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Lithuanian Citizenship by Descent
Lithuanian Coat of Arms
Would you like to obtain a second passport in Lithuania? If so, you've come to the right place. With over 20 years of experience in helping people like you with genealogy projects all over the world, our team of specialists can assist you in getting your second passport through the process of jure sanguinis, or citizenship by descent.
There are currently around 2,000,000 people of Lithuanian descent living outside of Lithuania, many of whom are eligible for citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis. The Lithuanian diaspora is comprised of people of Lithuanian descent who live outside of the country in places like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, and elsewhere. To determine if you are part of the Lithuanian diaspora, it is important to first understand the country's history in terms of various border changes and other events that may have affected your eligibility for citizenship.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, parts of Lithuania were under the jurisdiction of various states, including the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Prussia, Austria-Hungary, Russian Empire, and Soviet Union, when many Lithuanians experienced displacement, political repression, economic hardship, and religious persecution. These circumstances, therefore, caused the flight of many people to countries like the United States, where more freedom and better economic opportunities could be found.
After being under the jurisdiction of various powers, Lithuania gained autonomy and became a republic in 1918. However, the newly born country continued to experience hardship and upheaval, as it was invaded by both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during World War II. At the end of the war, Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union, and remained under its control until the restoration of the republic in 1990. After that time, the country rebuilt, joined the European Union, and now enjoys a revived political structure, culture, and economy.
It's worth nothing that in 1933 there were approximately 160,000 Jews living in Lithuania, who made up around 7% of the population. This number was greatly reduced, however, during World War II and the Holocaust, when approximately 91-95% of the population was tragically killed by the Nazis and their collaborators. During this period of time, many Jews had Lithuanian citizenship by residency or birth, which means that their descendants are eligible for Lithuanian citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis.
In Lithuania, the process of acquiring citizenship through one's ancestors is legally referred to as Reinstatement of Citizenship, as descendants of Lithuanian citizens are automatically entitled to citizenship if any of their ancestors were citizens of the country prior to 15 Jun 1940. This means that you might already be a Lithuanian citizen, as your citizenship rights were inherited through your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. To get your Lithuanian passport therefore requires gathering a checklist of records that prove your entitlement to citizenship, which comes with many rights and privileges, including the right to live, work, study, and travel in any of the 27 member states of the European Union.
To expedite the process of reinstating your citizenship, documentation can be gathered for you with the help of professional genealogists, lawyers, and related professionals who can represent you with your citizenship goals. You will also need the help of professional translators to translate these documents into the Lithuanian language, which can then be submitted to the Lithuanian government for processing.
There are currently around 2,000,000 people of Lithuanian descent living outside of Lithuania, many of whom are eligible for citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis. The Lithuanian diaspora is comprised of people of Lithuanian descent who live outside of the country in places like the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil, and elsewhere. To determine if you are part of the Lithuanian diaspora, it is important to first understand the country's history in terms of various border changes and other events that may have affected your eligibility for citizenship.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, parts of Lithuania were under the jurisdiction of various states, including the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Prussia, Austria-Hungary, Russian Empire, and Soviet Union, when many Lithuanians experienced displacement, political repression, economic hardship, and religious persecution. These circumstances, therefore, caused the flight of many people to countries like the United States, where more freedom and better economic opportunities could be found.
After being under the jurisdiction of various powers, Lithuania gained autonomy and became a republic in 1918. However, the newly born country continued to experience hardship and upheaval, as it was invaded by both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany during World War II. At the end of the war, Lithuania was annexed by the Soviet Union, and remained under its control until the restoration of the republic in 1990. After that time, the country rebuilt, joined the European Union, and now enjoys a revived political structure, culture, and economy.
It's worth nothing that in 1933 there were approximately 160,000 Jews living in Lithuania, who made up around 7% of the population. This number was greatly reduced, however, during World War II and the Holocaust, when approximately 91-95% of the population was tragically killed by the Nazis and their collaborators. During this period of time, many Jews had Lithuanian citizenship by residency or birth, which means that their descendants are eligible for Lithuanian citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis.
