Lithuanian Citizenship to Russian and Belarusian Nationals. Are Decisions Being Made on Lithuanian Citizenship of Russian and Belarusian Nationals?

One of the major methods of acquiring Lithuanian citizenship for the Russian and Belarusian citizens is reinstatement of the Lithuanian citizenship, as well as granting the Lithuanian citizenship under a simplified procedure.

The Lithuanian citizenship may be restored to a person, whose ancestors (parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, or one of them) were citizens of Lithuania before 15 June 1940 or who himself was the Lithuanian citizen prior to 15 June 1940.

A person who held Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940 shall mean a person who held citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania at any time prior to 15 June 1940. This concept does not embrace individuals who have lost Lithuanian citizenship after carrying out the mandatory procedures provided for in the laws of the Republic of Lithuania and for whom decisions on the loss of Lithuanian citizenship stipulated in the laws of the Republic of Lithuania have been adopted.

Documents proving that a person concerned held citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania before 15 June 1940 are the following:

1. Internal or foreign passports of the Republic of Lithuania issued before 15 June 1940;
2. Foreign passports of the Republic of Lithuania issued at diplomatic missions or consular posts of the Republic of Lithuania after 15 June 1940;
3. Documents attesting to the person’s service in the Lithuanian Armed Forces or employment in the civil service;
4. Birth certificates or other documents containing direct reference to citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania held by the person concerned;
5. Personal certificates issued before 15 June 1940 in Lithuania or personal certificates issued on the basis of documents issued before 15 June 1940.

In the absence of above-mentioned documents, documents concerning studies, work, and life in Lithuania before 15 June 1940, as well as a passport of a foreign state and other documents may be provided.

Lithuanian citizenship may be reinstated for a person, if he renounces citizenship of another state, or without renunciation of it (dual or multiple citizenship). In order to reinstate citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania without renouncing the held citizenship of another state, it is not sufficient to prove the fact that a person held Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940. For having Lithuanian citizenship and citizenship of other state at the same time and holding a dual (multiple) citizenship, a person concerned shall prove the following additional circumstances:

1. The fact of exile from the occupied Lithuania before 11 March 1990;

A person exiled from the occupied Lithuania before 11 March 1990 shall mean a person who had Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940 or his descendant (child, grandchild, great-grandchild) who were forcibly expelled from Lithuania by decisions of institutions or courts of occupation regimes in the period from 15 June 1940 to 11 March 1990 for reasons of resistance to occupation regimes, political or social reasons or reasons of origin;

or

2. The fact of fleeing Lithuania before 11 March 1990;

A person who fled Lithuania before 11 March 1990 shall mean a person who had Lithuanian citizenship before 15 June 1940 or his descendant, who departed from the current territory of Lithuania prior to 11 March 1990 to permanently reside in another state, if their permanent residence on 11 March 1990 was outside Lithuania. The said concept does not include the persons who left the territory of Lithuania after 15 June 1940 and departed to the territory of the former Soviet Union.

The Lithuanian citizenship may be granted to a person under a simplified procedure, provided the person concerned proves that he is an individual of Lithuanian descent. In accordance with the provisions of Lithuanian legislation, a person of Lithuanian descent is an individual, whose parents, grandparents or one of them is or was Lithuanian (nationality, ethnicity), who considers himself Lithuanian and declares this in a written statement.

Lithuanian citizenship under a simplified procedure may be granted to a person of Lithuanian descent, who did not hold Lithuanian citizenship until now.

In the case of granting citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania as per simplified procedure, a person must renounce his present citizenship of a foreign state.

Lithuanian descent shall be certified by documents indicating that both or one of the parents or grandparents of a person is or was Lithuanian, as well as a person’s written statement whereby he declares that he considers himself Lithuanian.

Where the Citizenship Commission states that there is not sufficient documentary evidence of Lithuanian descent, such data may be established by court.

On 04 April 2023, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania has approved after consideration the draft law on the amendment of the Law on International Sanctions No XIVP-2493 and the accompanying draft law on imposing restrictive measures in connection with the military aggression against Ukraine No XIVP-2496(2) which aimed at protecting the Lithuania’s national security and foreign policy interests, after which the Restrictive measures for Russian and Belarusian citizens were imposed.

More information can be found here:

https://www.migration.lt/lietuvos-pilietybe-ir-leidimas-gyventi-lietuvoje-rusijos-ir-baltarusijos-pilieciams-ribojimai

https://www.migration.lt/lietuvos-seimas-nusprende-netaikyti-ribojimu-del-lietuvos-pilietybes-rusijos-ir-baltarusijos-pilieciams

It should be noted that members of the Seimas decided that a possibility to obtain Lithuanian citizenship will not be restricted neither to Russian, nor to Belarusian nationals. Both Russian and Belarusian citizens shall enjoy the right to apply for the Lithuanian citizenship, their applications are being processed and decisions made.

Decisions regarding restoration of the Lithuanian citizenship are taken by the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania. Decrees on the granting of Lithuanian citizenship under a simplified procedure are signed by the President of Lithuania. The orders of the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania and the decrees of the President of Lithuania are published in the official Register of Legal Acts, by specifying the person’s name(s), surname(s), date of birth and the name of the country where the person was born. The Register of Legal Acts of Lithuania, wherein orders of the Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania, decrees of the President of Lithuania and other legal acts of Lithuania are published, can be found by clicking on the link below: www.e-tar.lt

MIGRATION LAW CENTER