Can you hold dual citizenship in Lithuania?
Only with exceptions — dual citizenship in Lithuania is not freely allowed, and the myth "there was only one referendum, long ago" is wrong: the referendums failed twice. Under the Constitution and the Law on Citizenship, a person who acquires another country's citizenship after the restoration of independence (11 March 1990) generally loses Lithuanian citizenship, unless they fall within the exceptions set by law. Exceptions apply, for example, to deportees and political prisoners and their descendants, to people who left Lithuania before 1990 and their children, and to those who hold citizenship by birth. Most importantly, and often overlooked: Article 12 of the Constitution can be changed only by referendum, in which more than half of all citizens with voting rights must vote "yes". Because of this bar, both the 2019 and the 2024 referendums failed: although about 74% of voters approved each time, too few turned out. A specific exception is decided by the Migration Department.
📋 The rules
- After 11 March 1990, acquiring another country's citizenship generally means losing Lithuanian citizenship
- Dual citizenship is allowed only by statutory exception (deportees, pre-1990 emigrants, their descendants, etc.)
- Article 12 of the Constitution can be changed only by referendum with more than half of all voters in favour
- The 2019 and 2024 referendums failed — about 74% of voters approved, but turnout was too low
- Exceptions and restoration of citizenship are decided by the Migration Department
🔓 Exceptions
- Children born in a mixed family or abroad who acquire two citizenships by birth may keep them
- Deportees, political prisoners and their descendants have the right to Lithuanian citizenship alongside another
- People who left Lithuania before 1990 and their descendants may hold dual citizenship in cases set by law
⚠️ Penalties & fines
What matters here is not a fine but the risk of losing Lithuanian citizenship. If a person without a statutory exception voluntarily acquires another country's citizenship, they lose Lithuanian citizenship — meaning the loss of the right to vote in Seimas elections, to work in the civil service or to freely use the guarantees of a Lithuanian citizen. Often overlooked: citizenship questions rest on a precise chain of origin and documents, so proving a right to an exception (for example, an ancestor leaving before 1990) can be difficult and slow. Concealing another citizenship or giving false data can lead to a citizenship decision being revoked. Since both the 2019 and 2024 referendums failed, the general rule has not changed, so anyone planning emigration or a second passport should check in advance with the Migration Department whether their case falls within the exceptions, to avoid having to choose between two passports.
📎 Official sources
- Migration Department · citizenship and dual citizenship →
- Central Electoral Commission · referendum results →
- e-seimas · Law on Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania →
❓ Frequently asked
Is dual citizenship allowed in Lithuania?
Dual citizenship is allowed only in the exceptional cases set by law, while the general rule is that acquiring another country's citizenship means losing Lithuanian citizenship. Exceptions apply, for example, to deportees, people who left before 1990 and their descendants.
Why did the dual-citizenship referendums fail?
Article 12 of the Constitution can only be changed by a referendum in which more than half of all citizens with voting rights vote in favour. In both the 2019 and 2024 referendums about 74% of voters approved, but overall turnout was too low, so the change was not adopted.
Who can hold two citizenships under the current law?
Two citizenships may be held by people who acquired them by birth, by deportees and political prisoners and their descendants, and by those who left Lithuania before 1990 and their children. Each case is assessed individually under the Law on Citizenship and decided by the Migration Department.
Will I lose Lithuanian citizenship if I get another passport?
If you do not fall within the statutory exceptions, voluntarily acquiring another country's citizenship means losing Lithuanian citizenship. So before naturalising elsewhere it is worth checking with the Migration Department whether an exception allowing dual citizenship applies to your case.
Where do you turn about dual citizenship?
For citizenship questions, restoration or exceptions you should turn to the Migration Department, which assesses documents and makes decisions. There you can check what proof of origin or kinship is needed to support a particular case.
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