In Lithuania, the process of acquiring citizenship through one's ancestors is legally referred to as Reinstatement of Citizenship, as descendants of Lithuanian citizens are automatically entitled to citizenship if any of their ancestors were citizens of the country prior to 15 Jun 1940. This means that you might already be a Lithuanian citizen, as your citizenship rights were inherited through your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents. To get your Lithuanian passport therefore requires gathering a checklist of records that prove your entitlement to citizenship, which comes with many rights and privileges, including the right to live, work, study, and travel in any of the 27 member states of the European Union.
To expedite the process of reinstating your citizenship, documentation can be gathered for you with the help of professional genealogists, lawyers, and related professionals who can represent you with your citizenship goals. You will also need the help of professional translators to translate these documents into the Lithuanian language, which can then be submitted to the Lithuanian government for processing.
Eligibility for Lithuanian Citizenship
Map of Lithuania circa 1690
Eligibility for Lithuanian citizenship, as described above, is based on your ancestry, which can be claimed through your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and even more distant ancestors. Unlike citizenship programs and residency permits in other countries, where a donation or investment in a country's government bonds or native businesses might be required, your citizenship in Lithuania comes through your genealogy. Moreover, there is no language requirement, citizenship test, or term of residency for you to claim citizenship, and the whole process can even be undertaken overseas in places like the United States, Canada, and elsewhere.
To confirm your citizenship, at least one of your Lithuanian ancestors (i.e. your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents) must have been a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania before 15 Jun 1940, and left the country before 11 Mar 1990, when Lithuania regained its independence.
To verify your ancestors' places of residence prior to various border changes generally requires in-depth and on-the-ground research at various regional and state archives in places like Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and elsewhere. To determine Lithuanian residency prior to 1940 often requires gathering records like registers of permanent residents, similar to censuses, which were official directories of families in a given area, as well as vital records, interior passports, military service files, and other records.
To confirm your citizenship, at least one of your Lithuanian ancestors (i.e. your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents) must have been a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania before 15 Jun 1940, and left the country before 11 Mar 1990, when Lithuania regained its independence.
To verify your ancestors' places of residence prior to various border changes generally requires in-depth and on-the-ground research at various regional and state archives in places like Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and elsewhere. To determine Lithuanian residency prior to 1940 often requires gathering records like registers of permanent residents, similar to censuses, which were official directories of families in a given area, as well as vital records, interior passports, military service files, and other records.
Benefits of Lithuanian Citizenship
Flag of Lithuania
There are many benefits relating to Lithuanian citizenship, especially since Lithuania is one of the 27 member countries of the European Union. As a Lithuanian passport holder, some of the rights, benefits, and privileges you will enjoy include the following:
- Right to visa-free travel within the EU and Schengen Area
- Right to live in any EU member state or Schengen Area
- Right to work or start a business in Lithuania and other EU countries
- Right to vote in Lithuanian national elections and European Parliament elections
- Ability to purchase property anywhere in the EU
- Access to universal health care
- Reduced or free tuition at the university level in any EU member state
- Constitutional protections of your civil rights
Required Documents
It is not enough to simply supply the Lithuanian government with a few records like birth, marriage, or death certificates to prove your eligibility for Lithuanian citizenship. A large collection of records, along with their associated certifications, apostilles, and translations must be submitted to the government to correctly document your heritage. These records would be found at many different locations, including civil registry offices, regional archives, public libraries, national archives, church parishes, and elsewhere. Records that would help substantiate your claim would include many different types of records relating to yourself, spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and other relatives, and might include the following:
Kaunas panorama 1686
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Where to Apply
countries with Lithuanian diplomatic missions
As of 12 Jul 2021, citizenship applications should be made to the Lithuanian Migration Information System, or MIGRIS, and should be personally done by the applicant. More information about the application process can be found at the agency's website at the following link. After submitting your application, MIGRIS will make a preliminary assessment of your application, and if everything is in order an appointment can be scheduled with a Lithuanian consulate within four months for submission of your records in person. Any documents found outside of Lithuania would need to include apostilles for international records, and all of these documents would need to be translated into the Lithuanian language by an official translator. The current charge for processing applications is €120. Processing time sometimes takes more than a year, although the research and records collection part of the process usually happens much more quickly.
Application with Family Members
St. John's Church, Vilnius
Another great benefit to Lithuanian citizenship is that you can pass it on to your descendants. However, if you're applying for citizenship with other members of your family, any children under 18 would need to have their applications processed separately, which would include their own individual records, apostilles, translations, and associated documents.
