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Lithuania citizenship by descent is governed by Lietuvos pilietybė — kilmė. Lithuanian citizenship by descent is available to descendants of Lithuanian citizens who held citizenship between 1918–1940, with the 2023 amendment expanding eligibility to descendants of those who emigrated before 1990. We file through the Migration Department in Vilnius.
This pillar page clusters every piece of Ancestra content related to Lithuanian citizenship by descent — country guide, document checklists, comparisons, glossary terms, cost estimates, and eligibility assessment — in one place.
The key thing to know: Lithuania's dual citizenship rules are complex: pre-1940 descendants can hold dual citizenship, but post-1940 descendants generally cannot. The 2023 amendment expanded who qualifies as a pre-1940 descendant.
Transmission rule: Both parents equally.
Generational limit: No generational limit. The 2023 amendment expanded eligibility to descendants of those who emigrated before March 11, 1990 (independence restoration).
Dual citizenship: Dual citizenship is permitted only for descendants of pre-1940 citizens (restoration). For post-1990 descent, dual citizenship is generally not permitted.
Language requirement: None for restoration.
Filing authority: Migration Department (Vilnius) or Lithuanian consulate.
FAQ
Is there a generational limit for Lithuania citizenship by descent?
Lithuania: No generational limit. The 2023 amendment expanded eligibility to descendants of those who emigrated before March 11, 1990 (independence restoration).
Does Lithuania allow dual citizenship?
Lithuania: Dual citizenship is permitted only for descendants of pre-1940 citizens (restoration). For post-1990 descent, dual citizenship is generally not permitted.
Related resources
Lithuania country guide
Lietuvos pilietybė — kilmė
Lithuania checklist (grandparent)
Complete document checklist for claiming through a grandparent
Lithuania checklist (parent)
Complete document checklist for claiming through a parent
Lithuania cost calculator
Estimate your all-in cost
Glossary: AGAD
AGAD (Archiwum Główne Akt Dawnych) is the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw, holding ...