How to obtain Lithuanian citizenship

How to obtain Lithuanian citizenship for Russians

Documents for granting citizenship are reviewed by the Citizenship Commission and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Lithuanians by origin can submit an application to the Lithuanian Consulate. Russians permanently residing in Lithuania must apply to the district police department or the Migration Department.

Obtaining citizenship by Russians from the following stages:

1. Obtaining a residence permit for 1 year with the right to extend up to 5 years. The request can be submitted through the consulate in Russia. But there must be a reason - employment, training, running a business, etc.
2. Moving to Lithuania and extending the residence permit in due time.
3. Obtaining permanent residence for 5 years.
4. Passing the required exams.
5. Obtaining citizenship.

Options for obtaining official citizenship

There are several fairly effective options for obtaining Lithuanian citizenship:

1. By birth.
2. By official relationship.
3. By origin.
4. Carrying out naturalization.
5. Return of previously acquired citizenship.
6. Investment program.
7. Marrying a Lithuanian.
8. Various exceptional cases.

All options are characterized by their individual characteristics and rules for obtaining. Each is worth considering in more detail.

By origin

People of Lithuanian origin have the right to follow the path of obtaining citizenship under a special simplified scheme. Among the main conditions that the applicant must meet are:

• Departure from Lithuania or deportation from the country before 1990 and subsequent receipt of a passport of another state.
• The person is a direct descendant of previously deported and emigrated Lithuanians.
• Absence of crimes directed against the well-being of the country.

Citizens of Lithuania by origin can purchase a passport under a special simplified scheme. In this case, the current residential address is not taken into account.

By birth

You can issue a Lithuanian document in this situation if:

• Parents are citizens of the republic.
• An early adoption was carried out.
• No close relatives have been identified.

If one of the parents is Lithuanian, his child automatically receives official citizenship. Place of birth does not matter here either.

It is possible to obtain a passport and citizenship even if the parents are not Lithuanian citizens. The main thing is that they live legally on its territory. An equally important condition is the absence of formal citizenship in another country.

Children adopted by citizens of the republic have the right to receive official Lithuanian status from the moment of official acceptance into the new family. If a little Lithuanian is adopted by immigrants from other countries, the citizenship of the homeland is retained.

Naturalization

Any foreigner has the right to become a citizen of Lithuania if such a desire arises. A Lithuanian passport can be obtained if the following requirements are met:

1. Residence in the country for at least 10 years and strictly on a permanent basis.
2. Passing an exam in the national language, knowledge of the country’s constitutional rights and basic laws.
3. On the date of the request, the person must have a residence permit card.
4. Availability of legal work in Lithuania.
5. Availability of written confirmation of renunciation of Russian citizenship.
6. Absence of any crimes in the personal file.

Requirements for passing exams in language and basic legal provisions do not apply to people over 65 years of age, to disabled citizens and to those with psychological disabilities. People who came to Lithuania under the refugee program are completely relieved of the obligations associated with obtaining written confirmation of their renunciation of Russian citizenship.

Marriage

A resident of Russia who has married a Lithuanian has the right to receive a passport in the following cases:

• Living next to your spouse for 7 years or more.
• Availability of residence permit status at the time of sending the request.
• Positive results in examinations on familiarization with laws and the national language.
• Absence of crimes directed against Lithuania.
• Official renunciation of previous citizenship.

Special requirements have been established for previously exiled people and political prisoners of foreigners who have married a citizen of the republic. To receive a passport, it is important to comply with the following requirements:

1. Residence in Lithuania for a full 5 years.
2. Moving to permanent residence after official marriage.
3. Availability of a residence permit card.
4. Passing a standard language and constitutional exam.
5. Official renunciation of standard Russian citizenship.

Similar conditions apply to all foreign citizens who have lived in Lithuania for more than a year. Here you can also note those people who married Lithuanians who died after some time.

Other receiving options

Other options for obtaining Lithuanian citizenship include:

1. Special order.
2. Return of previously acquired and lost citizenship.

Under special rules, Russians have the right to bypass naturalization and become official citizens by special decision of the president. In this case, the foreigner must meet special criteria:

• Well-deserved recognition for services to the republic.
• Integration into one of the regional societies.
• Investment of funds in the economy.
• Creation of new jobs.

You can only return a previously lost passport once. If a person once received the status of a citizen of Lithuania in a special manner and then lost it, it will not be possible to obtain citizenship a second time under the same conditions.

To return a lost document, a foreigner must fulfill the following conditions:

1. Refusal of official citizenship of another country.
2. Legal residence in the republic for more than 5 years.
3. Availability of a completed residence permit.
4. Receiving income - working or renting out purchased real estate.
5. Absence of criminal acts against Lithuania.