For children born after the reinstatement of their parents' citizenship, the nationality law in Lithuania states that they would automatically acquire citizenship through the right of their parents, so no additional records or applications would be required for these individuals to confirm their citizenship.
Spouses of those reinstating their citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis are ineligible for Lithuanian citizenship, but through their spouse they would have many of the same rights and privileges to live and work in the European Union. However, after a period of residency, they can apply for citizenship through the standard naturalization process.
For children born after the reinstatement of their parents' citizenship, the nationality law in Lithuania states that they would automatically acquire citizenship through the right of their parents, so no additional records or applications would be required for these individuals to confirm their citizenship.
Spouses of those reinstating their citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis are ineligible for Lithuanian citizenship, but through their spouse they would have many of the same rights and privileges to live and work in the European Union. However, after a period of residency, they can apply for citizenship through the standard naturalization process.
Getting Your Passport
The Lithuanian passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks tenth globally, in a tie with Iceland. It allows visa-free access to 182 countries, making it a highly sought after travel document for those seeking second citizenship. Lithuania also allows dual citizenship in exceptional cases relating to people whose ancestors were citizens of the country prior to 1940, so Americans, Canadians, and other nationalities would be able to retain their original passports after getting their new ones for Lithuania.
After your application for reinstatement of citizenship has been approved, you can apply for a passport. To do this, you would need to make an appointment with a Lithuanian consulate, which you will visit in person along with a valid passport or identification card from your home country. However, drivers' licenses cannot be used as a form of identification. In the case of any children under 18, a parent must also be present with identification to complete their applications, and children under 2 would also need their parents to bring along 2 passport sized photos for them. Anyone else applying over that age will have their photos taken at the Lithuanian Embassy or consulate. At the time of your visit, you will also need to pay a consular fee by bank card. The normal processing time for issuing or renewing a Lithuanian passport is approximately 2 months.
After your application for reinstatement of citizenship has been approved, you can apply for a passport. To do this, you would need to make an appointment with a Lithuanian consulate, which you will visit in person along with a valid passport or identification card from your home country. However, drivers' licenses cannot be used as a form of identification. In the case of any children under 18, a parent must also be present with identification to complete their applications, and children under 2 would also need their parents to bring along 2 passport sized photos for them. Anyone else applying over that age will have their photos taken at the Lithuanian Embassy or consulate. At the time of your visit, you will also need to pay a consular fee by bank card. The normal processing time for issuing or renewing a Lithuanian passport is approximately 2 months.
Lithuanian Citizenship FAQS
What is citizenship by descent?
Citizenship by descent is the process by which an individual attains citizenship in a country through one's ancestry or family tree. The process, known in legal terminology as jus sanguinis or jure sanguinis, would be translated from Latin as the "right of the blood," meaning that one's right to citizenship is based upon their ancestry, regardless of where they were born. This differs from jus soli, or birthright citizenship, where one's citizenship rights are determined by their place of birth.
Does Lithuania offer citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis, also known as citizenship by descent?
Yes.
How many generations of ancestry does Lithuania allow for a citizenship by descent application?
Lithuania allows citizenship by descent up through your great-grandparents.
Why would I want a second citizenship?
Having a second passport and additional citizenship rights opens a world of possibilities for you and your family in terms of travel, economic opportunities, political freedom, access to high-quality healthcare, and world class education. In an ever-changing political landscape and globalizing world, possibilities also exist for a backup plan if needed for you and your family to begin a new life elsewhere.
How strong is the Lithuanian passport?
The Lithuanian passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks at #10 globally. It is tied with Iceland and allows visa-free access to 182 countries.
Which records are needed for my Lithuanian citizenship application?
You will need to document an unbroken chain of evidence between yourself and your Lithuanian ancestor. To do this, you will need to acquire copies of vital records for each generation of your tree (i.e. birth, marriage, and death certificates). You will also need to locate ships’ passenger lists, naturalization records, and many other types of records.
Is there a language requirement for confirming my Lithuanian citizenship?
No. Your citizenship rights are derived from your heritage and don't require proficiency in the Lithuanian language. However, it is recommended that you learn the language if your goal is to live in Lithuania and better integrate into society there.
Is there a residency requirement for reinstating my Lithuanian citizenship?
