Lithuanian Citizenship by Descent: Your "Get Started" Guide

Lithuanian citizenship by descent is a highly prized gateway to the European Union (EU). The process is legally known as the "Restoration of Citizenship" (Pilietybės atkūrimas). It is based on the principle that the Republic of Lithuania (1918–1940) never legally ceased to exist during the Soviet occupation.

Therefore, you are not "becoming" a citizen; you are restoring the rights your family lost. However, Lithuania has strict rules regarding Dual Citizenship. While you can always restore your Lithuanian citizenship, keeping your current passport depends entirely on when and why your ancestor left.

This guide outlines the essential first steps, key requirements, and what you can expect in terms of timeline and cost to begin your journey.

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1. Am I Eligible? Key Requirements (Restoration)

The primary path is for descendants of those who were citizens of the independent Republic of Lithuania before the Soviet occupation.

• Requirement Category: Eligible Ancestor
  
  • Specific Criteria: Parent, Grandparent, or Great-Grandparent.
  • Details: Your ancestor must have held Lithuanian citizenship between January 9, 1919, and June 15, 1940. Being born in the territory is not enough; they must have been considered a citizen during that specific window of independence.
• Requirement Category: The "Dual Citizenship" Condition (Crucial)
  
  • Specific Criteria: "Exiled" vs. "Left".
  • Details: To keep your current nationality (e.g., US, UK, Brazilian) while claiming Lithuanian citizenship, you must prove your ancestor left Lithuania between June 15, 1940, and March 11, 1990, due to political reasons, persecution, or the threat of the regime (or was deported).
  • Warning: If your ancestor left before June 1940 (e.g., economic migrants to the US in the 1920s), you are eligible for Lithuanian citizenship, but you usually must renounce your existing citizenship to accept it.
• Requirement Category: Lineage
  
  • Specific Criteria: Unbroken Chain.
  • Details: You must provide birth and marriage certificates connecting you to the ancestor.
• Requirement Category: Language
  
  • Specific Criteria: No Language Requirement.
  • Details: For restoration of citizenship, there is absolutely no language exam.
• Strategic Tip: The exact date of departure is the single most important fact in your case. If your ancestor left in 1939, getting Dual Citizenship is extremely difficult (almost impossible). If they left in 1944 (fleeing the front), Dual Citizenship is standard.

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2. The First Action: Document Collection & Preparation

Your initial focus must be on proving the ancestor's citizenship status during the 1918–1940 period.

Document integrity (Official Translations and Archival Proof) is the single most critical factor for approval.

📑 What to Collect First

• Your Ancestor's Proof:
  
  • Citizenship Evidence: An internal passport issued between 1919–1940, a foreign passport showing Lithuanian nationality, or military records.
  • Birth Certificate: While important, a birth record alone doesn't always prove citizenship (since borders changed). You need documents linking them to the state.
  • (Requires searching the Lithuanian Central State Archives - LCVA).
• Proof of "Fleeing" (For Dual Citizenship):
  
  • Displaced Persons (DP) Camp Records: If your family passed through DP camps in Germany after WWII (ITS Bad Arolsen records), this is the "Gold Standard" of proof that they fled occupation.
  • Naturalization Papers: Foreign naturalization documents showing they did not acquire foreign citizenship immediately upon arrival.
• Lineage Documents: Your own Birth Certificate, and the Birth and Marriage Certificates for every generation.
  
  • (Requires Long-Form certified copies).

📝 Document Authentication is Key

The Migration Department (MIGRIS) handles the processing.

• Authentication (Apostille): Every non-Lithuanian document must have an Apostille stamp.
• Certified Translation: All documents must be translated into Lithuanian.
  
  • Strict Rule: Translations must be precise. It is highly recommended to use a translator in Lithuania to ensure the terminology matches what the Migration Department expects.
• Name Changes: Lithuania is strict about name spellings. If "Kazimieras" became "Charles", you need a robust paper trail (naturalization petition, name change court order) to prove the identity.

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3. What to Expect: Timeline and Cost

The process is centralized through the MIGRIS electronic system, which makes submission modern, but the archival research is manual.

⏱️ Estimated Timeline

Compared to Italy or Romania, Lithuania is relatively efficient. Expect 12 to 18 months on average.

• Step: Preparation (The Research Phase)
  
  • Estimated Time: 4–8 Months.
  • What Happens: This is usually the longest part—waiting for the Lithuanian Archives (LCVA) to find the 1918–1940 citizenship records.
• Step: Submission
  
  • Estimated Time: 1 Day.
  • What Happens: You upload your documents to the MIGRIS online portal and then attend a brief in-person appointment at a Consulate or in Lithuania to show the originals.
• Step: Processing
  
  • Estimated Time: 6–12 Months.
  • What Happens: The Migration Department reviews the file. They may ask for additional documents ("Paklausimas") if there are gaps.
• Step: Finalization
  
  • Estimated Time: 1–2 Months.
  • What Happens: The Minister of Interior signs the decree restoring your citizenship. You can then apply for your Passport and ID card.

💰 Estimated Cost

Government fees are low. The bulk of the cost comes from archival research and translations.

• Cost Category: Official Application Fees
  
  • Estimated Range: €50 - €100.
  • Details: The state fee for processing the restoration application is very reasonable.
• Cost Category: Archival Research
  
  • Estimated Range: $200 - $800.
  • Details: Fees paid to the Lithuanian Central State Archives (LCVA) or private genealogists to find the critical 1918–1940 documents.
• Cost Category: Certified Translations
  
  • Estimated Range: $500 - $1,500.
  • Details: Translating a full multi-generational dossier into Lithuanian.
• Cost Category: Total Estimated Administrative Cost
  
  • Estimated Range: $800 - $2,500.
  • Details: Excludes legal fees. If you have complex name changes or lack clear proof of "fleeing," legal assistance is recommended.

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✅ Your Next Steps

• Check the Dates (The 1940 Line): Confirm exactly when your ancestor left Lithuania. Before June 1940 = Likely Single Citizenship only. After June 1940 = Likely Dual Citizenship.
• Search for "DP" Records: If your family left during WWII, check the Arolsen Archives (online) for Displaced Persons records. This is often the key to saving your current passport.
• Contact the Archives: If you don't have your ancestor's old Lithuanian passport, submit a request to the Lithuanian Central State Archives (LCVA) immediately to search for their pre-war citizenship files.

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