Canada’s Lithuanian community grew in two big waves: emigration in the interwar period and the post-war arrival of displaced persons who could not return to Soviet-occupied Lithuania. If your parent, grandparent or great-grandparent was a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania before June 15, 1940, you may be able to restore Lithuanian citizenship.
Canadians Restoring Lithuanian Citizenship
Official statistics record 7,942 emigrants from Lithuania to Canada between 1920 and 1940. After World War II, many Lithuanian refugees from displaced persons camps in Germany also settled in Canada. According to official Lithuanian data, 55 Canadian citizens had their Lithuanian citizenship reinstated in 2024.
Can You Keep Your Canadian Citizenship?
Yes, in most descent cases. Lithuania allows dual citizenship for descendants of Lithuanian citizens who left before March 11, 1990, and Canada permits multiple citizenship. See Lithuanian dual citizenship.
Canadian Records That Help Your Case
- Provincial birth and marriage certificates (long form, showing parents’ names) from the provincial vital statistics office.
- Naturalization records. Library and Archives Canada offers a searchable database of people naturalized in 1915–1951, which lists the former nationality and the certificate number; copies of the actual files can then be requested from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Passenger lists and immigration records held by Library and Archives Canada.
- Post-war displaced persons documents – refugee registration cards and emigration papers often record Lithuanian nationality.
Apostille in Canada – New Since 2024
Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention, which entered into force for Canada on January 11, 2024. Before that, Canadian documents had to go through a longer legalization process. Today apostilles are issued by Global Affairs Canada and, for documents from certain provinces, by the competent provincial authority. After the apostille, documents are translated into Lithuanian.
Typical Challenges for Canadian Families
- Post-war arrivals: what matters is citizenship before June 15, 1940 and leaving Lithuania before March 11, 1990 – both usually apply to displaced persons.
- Name changes on arrival or at naturalization, and French or English spellings in Quebec and other provinces.
- Missing Lithuanian documents – often available in the Lithuanian archives.
How the Process Works
- Free assessment of your family history and documents.
- Archive search in Lithuania and collection of Canadian records.
- Apostilles, translations and application to the Lithuanian Migration Department.
- Decision – typically 10–12 months.
Most cases can be handled remotely. The total cost usually ranges from approximately 800 to 1,800 EUR.
Frequently Asked Questions
My grandparents came to Canada as refugees after the war. Can I qualify?
Do I still need to legalize documents at an embassy?
Do I need to speak Lithuanian?
Check Your Eligibility
Answer three quick questions below, or book a free 15-minute consultation. Tell us what you know about your Lithuanian ancestor and which documents your family already has – we will tell you whether your case looks viable and what to request next.
Check if you are eligible to reinstate Lithuanian citizenship
Answer 4 short questions about your Lithuanian ancestor and get a personal assessment with the next steps for your case.
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