Lithuanian Citizenship by Marriage: What Foreign Spouses Need to Know

As the number of mixed-nationality families continues to grow, the issues of Dual citizenship and the possibility of acquiring Lithuanian citizenship through marriage are becoming increasingly relevant for foreign spouses of Lithuanian citizens.

Lithuanian Citizenship Eligibility for a Foreign Spouse

If a citizen of Lithuania registers a marriage with a citizen of a foreign state, the foreign spouse (husband or wife) may be granted Lithuanian citizenship after 7 years of permanent residence in Lithuania together with the Lithuanian citizen spouse.

After completing 7 years of permanent residence, the spouse of a Lithuanian citizen may apply for naturalization and acquisition of Lithuanian citizenship.

Exceptions: When Citizenship May Be Granted Sooner

In certain legally defined cases, a foreign spouse may apply for Lithuanian citizenship earlier than 7 years. For example, citizenship may be granted after 5 years of permanent residence if:

Lithuanian Language and Constitution Exam Requirements

A foreign spouse applying for Lithuanian citizenship must, in addition to other legal requirements, pass examinations in:

• The basics of the Lithuanian language, and

• The Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania.

Contact Information for the Lithuanian Language and Constitution Examination

For detailed information regarding the Lithuanian language and the basics of the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania examination, please contact the National Agency for Education (Nacionalinė švietimo agentūra):

• Address: K. Kalinausko g. 7, LT-03107 Vilnius, Lithuania

• Phone: +370 658 18504

• Email: info@nsa.smm.lt 

• Website: www.nsa.smm.lt 

Please note: Previously, the exams were organized by the Education Development Center. Since September 1, 2019, the responsibility for administering these exams has been transferred to the National Agency for Education.

To register for the exams, applicants must use the MIGRIS electronic system managed by the Migration Department of Lithuania:

• Registration portal: www.migracija.lt

For the most up-to-date exam schedules, preparation materials, and guidelines, please visit the official website of the National Agency for Education.

Translation and Legalization of Documents

Prior to submission, all documents issued in a language other than Lithuanian must be officially translated into Lithuanian in accordance with Lithuanian legal requirements.

Documents issued by foreign state institutions must be certified with an Apostille or legalized, unless otherwise is provided by international treaties of Lithuania or legal norms of the European Union.

Required Documents for Lithuanian Citizenship by Marriage

A foreign national married to a Lithuanian citizen must submit the following documents for naturalization:

• Application form (completed in Lithuanian);

• Valid passport;

• Passport of the Lithuanian citizen spouse;

• Marriage certificate;

• Document confirming the right of permanent residence in Lithuania;

• Documents proving continuous cohabitation with the Lithuanian spouse in Lithuania for the required period;

• Certificates confirming successful completion of the Lithuanian language and Constitution exams;

• Documents confirming that the applicant does not hold another citizenship, or will lose it upon acquiring Lithuanian citizenship, or a declaration of renunciation of current citizenship;

• Certificate of no criminal record;

• In specific cases – documents confirming deportation status, political repression, exile, or death of the spouse.

Documents are submitted to the Migration Department of Lithuania.

Application Processing Timeline 

The Migration Department transfers applications for Lithuanian citizenship by naturalization to the Citizenship Affairs Commission within 3 months from the date of submission.

Although the initial review is completed within this period, the full process — from document submission to receiving the Presidential Decree and taking the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic of Lithuania — may take up to 12 months, depending on case complexity, document completeness, and institutional workload.

Dual Citizenship and Marriage to Foreign Citizens

When a Lithuanian citizen registers a marriage with a foreign citizen, the foreign citizenship may be:

• Granted automatically, or

• Acquired through a formal application process.

If the foreign citizenship is granted automatically (a practice more common in certain legal systems), the person may legally retain both Lithuanian and foreign citizenship.

However, if acquiring the foreign citizenship requires active legal steps (application, documents, procedures) and is not automatic, Lithuanian citizenship is lost upon acquisition of the foreign citizenship, as Dual citizenship is not permitted in such cases under Lithuanian law.

Need Help with Lithuanian Citizenship by Marriage?

If you have questions or need legal assistance with Lithuanian citizenship by marriage, please contact us:

Email: info@migration.lt 
Phone: +370 6 8563053

We will be glad to assist you throughout the entire process.