Change of a Name and Surname of the Person in Lithuania

Lithuanian citizens, stateless persons and citizens of foreign countries shall be entitled to change their name and surname. The name and surname of a citizen of foreign country can be changed only in Lithuanian civil registry offices or diplomatic missions and consular posts of Lithuania in records of civil status acts entered to him.

An application to change a name, surname or nationality shall be submitted to the civil registry office of the place of residence of the applicant. A person aged 16 shall be permitted to change his name, surname and nationality.

A name of the minor child aged 3 months can be changed, if the existing name does not comply with his interests. A chosen name of minor child must comply with his sex, do not contradict public order, interests of the child and good moral. A surname of minor child may be changed to a surname of one of the parents.

After a change of name, surname or nationality, a certificate of change of name, surname or nationality shall be issued and civil status act registration certificates shall be changed, respectively. If a name, surname or nationality is changed by parents of minor child or one of them, records about parents at their request are changed respectively in civil status act records of minor children and altered civil status act registration certificates of minor children are issued.

An application to change a name, surname and nationality shall be submitted in a written form upon arrival of a person at the civil registry office or through a consular office of the representative thereof.

An application, to which a permit of the Ministry of Justice is not required, must be examined within 20 working days from the day of receipt of an application and other documents in office. Upon decision of the head of the civil registry office, this term may be extended by 10 working days.

An application, when it is necessary to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Justice to change a name and/or surname, must be examined no later than within 2 months from the day of receipt of an application and other documents in office. When it is necessary to restore a lost civil status act record or obtain copies of civil status act records, certificates, conclusions from the Lithuanian or foreign institutions or from the state archives, this term may, upon the decision of the head of the civil registry office, be extended up to 4 months.

Documents which must be submitted  by a person who intends to change a name and/or a surname:

1. Application.
2. Personal identification document.
3. Documents evidencing an application to change a name, surname, nationality of the applicant.
4. Appropriate registration certificates of the record of civil status act, wherein a name, surname or nationality will be replaced.
5. Document approving representation, if an application is submitted through the representative, to the authorized person – a power of attorney approved in accordance with the procedure laid down by law.

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