Lithuanian citizenship for persons, who departed from Lithuania to the United States of America, and for their descendants

Lithuanian emigrants are scattered all over the world. Since the end of the 19th century, Lithuania has been one of the Eastern European countries providing the largest number of emigrants to the world.

In Lithuania, the following four waves of emigration from Lithuania are distinguished:

1) economic emigration at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century;

2) Emigration from Lithuania during the period 1920-1940;

3) Emigration of political refugees, who moved from Lithuania at the end of World War II (Displaced Persons);

4) Contemporary emigration from Lithuania.

A large number of residents of the Lithuanian territory emigrated from Lithuania to the United States of America after the 1831 and 1863 uprisings. Emigration of Lithuanians to the United States of America has mostly increased at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The largest emigration of Lithuanians to the United States of America occurred on the 9th decade of the 19th century. Most frequently, this emigration was influenced by economic reasons (redundancy, weak industrial development), nevertheless, in certain cases the impact on emigration was also made by ideological, political and historical motives: Czarist policy of Russification, growing national movement, defeat of the Revolution in 1905, wars, etc. This massive emigration into the United States of America has continued from the 9th decade of the 19th century until World War I.

During Lithuania’s independence period (1918-1940), Lithuania experienced a second huge wave of emigration. The causes of this emigration were also mostly economic, but in some 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. During this period, the majority of Lithuanians emigrated to Canada and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay), a part (mostly persons of Jewish nationality) emigrated to Palestine and South Africa. On the 3rd-4th decade of the 20th century, up to 60% of all Lithuanian emigrants departed from Lithuania to South America.

At the end of World War II, Lithuania experienced the third wave of emigration, when political refugees began to depart from Lithuania. The reasons of such emigration were political and historical: World War II, its outcomes, Lithuanian occupation. The Lithuanians were forced to leave Lithuania and found themselves in refugee camps wherefrom they did not return to the occupied homeland. These persons were forced political emigrants. After World War II, most Lithuanians gathered 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 Lithuanian emigrants settled down in the United States of America, the rest part – in Canada, Australia, South American countries.

From the restoration of Lithuanian independence up to these days, Lithuania has experienced emigration influenced by economic reasons.

Lithuanians who emigrated from Lithuania used to acquire the citizenship of foreign country and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in most cases became non-Lithuanian citizens. It should be noted that in accordance with Lithuanian legislation persons who emigrated from Lithuania before 11.03.1990 and who were citizens of Lithuania before 15.06.1940, as well as desdendants of such persons (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren), may reinstate citizenship of Lithuania without renouncing the held citizenship of foreign country (dual citizenship). In such case, in order to restore the Lithuanian citizenship without renouncing the held citizenship of foreign country, it is necessary to prove the following main circumstances:

1. Lithuanian citizenship before 15.06.1940;
2. Departure from Lithuania before 11.03.1990 (1918-1990);
3. Other circumstances (relationship, change of name, surname, etc.).

Lithuanian Law on Citizenship stipulates that persons who held citizenship of Lithuania before 15.06.1940 and their descendants, who have not acquired citizenship of Lithuania before the entry into force of this law, shall have an indefinite right to reinstate citizenship of Lithuania, irrespective of whether they are permanently resident in Lithuania or in any other state.

Article 7 of Lithuanian Law on Citizenship provides for cases when Lithuanian citizenship can be reinstated without renouncing the held citizenship of foreign country. It is stipulated in this article that a citizen of Lithuania may be a citizen of another state at the same time, provided he is a person who departed from Lithuania before 11.03.1990 or is a descendant of such person.

MIGRATION LAW CENTER