No. Reinstatement of Lithuanian citizenship is an automatic process, and your citizenship will be recognized even if your are living or applying from overseas.
How many hours does it take to do a Lithuanian citizenship case?
Every project is unique, but most citizenship cases take on average between 40 to 80 hours of work from start to finish.
Can I apply for Lithuanian citizenship along with my spouse, children, and other members of my family?
When submitting your citizenship application, you will be required to submit primary source records for yourself and other members of your family. However, children under 18 years of age would still need to gather their own records and submit applications separately. Although spouses are not automatically granted citizenship during the confirmation of citizenship process, as a spouse of a Lithuanian citizen they would still have many of the same rights and privileges of a Lithuanian passport holder, including the right to live and work in Lithuania and the European Union.
Will the Lithuanian consulate accept digital or printed copies of my genealogy records?
No. All records submitted with your application must be paper documents with the appropriate certifications and apostilles for international records originating outside of Lithuania.
Do I have to renounce my current citizenship?
No. Lithuania generally allows for dual citizenship in exceptional cases where a person is applying for citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis.
How long have you been doing citizenship cases?
Our current research team, which includes many genealogists, attorneys, and other experts in the field, have been doing citizenship cases for more than 20 years. We have helped many clients get second passports in places like Lithuania, Ireland, Italy and elsewhere.
Where are you located?
We are currently in the process of opening a new office in Dublin, Ireland, which gives us direct access to the European Union, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area. Our company headquarters, which falls under the umbrella of MyGenealogist.com, is located in Salt Lake City, USA, where we have access to the world's largest collection of genealogical records at the Family History Library. We also have on-the-ground contacts in many major international cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., London, Rome, Madrid, and elsewhere.
I can only budget a small amount of money for this. What are the cheapest options available for people with limited resources?
Citizenship cases are generally much more challenging than standard genealogy projects, as on-the-ground research is usually required at multiple archives and in multiple geographic jurisdictions and countries. Unlike standard family history projects, you are also required to get translations and special certifications of records during this type of project, which requires much more labor and time-management in terms of editing, records ordering, report-writing, letter-writing, and overall administration. This is the reason we generally recommend working in either a 40-hour or 80-hour block of research time, as most projects like this take around 80 hours total from start to finish. However, if you'd like assistance doing research on your own, we offer hourly consultations at €150 an hour, as well as research plans that take about 5 hours to put together, since we have to review all of your past research, records, and eligibility for citizenship based upon your current documentation. The price for this service would be €700. However, even if you are saving money on a smaller block of research time, you will still need to order certified copies and translations of the records needed for your case, which oftentimes ends up costing several hundred euros even when doing your own research.
If I only need a few records for my citizenship application, why would it take so many hours to complete my project?
Although you might only need a few records to help solve your case, gathering those individual records will be a labor-intensive and time-consuming process as these records will no doubt be found at multiple archives, libraries, public health departments, courthouses, registry offices, churches, cemeteries, and elsewhere. In addition, and especially for clients in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, records will need to gathered in more than one country, and records in Europe will need to found during onsite visits to a variety of government agencies and archives overseas. In addition to this, there is a huge amount of records review, analysis of evidence, editing, report-writing, and other tasks that must be completed during a citizenship case, which means that these projects are much more challenging than standard family history projects where research can be completed online at websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage from the comfort of home.
How much does a standard standard Lithuanian citizenship cases cost?
As noted above, we recommend starting with at least a 40-hour block of research time for citizenship cases, although some cases take 80 hours or more to complete. It's possible that your case could be completed in 40 hours, but it might take up to 80 hours or more if we're encountering a lot of brick walls during the search for your ancestors, or if we're doing research in a lot of different jurisdictions. Our hourly rate for a standard 40-hour project would be €135/hour, so a project of this size and scope would cost €5,400. If the 80-hour project fits into your budget, there would be a €1,200 discount on the larger project, which would come out to €9,600. Although these projects might be out of the range of affordability for some people, it's important to keep in mind that the process of acquiring a second citizenship is a huge investment in you and your family's future, with all of the associated rights, responsibilities, privileges, and benefits that would accrue not only to yourself, but also to your descendants. Genealogy research can be a substantial investment, but it is also a great value in terms of what you'd ultimately be getting with affordable health care, educational opportunities, property ownership, freedom of movement, and citizenship rights in Lithuania and the 27-member block of the European Union.