The right to restore Lithuanian citizenship is also granted to the descendants of persons who were previously naturalized.

How to obtain Lithuanian citizenship in 2021

It is worth noting that only those individuals who are over sixty-five years old, disabled or suffering from mental disorders are exempt from the examinations, the purpose of which is to test knowledge of the Lithuanian language and the Constitution. If you are healthy and have not reached retirement age, then be prepared that in order to obtain the desired Lithuanian citizenship you will need to pass oral and written exams at the relevant service.

We recommend reading: Social protection Volgograd TZR financing

Consanguinity in this case is the easiest and fastest way to obtain citizenship of the state of Lithuania. The ideal option is to have parents who have a Lithuanian passport. In such a situation, no matter where a person was born and lives, he has every right to become an applicant. In order to prove the presence of consanguinity, a person will need to provide the Commission with documents that will prove the citizenship of direct relatives. Such documents may include:

Registration and receipt of Lithuanian citizenship

There are two ways to become a citizen of this Baltic state: through naturalization and consanguinity.
Also, thirteen years ago, highly valuable foreigners who either seriously invested in the economy or contributed to a breakthrough in the scientific field were recognized as citizens of the state. The application is considered in many government authorities. The review period for each of them is thirty days. In general, it takes about six months to resolve the issue. If the issue is resolved in favor of the applicant, he will be required to take an oath of allegiance to Lithuania. The newly minted citizen is then issued a Lithuanian passport.

Investing in the state economy

For wealthy people, the easiest way to become a citizen of another country in 2021 is to make significant investments in its economy. Perhaps there are not many states that are not ready to issue a passport to a person who has invested money in government bonds, real estate or business development. The most accessible countries by this criterion are those listed in the table below.

The first four countries located in the Caribbean, for donating the above amounts to government needs, promptly grant the applicant citizenship without the need for permanent residence on their territory. At the same time, the passport holder has the opportunity to visit a large number of countries, including those included in the Schengen zone, without a visa. Latvian citizenship also opens up wide opportunities for the passport holder to travel and work in Europe without any visa restrictions.

Where to submit the collected papers

An application for restoration of a Lithuanian passport must be submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for verification. You can send documents to the Lithuanian consulate, but the procedure in this case will be longer. The process will happen most quickly in the country itself.

Here you need to contact the following structures:

• local police department at the applicant's registered address;
• consulates, diplomatic missions or the Department of Migration, if the applicant lives in Russia.

Children born in the Republic of Lithuania to migrants do not automatically receive citizenship. Such privileges can only be used by a child whose mother and father do not have any documents at all, the so-called stateless persons.

You can apply for Lithuanian citizenship after the death of a spouse, when you have lived in the Republic of Lithuania for at least a year.

The husband or wife in this case must have had citizenship of this Baltic country for at least five years. In such a situation, you need to contact the President of Lithuania through the migration services or the police department at your place of residence.

Registration procedure in Lithuania

To obtain a passport in Lithuania, you must go through the following steps:

1. Get advice on the procedure for preparing documents and filling out an application, and the grounds. If necessary, make a notarized translation.
2. Submitting an application to the Migration Department to obtain the rights of a Lithuanian citizen. Additionally, the application is submitted to the police department at the location in the foreign country. Providing a personal visa is mandatory if the citizen has a permanent place of residence in an EU state. It is also possible to send documents by registered mail through the postal service or by courier. In this case, the recording is notarized. When a citizen is outside the country, you need to contact the consular office of the Lithuanian Embassy in the territory of your stay.
3. If the documents are ready and approved by an employee of the Lithuanian Migration Department, you must pay a state fee of 51 euros.
4. The decision to issue a passport is made within 6 months.
5. The issuance of an identity card is preceded by an exam on knowledge of the Lithuanian language, testing on knowledge of history and laws of the state. The oath to the Republic of Lithuania takes place in a solemn atmosphere, an oath is taken to defend the independence of the country, respect for its laws and culture.

Sample application

Benefits of Lithuanian citizenship

The main advantage of obtaining status in many European countries is the ability to move freely within the EU. The prospects for citizenship applicants are:

• employment;
• training;
• opening a business.

In addition, living in Lithuania as a citizen does not require permanent confirmation of status. This is convenient because you don’t have to worry about proving the grounds for being in the country. The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on citizenship does not allow deprivation of an already acquired status without grounds. That is why, after receiving it, no one will be able to take it away unless the person concerned has committed a crime against the country.

Lithuanian citizenship: opportunities and stages

• if the child was born abroad from Lithuanian citizens, even if only one parent is such;
• if the child was born abroad, but at least one of his parents resides in Lithuania legally;
• if you can prove your blood relationship with the citizens of this country.

