Lithuanian Citizenship by Descent - Nationality

Table of Contents

• Benefits of Lithuanian Nationality
• Lithuanian Citizenship by Descent
• Children born before 22 July 2008 holding another Country's Citizenship
• Procedure for the Acquisition of Citizenship for a Child
• Naturalisation as a Lithuanian Citizen
• Citizenship by Way of Exception
• Reinstatement of Citizenship of Lithuania
• Application for the Reinstatement of Lithuanian Citizenship
• Documents Confirming Lithuanian Citizenship before 15 June 1940
• FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
• Office Address and Telephone - VisaConnect UK

Contact VisaConnect's specialist Consultants, and our partner Lithuanian Immigration and Citizenship Lawyers, in 2024, by phone or complete an online Form on our website or visit us in our offices in Brisbane, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, UK and Lisbon, Portugal for advice and assistance with your Lithuanian Citizenship by Descent application, and supporting documents, as evidence of Nationality of Lithuania!

Benefits of Lithuanian Nationality

The advantages and benefits of acquiring Lithuanian Citizenship and a Lithuanian Passport are:

• Live, work and study in Lithuania and travel in and out of Lithuania, Visa-free
• Freedom of Movement across the EU/EFTA area (Visa-Free travel in the EU)
• EU member country since 2004, Euro area member since 2015 and Schengen area member since 2007
• Visa-free access to 185 countries around the world, as per the Henley Passport Index, in 2023. The Lithuanian Passport is currently ranked as the 9th strongest Passport in the world.
• Lithuania allows Dual Citizenship
• Low Cost of Living - Vilnius is ranked as the 123rd most expensive city in the world, out of 227 cities, according to the Mercer cost of Living ranking
• Free University Education or substantially subsidised fees for EU Nationals
• Pass on Lithuanian EU Citizenship to your children
• The Public Healthcare system in Lithuania ensures free healthcare for almost all its citizens
• Access to Social security - Family benefits, including Child care, Maternity and Paternity benefits, Sick pay, Long term care, Old-Age Pensions and Unemployment benefit

Lithuanian Citizenship by Descent

Acquisition of Lithuanian Citizenship by birth is possible in the following circumstances:

1. 1. You have given birth to a Child, and you are a Citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, then your Child will acquire citizenship of Lithuania by birth regardless of whether your child was born in Lithuanian territory or outside Lithuania.
2. 2. You have given birth to a Child, but the Parent who was a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania was deceased prior to the birth of the child, then your Child will acquire citizenship of Lithuania by birth regardless of whether your child was born in Lithuanian territory or outside Lithuania.

Children born before 22 July 2008 holding another Country's Citizenship

The requirements below are for a Child to acquire Lithuanian Citizenship, based on their date of birth:

1. 1. If your child was born before 22-07-2008 and at his/her birth you were a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania, but the child has acquired citizenship of another state at birth, and you want your child to be a citizen of Lithuania, then you must apply in writing to consider your child a citizen of Lithuania, before the child reaches the age of 18 years.
2. 2. In the event that you gave birth to a Child between 11-03-1990 to 22-07-2008, and they are currently adults, but they are children of Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania who acquired citizenship by birth and citizens of another Country, then these children of citizens of Lithuania can themselves submit an application to consider themselves as citizens of the Republic of Lithuania.
3. 3. If your child was born from 22-07-2008 to 01-04-2011 and you were a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania at the time of his/her birth, then your child is a citizen of Lithuania from birth. If your child has acquired the citizenship of another Country at birth, then you must provide supporting documents.

Procedure for the Acquisition of Citizenship for a Child

The following is the procedure for the acquisition of Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania:

1. 1. Register your Child's birth at the Civil Registry Office.
2. 2. Complete Application form to consider a child as a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania electronically through the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS).
3. 3. Provide the Child’s birth certificate.
4. 4. Provide a document confirming that at the time of the child's birth, the child's parents or one of them were citizens of the Republic of Lithuania.
5. 5. Document confirming that the child acquired the citizenship of another Country by virtue of birth (such as, Passport of another Country).
6. 6. No Lithuanian State levy is payable.
7. 7. Make an Appointment at the Migration Department, Diplomatic mission or Consular posts of the Republic of Lithuania, within 4 months of submitting your application, whereby you must submit the originals of the documents listed above. Note that documents can be submitted by your Lithuanian Lawyer, with a notarised Power of Attorney.
8. 8. Translation of documents provided into the Lithuanian language.
9. 9. Decision on Child's citizenship application is made within 3 months from date of receipt of your application.

Naturalisation as a Lithuanian Citizen

To become Naturalised as a Lithuanian Citizen, you must meet one of the conditions listed below:

1. 1. If you have been legally resident in Lithuania for 10 years.
2. 2. If you have married a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania and have been legally resident in Lithuania for the last 7 years with your spouse.
3. 3. If you have married a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania – an exile, political prisoner or their child born in exile and have been legally resident in Lithuania, together for the last 5 years.
4. 4. If you have been married for more than one year to a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who later died and I have been legally resident in Lithuania for the last 5 years.