What is the current turnaround time on citizenship projects?
Depending on your situation, most projects take an average of 10-12 weeks to complete. However, if brick walls are encountered in finding your documentation, the project could take considerably longer. In addition, some government agencies are notoriously slow in responding to record requests, which is the primary reason we recommend larger projects where we have enough time to do on-the-ground research in the places of interest, where we can often get records on the same day, thus saving time and labor, as opposed to waiting for records requests to come in from overseas, where you could sometimes end up waiting for several months or longer. The other thing to take into consideration in terms of timing and completion of your overall citizenship case, is that we will attempt to complete your project in 2-3 months, but you would still most likely need to make an appointment with your new country's consulate near your current place of residence. For example, if doing a Lithuanian citizenship case, where you're currently residing in New York City, you will need to take your package of documentation to them during your appointment, and with the various consulates getting booked up many months in advance, the Lithuanian government may take several months or more than a year to process your application, even after all of the research work and document gathering has been completed.
How long does it take to acquire citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis (AKA citizenship by descent)?
As earlier discussed, the genealogical research required for citizenship cases usually takes a couple of months. However, the entire process of confirming your citizenship can sometimes take a year or two because there are additional steps that must be completed in terms of your new country processing your application, and interviews with various consulates and government agencies might be required before your final papers are processed. Many countries, Lithuania being a good example of this, are literally swamped with requests for citizenship from people overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Australia, so processing time on the government side of things can often take a bit of time and patience for the person applying.
Will I have the contact information of the genealogists assigned to my case?
Yes. You will be in contact with a project manager from start to finish of your case. All projects are worked on collectively as a team, with researchers working in many different geographic areas and with different specialties. The project manager is responsible for handling all aspects of your case and would be collaborating with researchers, libraries, lawyers, archives, and government agencies as needed for completion of your case.
Why do records need to be certified?
Official copies of records would be needed for your citizenship case, which means that these records must be paper copies (not photocopies or digital copies) with the proper certifications or embossed seals as proof of official certification. For example, you can't print out copies of vital records, passenger lists, or census records from websites like FamilySearch or Ancestry.com and present them to the Lithuanian government as evidence for your case. For these types of records, you would need to obtain official copies from many different repositories including libraries, archives, health departments, courthouses, and civil registry offices. In addition, you would need to get a separate certification, or apostille, for all international records.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an internationally recognized certification as defined by the Hague Treaty of 1961. Countries like Lithuania require that records found outside the country have this certification in addition to that provided by local health departments, government archives, and other agencies.
I now have all of the records required for my citizenship application. Which consulate or government agency do I need to contact for submission of my application?
You will need to visit the Lithuanian consulate closest to your place of residence.
Do my documents need to be translated into the Lithuanian language for my citizenship application?
Yes. Any records found outside of Lithuania will need to be translated into the Lithuanian language by a certified translator.
Do I need an attorney to help with my case?
You may need the help of an attorney with your case if you are going before a court to apply for citizenship in Lithuania. However, if you are submitting your documentation to a consulate and were able to gather all of your required records by yourself or through the help of a genealogist, this might be unnecessary. For example, the consulate through which you're applying will be reviewing a checklist of documents needed for your case. If you have everything needed as required by the Lithuanian nationality law, your citizenship will be confirmed based upon this checklist of records. Citizenship cases are generally handled by Lithuanian consulates, and not handled in court.
Can I live anywhere in Europe after acquiring my Lithuanian passport?
Yes. after confirming your citizenship, you can not only live in Lithuania, but also in countries like Germany, Spain, France, or elsewhere. As a Lithuanian and EU citizen, you have the right to live, work, study, and travel in all 27 EU member states.
How many countries are there in the European Union?
There are 27 member countries in the European Union.
What is the Schengen-Area?
The Schengen Area is associated with the European Union but not under its jurisdiction. The Schengen Treaty allows visa-free travel and residency in EU member states, as well as the Schengen Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Can I also live, work, or study in other countries in the Schengen Area but outside of the EU?
Yes, as a European citizen you would have all the rights and privileges to live, work, travel, and study in Schengen countries outside of the European Union. These countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, so you will have access to 31 countries total with your Lithuanian passport.
Can I live, work, or study in the UK after getting Lithuanian citizenship?
