Citizenship Restoration (Reinstatement)

If you have ancestors who were citizens of the Republic of Lithuania between 1918 and 1940, you may be eligible to reclaim your ancestral citizenship. This process, known as Restoration of Citizenship, allows you to become a Lithuanian (and EU) citizen, often without giving up your current nationality.

The application is a two-stage process: first, a digital filing through the national portal, followed by the submission of physical, legalized documents.

Step 1: Gather Evidence of Ancestry

Before starting your application, you must collect documents proving your ancestor held Lithuanian citizenship between February 16, 1918, and June 15, 1940. Key documents include:

• Internal or foreign Lithuanian passports issued before June 15, 1940.
• Documents proving service in the Lithuanian army or civil service.
• Birth or marriage certificates issued in Lithuania before 1940.
• Records from the Lithuanian Central State Archives.

Step 2: Prepare Your Documents

All documents issued outside of Lithuania must be Apostilled (a form of international legalization) or legalized by your local authorities. Once legalized, they must be translated into Lithuanian by a certified translator. If your ancestor’s name changed after they left Lithuania (e.g., "Jonas" became "John"), you must provide official proof of this name change to bridge the gap in your lineage records.

Step 3: Digital Submission (MIGRIS)

You must submit your application electronically through the Lithuanian Migration Information System (MIGRIS).

1. Create an account on the MIGRIS portal.
2. Complete the application form in Lithuanian.
3. Upload digital copies of your identity documents, proof of lineage (birth/marriage certificates), and evidence of your ancestor's citizenship.
4. Upload proof that your ancestor departed Lithuania before March 11, 1990 (this is critical if you wish to maintain dual citizenship).

Step 4: Physical Document Submission

Within a specified timeframe after your digital filing, you must present your original documents or notarized copies. You have three ways to do this:

• In-person: Visit the Migracijos departamentas (Migration Department) in Lithuania.
• At a Consulate: Book an appointment at your nearest Lithuanian Embassy or Consulate.
• Via Representative: Hire a lawyer in Lithuania to submit them on your behalf via a power of attorney.

Step 5: Review and Decree

The Migration Department will review your file and may conduct its own archival searches. If approved, your citizenship is not final until the President of Lithuania signs a Dekretas (Presidential Decree). Once signed, you will be notified via your MIGRIS account and can then apply for your Lithuanian passport.

Total Estimate: Excluding professional legal fees, expect to spend between €400 and €1,500 depending on how many documents require translation and whether you need professional help searching Lithuanian archives.

• Document Preparation: 2 to 6 months to gather records and obtain Apostilles.
• Migration Department Review: Officially 6 months, though current high volumes and archival verifications typically extend this to 12 to 24 months.
• Document Validity: Most vital records (birth/marriage certificates) do not "expire" for this process, but the Apostille should ideally be recent (within the last year) when you submit.

Note: Cases involving Litvaks (Lithuanian Jews) or complex archival discrepancies often fall into the longer end of the processing window. Always monitor your MIGRIS account, as the department will send requests for additional information there.