Can you keep your Lithuania citizenship when you become a U.S. citizen?
Allowed with conditions
Only in some cases
Lithuanian citizens who become U.S. citizens generally may not keep Lithuanian citizenship, except in limited exceptional cases such as certain descendants of pre-1940 citizens or those who fled during Soviet occupation.
What the law says
- Dual citizenship is allowed only in exceptional cases, mainly for those whose ancestors left Lithuania before 1990 but still held Lithuanian citizenship in 1940.
- The Constitutional Court clarified in 2018 that holding Lithuanian and another citizenship simultaneously is not acceptable; those who left Lithuania after 1990 cannot hold dual citizenship.
- Persons who voluntarily left for former USSR countries before 1990 and have Lithuanian ancestors may restore citizenship only as single citizenship and must renounce their current citizenship.
- Those who fled or left during the Soviet occupation before 1990 and their descendants can restore dual citizenship.
- Some countries do not allow renouncing their citizenship, so applicants might de facto keep dual citizenship even if eligible only for single Lithuanian citizenship.
“being a citizen of both Lithuania and another state at the same time is not acceptable”
What about the U.S. side?
The United States allows dual citizenship. At the oath ceremony you promise to renounce allegiance to other countries, but U.S. law does not make you formally give up your other passport. The question is only whether Lithuania lets you keep yours.
Source: Lithuanian nationality law (Wikipedia, summarized on 2026-11-11). Laws change — confirm with the Lithuania embassy or consulate before your oath ceremony. This is not legal advice.
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