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[naturegirl321]

I have a friend who�s trying to get citizenship through her great-grandmother, who was born in Lithuania. It�s her mother�s mother�s mother. Is it possible to get citizenship? Anyone tried this before? In theory, according to the embassy it is.
However, I�ve dealt with Eastern European embassies before. My mother who was born in Romania and never denied her citizenship just found out after two years of trying to get citizenship for me, that Romania denies her even being a citizenship, despite being born there and claims that for the first nine years of her life had no citizenship.
My friend is excited about the possibility of getting citizenship from Lithuania, but I�d hate for her to waste time and money if it�s not possible.
Anyone have experience with this?

[bomzis1]

Lithuania does not allow citizens to have two citizenships so assuming that even if your friend could possibly get Lithuanian citizenship (which she wouldn't anyway- she had to register as a descendant of a Lithuanian citizen before a date - early 1990's) would you umm.... she be willing to give up her original citizenship?

[naturegirl321]

1. The following persons may exercise the right to citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania:

� persons who were citizens of the Republic of Lithuania prior to 15 June 1940, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, residing in other states (provided that such persons, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren did not repatriate);

� persons of Lithuanian descent who reside in other states.



Is this still possible?

[DainaJ]

I think Bomzis1 is correct. At least in Latvia, the description you posted was correct, but only up to a certain date in the early 1990s. I got Latvian citizenship (before this deadline) because my mother had been a citizen and was regaining her citizenship. After the deadline, you would have to give up your other citizenship to obtain Latvian citizenship. I assume it's a similar situation in Lithuania, but maybe someone has more specific information for that country.

[naturegirl321]

But was the law changed in 2003?

Under an act of parliament signed by President Valdas Adamkus, Lithuania has accepted the existence of dual citizenship in its legislation. Is this important for Poles living in Lithuania?

To say it is important would be perhaps a bit of an overstatement.
However, it has to be noted that it is a significant step in the development of the country's legislation. Before, Lithuania did not recognize dual citizenship in its legislation. By the time the act was passed, it had been possible to obtain permission for two citizenships only by virtue of a decision made by the president.

This took place only in exceptional situations and concerned only people of merit. Now the issue of dual citizenship has been accepted by the Lithuanian parliament, and I consider this a progressive step, as most of the democratic countries allow for the possibility of holding dual citizenship.

VILNIUS - People who lost their citizenship under the dual citizenship ban now have the chance to regain it, thanks to an amendment to the Citizenship Law passed by Parliament today.
After a law was passed banning dual citizenship in 2003, Lithuanians who also had foreign citizenship lost their Lithuanian citizenship.
�This will allow people to apply for dual citizenship and recover the Lithuanian citizenship they lost,� said Laima Mogeniene of the parliamentary Human Rights Committee

http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/15085/

[DainaJ]

You may be right (this information doesn't list a deadline for applying):

Citizenship by Descent

During the Second World War and afterwards, many Lithuanian citizens emigrated because of its occupation by Germany and the Soviet Union until it regained its independence from the latter in 1990. Although basically a single citizenship country, in January 2003 it introduced new legislation that allows former citizens of Lithuania who held its citizenship before 15 June 1940, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to re-acquire their Lithuanian citizenship without having to give up their existing citizenship. People who acquire Lithuanian citizenship will also become European Union citizens in May 2004 when Lithuania becomes a member of the EU. If you think you may be entitled to Lithuanian citizenship through descent please contact us for further information.
http://www.henleyglobal.com/lithuania.htm

Perhaps your friend should check with the embassy before starting the process to make sure she qualifies. I imagine she might have to produce some evidence of her grandmother's Lithuanian citizenship.

[Kootvela]

If this thread is still valid, I would add some info.

Article 1. Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania

The following persons shall be citizens of the Republic of Lithuania:

1) persons who held citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania prior to 15 June 1940, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren (provided that the persons, their children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren did not repatriate);

2) persons who permanently resided in the present-day territory of the Republic of Lithuania in the period from 9 January 1919 to 15 June 1940, as well as their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, provided that on the day of coming into force of the Law on Citizenship they were and at the present time permanently reside in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania and are not citizens of any other state;

3) persons of Lithuanian descent if they are not citizens of any other state. A person whose parents or grandparents or one of the parents or grandparents is or was Lithuanian and the person considers himself Lithuanian shall be considered as being a person of Lithuanian descent;

4) persons who acquired citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania prior to 4 November 1991 under the Law on Citizenship adopted on 3 November 1989;

5) other persons who have acquired citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania under the Law on Citizenship adopted on 5 December 1991.


More on:
http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=285786 the same law.

Website source: http://www.migracija.lt/index.php?1403496621

Departament of Migration http://www.migracija.lt/index.php?-484440258 in English.