No, after the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2018, European citizens no longer have any rights or privileges to reside, work, or study in the United Kingdom without a residency permit. The exception to this would be Ireland, which has a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
Will I be subject Lithuanian income taxes after acquiring my citizenship?
No. You will only become a tax resident of Lithuania if you live there for more than 183 days a year.
Can my children or grandchildren attend university in the European Union after getting Lithuanian citizenship?
Yes, unlike the United States where premier universities like NYU, Harvard, or Princeton charge upwards of $50,000-$60,000 per year in tuition, European institutions of a similar pedigree often charge much less or are even free for EU citizens. However, your children or grandchildren would first need to confirm their Lithuanian citizenship through your application, if under 18 years of age, or on their own if they have reached adulthood.
Am I eligible for healthcare in the European Union after getting citizenship in a member country?
Yes. Health care in Europe is considered a human right, unlike countries like the United States, where people often go into bankruptcy because of high medical expenses.
Can I buy property in the EU after getting second citizenship there?
Yes, as a European citizen you can acquire property in any of the 27 member states, but there generally aren't many restrictions on foreigners buying property in most EU countries. However, having rights to ownership differ from rights to residency, so if you plan on living in your new property, you will need to get a residency visa or second citizenship in your country of choice.
Citizenship by descent is the process by which an individual attains citizenship in a country through one's ancestry or family tree. The process, known in legal terminology as jus sanguinis or jure sanguinis, would be translated from Latin as the "right of the blood," meaning that one's right to citizenship is based upon their ancestry, regardless of where they were born. This differs from jus soli, or birthright citizenship, where one's citizenship rights are determined by their place of birth.
Does Lithuania offer citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis, also known as citizenship by descent?
Yes.
How many generations of ancestry does Lithuania allow for a citizenship by descent application?
Lithuania allows citizenship by descent up through your great-grandparents.
Why would I want a second citizenship?
Having a second passport and additional citizenship rights opens a world of possibilities for you and your family in terms of travel, economic opportunities, political freedom, access to high-quality healthcare, and world class education. In an ever-changing political landscape and globalizing world, possibilities also exist for a backup plan if needed for you and your family to begin a new life elsewhere.
How strong is the Lithuanian passport?
The Lithuanian passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks at #10 globally. It is tied with Iceland and allows visa-free access to 182 countries.
Which records are needed for my Lithuanian citizenship application?
You will need to document an unbroken chain of evidence between yourself and your Lithuanian ancestor. To do this, you will need to acquire copies of vital records for each generation of your tree (i.e. birth, marriage, and death certificates). You will also need to locate ships’ passenger lists, naturalization records, and many other types of records.
Is there a language requirement for confirming my Lithuanian citizenship?
No. Your citizenship rights are derived from your heritage and don't require proficiency in the Lithuanian language. However, it is recommended that you learn the language if your goal is to live in Lithuania and better integrate into society there.
Is there a residency requirement for reinstating my Lithuanian citizenship?
No. Reinstatement of Lithuanian citizenship is an automatic process, and your citizenship will be recognized even if your are living or applying from overseas.
How many hours does it take to do a Lithuanian citizenship case?
Every project is unique, but most citizenship cases take on average between 40 to 80 hours of work from start to finish.
Can I apply for Lithuanian citizenship along with my spouse, children, and other members of my family?
When submitting your citizenship application, you will be required to submit primary source records for yourself and other members of your family. However, children under 18 years of age would still need to gather their own records and submit applications separately. Although spouses are not automatically granted citizenship during the confirmation of citizenship process, as a spouse of a Lithuanian citizen they would still have many of the same rights and privileges of a Lithuanian passport holder, including the right to live and work in Lithuania and the European Union.
Will the Lithuanian consulate accept digital or printed copies of my genealogy records?
No. All records submitted with your application must be paper documents with the appropriate certifications and apostilles for international records originating outside of Lithuania.
Do I have to renounce my current citizenship?
No. Lithuania generally allows for dual citizenship in exceptional cases where a person is applying for citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis.
How long have you been doing citizenship cases?
Our current research team, which includes many genealogists, attorneys, and other experts in the field, have been doing citizenship cases for more than 20 years. We have helped many clients get second passports in places like Lithuania, Ireland, Italy and elsewhere.
