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Citizenship by Descent in Lithuania

Citizenship by Descent in Lithuania

Foreign citizens who have relatives in Lithuania or who are descended from this country can apply for Lithuanian citizenship by descent. Along with this status, they can also obtain a Lithuanian passport by descent. Although the formalities are straightforward, it is good to consider the legal help provided by our Lithuanian lawyers who have experience in immigration issues. We are here to help you with the documents you need to prepare, and also with specialized advice.

 Quick Facts  
 Who can obtain citizenship by descent in Lithuania? Citizens who have relatives of Lithuanian origins and can prove it. Special cases are also accepted after verifications. 

 Institution in charge of citizenship by descent applications in Lithuania

 The Migration Department in Lithuania

 Legislation

Lithuanian Nationality Law 

 Proving the existence of Lithuanian grandparents to get citizenship  Available option
Documents solicited 

Birth/marriage/death certificates to prove blood relationship 

Examination stage for citizenship by descent application in Lithuania 

 Might take between 6 and 12 months or more, depending on the complexity of the case.

 Time frame to issue citizenship through ancenstry in Lithuania

 The whole citizenship process can take around 2 years.

 Special cases of Lithuanian citizenship by descent

 Proving grandparents or great-grandparents lived in Lithuania between 1918 and 1940 or left the country before 1990.

Additional evidence 

 If the Migration Department in Lithuania solicits extra documents

Other situations to get citizenship by descent  If ancestors were obliged to leave Lithuania 
Is the Lithuanian passport issued after getting citizenship by descent? (YES/NO) 

 YES

 Evaluation recommended before application (YES/NO)

 YES

 Dual citizenship available in Lithuania

 Only in exceptional cases

 Citizenship by descent reinstatement in Lithuania

 Our attorneys in Lithuania can guide you throughout the process.

 Working with our Lithuanian lawyers  We can handle the paperwork and make the required verifications with the local and national authorities in Lithuania.

How to qualify for Lithuanian citizenship by descent

Eligibility criteria for Lithuanian citizenship by ancestry are quite simple. Basically, if you find that you have relatives in Lithuania (parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents), you can apply for Lithuanian citizenship by descent. The formalities for application are straightforward, and among them, we mention:

  • Documents proving that you have descendants in Lithuania;
  • Birth certificates;
  • Proof that grandparents or great-grandparents lived in Lithuania between 1918 and 1940 or left the country before 1990;
  • Any documents that the Lithuanian authorities may request.

We remind you that we can help you with the necessary documents and formalities if you are interested in Lithuanian citizenship by descent. Also, once you have earned this status, you can qualify for the Lithuanian passport by descent.

You can contact our law office if you want to apply for citizenship in Lithuania. This status allows you to travel freely in the Schengen area and other countries, without the need to apply for a visa. But up to this point, we mention that our specialists can take care of the documents required by the authorities, and among them, information on basic knowledge about the Lithuanian language. Here is an infographic about the Lithuanian citizenship by descent:

Stages of obtaining citizenship through heritage in Lithuania

Citizenship by descent in Lithuania is how foreign nationals can obtain this status if they prove that they have or had relatives with Lithuanian origins. To better understand the steps to follow in this regard, we recommend you read the following lines:

  • Application stage – In this first stage, candidates for citizenship through heritage in Lithuania must provide proof of documents. Original and legalized birth certificates that show that they had Lithuanian relatives or ancestors are accepted. Cases in which, for various reasons, these ancestors had to leave Lithuania at a given moment are also accepted.
  • Application examination – In this stage, the documents are analyzed by the relevant authorities. But until this point, we recommend specialized support from our attorneys in Lithuania. It is important to have all the documents in order before being presented to the authorities for immigration to Lithuania, respectively the Immigration Department. Verification of all documents can be a process of approximately 6 months.
  • Additional evidence – Those interested in citizenship through ancestry in Lithuania can permanently communicate with our lawyers. There are cases in which extra documents are required to support the citizenship application. These are situations where collecting additional evidence is required.
  • Application approved – In this stage of the process of obtaining citizenship through ancestry in Lithuania, the documents are accepted by the Migration department. Certain fees are to be paid, as the case may be, and the candidates receive approvals in this sense.

We remind you that complicated cases of citizenship through origin in Lithuania might take longer than 14 months, but each case is different. We advise you to contact our Lithuanian lawyers and learn more about the process of obtaining citizenship by descent in Lithuania. You can also discover the following video presentation with information on this topic:

We help foreigners in obtaining citizenship through origin in Lithuania

Foreign citizens who prove that they have ancestors in Lithuania can obtain the nationality of this country. The process can be straightforward, but in some cases, it can become complex. What is essential in this case is the collection of the necessary documents, such as birth certificates that certify the family relationship with citizens of Lithuanian origin.

In certain situations, these documents may be missing. However, our specialists on immigration issues in Lithuania can collaborate with the relevant authorities. Thus, copies of old birth certificates can be obtained from the Birth Registry in Lithuania. The process can indeed be long until all the documents are released, therefore, the process of obtaining citizenship by descent in Lithuania can be extended for a longer time. Each case has its particularities, so if you want to avoid possible rejections in terms of documents and other formalities, we advise you to collaborate with our experts on Lithuanian immigration and citizenship issues.

Family search to qualify for Lithuanian citizenship by ancestry

Lithuanian citizenship by descent may be in the interest of descendants who have had or have relatives in this country and who want to gain this status for various benefits. However, up to this step, it is necessary to make a prior check and make sure that they have all the necessary documents to be able to apply. There are cases where birth certificates are damaged or even lost. Therefore, it is necessary to appeal to the authorities and their archives in order to be in possession of the missing documents.

Although it is quite a time-consuming job, you should not lose hope because the documents exist and can be released. We mention here the legal support provided by our lawyers in Lithuania who can handle the necessary formalities and documents in order to apply for a Lithuanian passport by descent.

How long does it take to get Lithuanian citizenship by descent?

People interested in Lithuanian citizenship by ancestry should know that the process can take between 1.5 and 2 years, depending on the documents required by the authorities. As mentioned earlier, some certificates may not be in the possession of those applying for citizenship by descent in Lithuania. Therefore, you need to get in touch with certain state institutions, calling on our experienced lawyers. We invite you to talk to our specialists to find out more about Lithuanian passport by descent.

Facts about dual citizenship in Lithuania

Lithuanian dual citizenship is obtained in exceptional cases. Although Lithuania does not normally accept dual citizenship, there are situations in which the authorities make exceptions, mainly for persons deported before 1990, refugees, and children adopted by Lithuanian families. Being special cases, you need certain documents to prove that you had relatives in Lithuania.

Here you can be assisted by a specialist lawyer, who can communicate with the relevant authorities in order to be in possession of the necessary documents. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us and find out how we can help you legally if you are interested in dual citizenship in Lithuania or Lithuanian citizenship by ancestry.

Immigration to Lithuania in a few facts

Below are some facts and statistics about immigration to Lithuania:

  • Around 3% of all immigrants living in Lithuania come from countries in the European Union.
  • Approximately 15% of Lithuania’s immigrants come from non-EU countries.
  • About 145,118 foreigners lived in Lithuania, according to data for summer 2022.
  • Around 31% of the immigrants who arrived in Lithuania in 2022 were citizens of Ukraine and Belarus.

Our team of lawyers can help you with obtaining residency in Lithuania if you are interested in this aspect. Plus, we can guide you in this process and assist with the necessary documentation. We invite you to contact our law firm in Lithuania and find out more about Lithuanian citizenship by descent.