, 2011, they can reclaim Lithuanian citizenship without having to renounce other citizenships.
How to Prove Ancestry for Citizenship
In addition to providing a valid passport, if you’re seeking lineage citizenship through an exiled ancestor, you’ll need documentation that your ancestor was exiled before March 11, 1990. The Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York states that applicants must supply documents that show their relationship to the ancestor who held citizenship before June 15, 1940. This includes birth certificates and forms showing the change of a name or surname, like marriage certificates, U.S. naturalization certificates, court decisions, and social security administration documents.
Ancestry as a Descendant of a Person Who Fled Lithuania
If the ancestor you’re trying to gain lineage citizenship through held Lithuanian citizenship before the time of regime began in 1940 and then voluntarily left during occupation, you could qualify. Note that the ancestor would have to have been permanently residing in a country outside of Lithuania as of March 11, 1990.
Exclusions to Qualification
A descendant of someone who moved from Lithuania to a Soviet territory from June 15, 1940, is not eligible. This exclusion is outlined in the Citizenship Law of Lithuania (no. XI – 1196), Article 2.
How to Prove Ancestry for Citizenship
Again, applicants must provide a valid passport, documentation showing their ancestor held Lithuanian citizenship before June 15, 1940, and documentation showing the relationship to the ancestor, as outlined above. For ancestors of persons who fled Lithuania, applicants must also show documented proof that the ancestor left the country before March 11, 1990.
How to Apply for Citizenship by Descent in Lithuania
Applications for citizenship by descent go through the (MIGRIS) Lithuanian Migration Information System.
Special conditions apply for foreign documents, as well as original documentation vs. copies.
Want to learn more about the application process for Lithuanian lineage citizenship? Check out our exploration of Required Documents for Lithuania Citizenship Applications.
2 Responses
Hello,
I am a US citizen presently, and hoping to work in the EU as a biopharmaceutical scientist with an MSci in Biotech. This will be much more feasible with citizenship in an EU nation.
My grandfather, before his passing, had a marked interest in genealogy and discovered predecessors from Lithuania. These would be 2-4 generations prior to him, my great-great or further back grandparents.
I cannot guarantee an abundance of documentation– I am not certain if their birth, baptismal, or other records are in hand with family. Those which may be in hand, I am concerned may not be sufficient.
What records are acceptable? What records are necessary? Can any be leveraged from the current Lithuanian government, despite regime changes between last resident relative and present day?
Any advice would be extremely appreciated, whether supportive or indicating inability to support.
Best regards,
Jeanne LaVergne
Hi Jeanne,
Thank you for reaching out and for sharing those details about your family’s Lithuanian roots. You’re absolutely right that EU citizenship can make working and living in Europe much simpler, and Lithuania is one of the countries that allows citizenship by descent even several generations back, provided there’s a clear ancestral link.
To answer your questions:
Acceptable records typically include birth, marriage, and naturalization certificates that show your family line from the Lithuanian ancestor down to you.
Government archives in Lithuania can often help retrieve or confirm records that date back to the early 1900s or late 1800s, even through the Soviet period.
Missing documentation doesn’t necessarily end your case. In some situations, church or community records, census data, or even supporting documents from other countries can help establish the connection.
The best next step is for us to review your situation in detail. We can start with an eligibility report that outlines whether you’re likely eligible or not. From there, we can connect you with a vetted Lithuanian citizenship specialist or a genealogist who can help you understand which records are missing, and locate the required documents if they exist.