Lithuanian children adopted into foreign families will preserve their citizenship

Press release, 18 October 2018

The Seimas adopted amendments to the Law on Citizenship (draft No XIIIP-1815(3)) to ensure that the citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, who are adopted into foreign families and removed from their country of origin, can preserve citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania.

The provisions currently in force provide that children born into a family where one parent is a holder of citizenship other than of the Republic of Lithuania obtain lifelong dual citizenship. The children who acquired dual citizenship as a result of adoption, however, have to decide as to their citizenship of which country they wish to remain once they reach the age of 21.

The adopted amendments establish that the children who obtained dual citizenship as a result of adoption now have the right to lifelong dual citizenship and not only until they reach the age of 21.

The amendments were passed by a total of 71 votes in favour to none against, with 2 abstentions.

Rimas Rudaitis, Chief Specialist, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, tel. +370 5 239 6132, e-mail: [email protected]