Since Brexit, many British citizens have discovered that a Lithuanian grandparent or great-grandparent can open the door back to EU citizenship. If your ancestor was a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania before June 15, 1940, you may be able to restore Lithuanian citizenship – and with it the right to live, work and study anywhere in the European Union.
Lithuanians in Britain
Lithuanians came to Britain in two main waves. From the late 19th century, many settled in Scotland – especially in the coal-mining areas of Lanarkshire – and in English industrial towns. After World War II, Lithuanian refugees from displaced persons camps in Germany came to the UK, many of them under the European Volunteer Workers scheme. According to official Lithuanian data, 98 UK citizens had their Lithuanian citizenship reinstated in 2024.
Can You Keep Your British Citizenship?
Yes, in most descent cases. Lithuania allows dual citizenship for descendants of Lithuanian citizens who left before March 11, 1990, and the UK permits multiple citizenship. See Lithuanian dual citizenship.
UK Records That Help Your Case
- Full birth and marriage certificates from the General Register Office (England and Wales), National Records of Scotland or GRO Northern Ireland – the short versions omit parents’ details.
- Naturalisation certificates and case papers held by The National Archives in Kew, which often state the person’s former nationality.
- Inbound passenger lists (Board of Trade series BT 26, arrivals 1878–1960) at The National Archives.
- Post-war refugee and European Volunteer Worker documents, which frequently record Lithuanian nationality.
Apostille in the UK
UK public documents are apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office). Both paper apostilles and electronic e-Apostilles are available. After the apostille, documents are translated into Lithuanian.
Typical Challenges for British Families
- Ancestors who arrived before 1918, when Lithuania’s territory was occupied by the Russian Empire (until 1915) and Germany (1915–1918). Many Scottish-Lithuanian families arrived in this period, so it must be checked whether the ancestor ever held citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania.
- Anglicised surnames – common among Scottish-Lithuanian families and usually explainable with additional records.
- 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 UK 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
Will Lithuanian citizenship give me EU rights again after Brexit?
My great-grandfather was a miner in Scotland. Can I qualify?
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.
- About 1 minute
- Anonymous
- No sign-up
- Prepared by Lithuanian lawyers