Current Passport
A high-quality color copy of your valid foreign passport (USA, Israel, South Africa, etc.).
Required Documents Checklist
Evidence is the key to a successful application. Below is a detailed list of records required by the Lithuanian Migration Department.
What documents are needed for Lithuanian citizenship restoration? Applications require your current passport, a full chain of birth certificates linking you to your Lithuanian ancestor, and proof the ancestor held Lithuanian citizenship before 1940 — such as an interwar passport, voter list entry, or civil service record. All non-Lithuanian documents must include certified translations and Apostilles. If original records cannot be located, archival substitutes sourced through the Chief Archivist of Lithuania may be accepted.
Last updated: May 2026 · Reviewed by our Lithuanian citizenship specialists.
1. Your Personal Documents
Vital Records
Birth certificates showing your parents' names to establish a direct link to your Lithuanian ancestor.
Proof of Name Change
Marriage certificates or legal name change decrees if your current name differs from birth records.
2. Ancestral Proof (1918–1940)
To restore citizenship, you must prove your ancestor held Lithuanian citizenship before June 15, 1940.
Internal & Foreign Passports
Original interwar passports (Vidaus pasas) or foreign passports issued by the Republic of Lithuania are the strongest evidence of citizenship.
Military & Civil Service
Records of service in the Lithuanian Army or employment in interwar government institutions, including official service certificates.
Voter Lists & Census Data
Official 1918-1940 voter lists and household registers (pobūriniai) that verify residence and legal status.
Jewish Community (Kahal) Records
Birth, marriage, or death certificates from Jewish community (Kahal) records. These are vital for descendants of the Litvak diaspora.
Ancestral records are held and searchable through the Chief Archivist of Lithuania. Document requirements are set by the Migration Department of Lithuania.
How Must Documents Be Certified for the Lithuanian Citizenship Application?
Apostille & Legalization
All official documents issued outside Lithuania must be certified with an Apostille for international recognition.
Certified Translation
Every non-Lithuanian document must be translated by an officially recognized translator. We manage this process.
Notarized Copies
Sensitive documents must be notarized to meet the strict standards of the Migration Department.
No Documents? We Can Find Them.
Many families lost their records during the war or migration. Our team specializes in Lithuanian and International Archival Research.
We go beyond local archives, utilizing specialized databases like the Arolsen Archives, DP Camp Records, (Displaced Persons), and refugee files from the IRO to trace ancestors who fled during the war. Whether it's a birth record from a 100-year-old Kahal register or military records from the Central Archives, we find the proof you need.
Request Archival Search
Check Your Document Eligibility
List the documents you already have, and we will tell you what's missing.