Lithuanian Citizenship by Descent

Lithuania's citizenship by descent program traces its roots to the interwar Republic of Lithuania, which existed from 1918 to 1940. If your family left Lithuania before independence was restored in 1990 and settled in a country outside the former Soviet Union, there is a clear and well-established path to a Lithuanian passport.

The Basic Requirements

To qualify, at least one parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent must have been a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania during the period it existed, 1918 to 1940. Your ancestor must have left Lithuania before March 11, 1990, the date Lithuania restored its independence. And critically, they must have either naturalized in another country after 1940, or never naturalized at all.

For the overwhelming majority of our American, Canadian, and Australian clients whose ancestors emigrated to Western countries and naturalized there, these conditions are straightforwardly met.

A Note on Destination Country

Where your ancestor settled after leaving Lithuania matters. If they emigrated to a country outside the former Soviet Union such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Argentina, or anywhere in Western Europe, for example, the standard program applies. If your ancestor moved to another Soviet republic rather than leaving the Soviet sphere entirely, your eligibility depends on the specific timing and circumstances of their departure. We assess these cases individually.

How Far Back Can It Go?

The program explicitly covers parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, making it one of the more generous generational thresholds in Europe. Beyond great-grandparents, eligibility is still possible but becomes more fact-specific and depends on whether citizenship passed cleanly through each generation under the law in effect at the time.

Application Process