Lithuanian citizenship for persons who emigrated from Lithuania to South America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela or other country in South America), and for their descendants

Lithuania has experienced four major waves of emigration of Lithuanians from Lithuania. Emigration of Lithuanians was influenced by different reasons, both economic, historical and political.

The major waves of emigration of Lithuanians from Lithuania shall be the following:

• economic emigration at the end of the 19^th century and at the beginning of the 20^th century;
• Emigration from Lithuania during the period 1920-1940;
• Emigration of political refugees who fled Lithuania at the end of World War II (Displaced Persons);
• Contemporary emigration from Lithuania.

The greatest emigration of Lithuanian residents to South America (Brasil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela or other country in South America) occurred during the period of Independence of Lithuania. At this period, Lithuania experienced the second huge wave of emigration. The causes of this emigration were mostly economic, but in certain cases historical and political. During this period, emigration of Lithuanians to the United States of America decreased due to immigration quotas introduced in the United States of America. At that time, the majority of Lithuanians emigrated to Canada and South America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela or other country in South America), a part (mostly persons of Jewish nationality) emigrated to Palestine and South Africa. On the 3^rd-4^th decade of the 20^th century, up to 60 per cent of all Lithuanian emigrants departed from Lithuania to South America.

In years 1920–1940, 102.511 residents emigrated from Lithuania. From this number, 30.869 residents departed to the United States of America, 24.982 – to Brazil, 16.794 – to Argentina, 7.942 – to Canada, 4437 – to Uruguay, and 5.264 moved to other countries. 7.215 residents emigrated to the South African Republic, to Palestine – 5.008 of all emigrants of Lithuania. The vast majority of those who departed to the South African Republic and Palestine were of Jewish origin.

Lithuanian emigration mostly increased to Brazil. In 1925, 22 residents moved to this country, in 1926 – 5.667 residents, in 1927 – 1.702, in 1928 – 1.199, and in 1929 – 4.536 emigrants from Lithuania. As emigration to Brazil decreased, the flow of emigrants shifted to Argentina. In 1928 -  2.151, in 1929 – 6.093, and in 1930 – 2.280 emigrants.

At the end of World War II, Lithuania has experienced the third wave of emigration, when political refugees started to depart from Lithuania. Such emigration was mainly influenced by the following political and historical reasons: World War II, consequences thereof, occupation of Lithuania. Lithuanians who forcibly fled Lithuania receded to camps for refugees, wherefrom they did not come back to the occupied homeland. These persons were forced political expatriates. After World War II, most Lithuanians settled down in German DP camps, also, in Austrian DP camps, where political refugees were protected by international organizations UNRA and IRO, which took care of the relief, placement of war refugees and later on of their further emigration. All persons who moved from their countries were named by the term Displaced Persons.

During years 1948-1950, Lithuanians from German and Austrian DP camps spread all over the World: a small part of Lithuanians left in Europe (the Great Britain, Germany, Austria), the huge wave of Lithuanians settled down in the United States of America, the rest part – in Canada, Australia, South American countries.

After Restoration of Independence of Lithuania until now, Lithuania has experienced emigration influenced by economic reasons.

Lithuanians who emigrated to countries in South America (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela or other country in South America) used to acquire citizenship of foreign state, whereas their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in most cases used to become citizens of such foreign state. In order to maintain a legal relationship with Lithuanian emigrants, Lithuania provides for an institute for reinstatement of Lithuanian citizenship, which entitles a person, who held Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940 and departed from Lithuania before 11 March 1991, to reinstate citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania without renouncing his present citizenship of foreign state (dual citizenship). Descendants of this person (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren) can also use the possibility of reinstating the Lithuanian citizenship.

In accordance with the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, persons who had Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940, and their descendants who have not acquired Lithuanian citizenship before the entry into force of this law, shall have an indefinite right to reinstate Lithuanian citizenship, irrespective of whether the country of habitual residence thereof is Lithuania or another state.

Article 7 of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania provides for cases when the Lithuanian citizenship may be reinstated without renouncing the present citizenship of foreign state. It is established in this Article that a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania may be a citizen of another state at the same time, provided he is a person who fled the Republic of Lithuania before 11 March 1990, or is a descendant of such person.

Subject to these provisions of the Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, in order to reinstate Lithuanian citizenship without renouncing the present citizenship of another state, the following main circumstances must be evidenced:

1. Lithuanian citizenship until 15 June 1940;
2. Departure from Lithuania before 11 March 1990;
3. Other circumstances (family relationship, change of name, surname, etc.).

MIGRATION LAW CENTER