Where are you located?
We are currently in the process of opening a new office in Dublin, Ireland, which gives us direct access to the European Union, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area. Our company headquarters, which falls under the umbrella of MyGenealogist.com, is located in Salt Lake City, USA, where we have access to the world's largest collection of genealogical records at the Family History Library. We also have on-the-ground contacts in many major international cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., London, Rome, Madrid, and elsewhere.
I can only budget a small amount of money for this. What are the cheapest options available for people with limited resources?
Citizenship cases are generally much more challenging than standard genealogy projects, as on-the-ground research is usually required at multiple archives and in multiple geographic jurisdictions and countries. Unlike standard family history projects, you are also required to get translations and special certifications of records during this type of project, which requires much more labor and time-management in terms of editing, records ordering, report-writing, letter-writing, and overall administration. This is the reason we generally recommend working in either a 40-hour or 80-hour block of research time, as most projects like this take around 80 hours total from start to finish. However, if you'd like assistance doing research on your own, we offer hourly consultations at €150 an hour, as well as research plans that take about 5 hours to put together, since we have to review all of your past research, records, and eligibility for citizenship based upon your current documentation. The price for this service would be €700. However, even if you are saving money on a smaller block of research time, you will still need to order certified copies and translations of the records needed for your case, which oftentimes ends up costing several hundred euros even when doing your own research.
If I only need a few records for my citizenship application, why would it take so many hours to complete my project?
Although you might only need a few records to help solve your case, gathering those individual records will be a labor-intensive and time-consuming process as these records will no doubt be found at multiple archives, libraries, public health departments, courthouses, registry offices, churches, cemeteries, and elsewhere. In addition, and especially for clients in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, records will need to gathered in more than one country, and records in Europe will need to found during onsite visits to a variety of government agencies and archives overseas. In addition to this, there is a huge amount of records review, analysis of evidence, editing, report-writing, and other tasks that must be completed during a citizenship case, which means that these projects are much more challenging than standard family history projects where research can be completed online at websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage from the comfort of home.
How much does a standard standard Lithuanian citizenship cases cost?
As noted above, we recommend starting with at least a 40-hour block of research time for citizenship cases, although some cases take 80 hours or more to complete. It's possible that your case could be completed in 40 hours, but it might take up to 80 hours or more if we're encountering a lot of brick walls during the search for your ancestors, or if we're doing research in a lot of different jurisdictions. Our hourly rate for a standard 40-hour project would be €135/hour, so a project of this size and scope would cost €5,400. If the 80-hour project fits into your budget, there would be a €1,200 discount on the larger project, which would come out to €9,600. Although these projects might be out of the range of affordability for some people, it's important to keep in mind that the process of acquiring a second citizenship is a huge investment in you and your family's future, with all of the associated rights, responsibilities, privileges, and benefits that would accrue not only to yourself, but also to your descendants. Genealogy research can be a substantial investment, but it is also a great value in terms of what you'd ultimately be getting with affordable health care, educational opportunities, property ownership, freedom of movement, and citizenship rights in Lithuania and the 27-member block of the European Union.
What is the current turnaround time on citizenship projects?
Depending on your situation, most projects take an average of 10-12 weeks to complete. However, if brick walls are encountered in finding your documentation, the project could take considerably longer. In addition, some government agencies are notoriously slow in responding to record requests, which is the primary reason we recommend larger projects where we have enough time to do on-the-ground research in the places of interest, where we can often get records on the same day, thus saving time and labor, as opposed to waiting for records requests to come in from overseas, where you could sometimes end up waiting for several months or longer. The other thing to take into consideration in terms of timing and completion of your overall citizenship case, is that we will attempt to complete your project in 2-3 months, but you would still most likely need to make an appointment with your new country's consulate near your current place of residence. For example, if doing a Lithuanian citizenship case, where you're currently residing in New York City, you will need to take your package of documentation to them during your appointment, and with the various consulates getting booked up many months in advance, the Lithuanian government may take several months or more than a year to process your application, even after all of the research work and document gathering has been completed.
How long does it take to acquire citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis (AKA citizenship by descent)?