We recommend reading: Apartment ownership document 2019

A separate case may include obtaining citizenship on the basis of marriage with a Lithuanian citizen. To do this, you need to live with him legally for five years, learn the Lithuanian language, familiarize yourself with the Constitution - and a Lithuanian passport is in your pocket.

What gives

Lithuanian citizenship provides the following benefits:

• free movement within the territory of the Schengen countries;
• simplified visa processing for some North American countries;
• the possibility of official employment, including in Europe;
• running your own business with access to European markets;
• obtaining European loans at low interest rates;
• quality European education;
• high level of medical care.

After obtaining Lithuanian citizenship, you do not need to reside permanently in the country. Citizenship can only be revoked if crimes are committed against the Republic of Lithuania.

In general, obtaining Lithuanian citizenship is a good opportunity to become a resident of the EU. However, a significant disadvantage of immigration to Lithuania is its duration. It is worth applying for Lithuanian citizenship only if there are no plans to change citizenship in the future.

Question answer

Question 1. I have Lithuanian roots. Can I get a passport from an EU country, and after what time if I am permanently residing in Lithuania, is it really at least 10 years?

If you have proof of kinship with Lithuanian citizens, then you do not need to wait 10 years to obtain a local passport. It is enough to submit an application immediately upon entering the country or through a consular office in the host country, providing evidence of family ties with Lithuanians. There is no need to live in the state for a long time for this.

Question 2. I married a Lithuanian, we live permanently in Lithuania and it would be convenient for me to obtain second citizenship, but I don’t want to give up my Russian passport. Can I get a second ID card and what do I need for this?

The Lithuanian Citizenship Law and the decision approved by the Lithuanian Seimas provide for dual citizenship only for ethnic Lithuanians.
This right is not provided for all other categories of applicants. Rate the quality of the article. We want to be better for you:

Documents for obtaining citizenship

The main document for obtaining or restoring Lithuanian citizenship is the official request Prašymas dėl lietuvos respublikos pilietybės atkūrimo. An example of how to fill it out can be found on the official website of the Embassy of the Republic.

Other required documents include:

• Passport for identification.
• Official certificates regarding the change of surname during marriage and the absence of foreign citizenship. They will be required when returning Lithuanian citizenship using a special simplified form.
• Official information about the origin of parents and grandparents.
• Residence permit card - required when returning previously issued citizenship, also during naturalization and when entering into an official marriage.
• Certificates showing place of residence in Latvia – naturalization.
• Documentary confirmation of the official source of profit - in case of a voluntary desire to obtain the status of a Lithuanian and its return.
• Exam results – for marriage and naturalization.
• Marriage certificate, official confirmation of the death of a spouse - naturalization upon marriage.
• Certificate of official citizenship of the spouse.
• Information about residence in the republic for the last 7 years.

To increase your chances of obtaining Lithuanian status, you should provide as many documents as possible. It is advisable to provide written information regarding citizenship, letters of recommendation from citizens of the republic, and various certificates of merit.

All documents without exception must be translated into the national language of Lithuania.

Lithuanian Seimas wants to allow dual citizenship

The initiators of the amendment to the law were deputies from the faction of the ruling Social Democratic Party Birute Vesaite and Orinta Leipute. According to them, the project was prepared with the aim of enabling those who were born in Lithuania but emigrated from the country to retain Lithuanian citizenship.

The Lithuanian Seimas is trying to find a way to allow Lithuanian citizens to have dual citizenship. The deputies do not intend to change the Constitution, but they want to change the situation within the framework of legislation. It is proposed to establish that those who received Lithuanian citizenship at birth have the right to obtain another citizenship, BaltNews.lt reports with reference to the office of the Lithuanian Seimas.

The Baltics are in the trap of dual citizenship

Naturally, the minister means Russia and proves this with the help of numbers. Of the more than 25 thousand people living in the republic who could apply for Estonian citizenship, the majority are Russian citizens - more than 15 thousand. More than one and a half thousand are citizens of Finland, a little more than a thousand are citizens of Ukraine. And most importantly, in Russia itself, according to Ken-Marti Vacher’s calculations, one hundred thousand people could apply for an Estonian passport. “Basically, their emotional and practical connection with Estonia is weak; in addition, they do not speak Estonian,” states the politician. And he explains the motivation of applicants for an Estonian passport by “receiving a number of benefits: the opportunity to live in a safe country, obtain EU citizenship and the opportunity to travel around the EU without a visa.”

We recommend reading: Where to go to register

But the former ruling party of conservatives, eternal critics of Russia, is not satisfied with the simple formulation. Their leader, ex-Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, in principle, is not against dual citizenship, but demands that the question be formulated in such a way as not to give Russians a reason to obtain a Lithuanian passport. He talks about the dangers of such a decision. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Vidas Gedvilas calls not to divide applicants for Lithuanian citizenship according to this principle.