As earlier discussed, the genealogical research required for citizenship cases usually takes a couple of months. However, the entire process of confirming your citizenship can sometimes take a year or two because there are additional steps that must be completed in terms of your new country processing your application, and interviews with various consulates and government agencies might be required before your final papers are processed. Many countries, Lithuania being a good example of this, are literally swamped with requests for citizenship from people overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Australia, so processing time on the government side of things can often take a bit of time and patience for the person applying.
Will I have the contact information of the genealogists assigned to my case?
Yes. You will be in contact with a project manager from start to finish of your case. All projects are worked on collectively as a team, with researchers working in many different geographic areas and with different specialties. The project manager is responsible for handling all aspects of your case and would be collaborating with researchers, libraries, lawyers, archives, and government agencies as needed for completion of your case.
Why do records need to be certified?
Official copies of records would be needed for your citizenship case, which means that these records must be paper copies (not photocopies or digital copies) with the proper certifications or embossed seals as proof of official certification. For example, you can't print out copies of vital records, passenger lists, or census records from websites like FamilySearch or Ancestry.com and present them to the Lithuanian government as evidence for your case. For these types of records, you would need to obtain official copies from many different repositories including libraries, archives, health departments, courthouses, and civil registry offices. In addition, you would need to get a separate certification, or apostille, for all international records.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an internationally recognized certification as defined by the Hague Treaty of 1961. Countries like Lithuania require that records found outside the country have this certification in addition to that provided by local health departments, government archives, and other agencies.
I now have all of the records required for my citizenship application. Which consulate or government agency do I need to contact for submission of my application?
You will need to visit the Lithuanian consulate closest to your place of residence.
Do my documents need to be translated into the Lithuanian language for my citizenship application?
Yes. Any records found outside of Lithuania will need to be translated into the Lithuanian language by a certified translator.
Do I need an attorney to help with my case?
You may need the help of an attorney with your case if you are going before a court to apply for citizenship in Lithuania. However, if you are submitting your documentation to a consulate and were able to gather all of your required records by yourself or through the help of a genealogist, this might be unnecessary. For example, the consulate through which you're applying will be reviewing a checklist of documents needed for your case. If you have everything needed as required by the Lithuanian nationality law, your citizenship will be confirmed based upon this checklist of records. Citizenship cases are generally handled by Lithuanian consulates, and not handled in court.
Can I live anywhere in Europe after acquiring my Lithuanian passport?
Yes. after confirming your citizenship, you can not only live in Lithuania, but also in countries like Germany, Spain, France, or elsewhere. As a Lithuanian and EU citizen, you have the right to live, work, study, and travel in all 27 EU member states.
How many countries are there in the European Union?
There are 27 member countries in the European Union.
What is the Schengen-Area?
The Schengen Area is associated with the European Union but not under its jurisdiction. The Schengen Treaty allows visa-free travel and residency in EU member states, as well as the Schengen Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Can I also live, work, or study in other countries in the Schengen Area but outside of the EU?
Yes, as a European citizen you would have all the rights and privileges to live, work, travel, and study in Schengen countries outside of the European Union. These countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, so you will have access to 31 countries total with your Lithuanian passport.
Can I live, work, or study in the UK after getting Lithuanian citizenship?
No, after the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2018, European citizens no longer have any rights or privileges to reside, work, or study in the United Kingdom without a residency permit. The exception to this would be Ireland, which has a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
Will I be subject Lithuanian income taxes after acquiring my citizenship?
No. You will only become a tax resident of Lithuania if you live there for more than 183 days a year.
Can my children or grandchildren attend university in the European Union after getting Lithuanian citizenship?
Yes, unlike the United States where premier universities like NYU, Harvard, or Princeton charge upwards of $50,000-$60,000 per year in tuition, European institutions of a similar pedigree often charge much less or are even free for EU citizens. However, your children or grandchildren would first need to confirm their Lithuanian citizenship through your application, if under 18 years of age, or on their own if they have reached adulthood.
Am I eligible for healthcare in the European Union after getting citizenship in a member country?
Yes. Health care in Europe is considered a human right, unlike countries like the United States, where people often go into bankruptcy because of high medical expenses.
Can I buy property in the EU after getting second citizenship there?
Yes, as a European citizen you can acquire property in any of the 27 member states, but there generally aren't many restrictions on foreigners buying property in most EU countries. However, having rights to ownership differ from rights to residency, so if you plan on living in your new property, you will need to get a residency visa or second citizenship in your country of choice.