Hello, everyone! My grandmother was born in 1930s in Lithuania. My family frequently claimed that she was a Lithuanian passport, however, regrettably, hardly any documents have remained. That is making me think of the restoration of citizenship by descent. I would like to comprehend upon how realistic it is provided I am using only the birth certificate of my grandmother and some photographs with Lithuanian stamps. I have read that there must be some form of connection to a pre 1940 date. I would be interested to see what other documents may be suitable. And in short, is it worthwhile to do any research in the archives, or is the likelihood low without an old passport? I would also like to know those people who have actually gone through this process.

You just need to demonstrate that your ancestor was a citizen of Lithuania prior to June 15, 1940. Your grandmother has already the birth certificate which serves as a good evidence in your case. Moreover, you may also seek military service records, residence documents or any past certificates stamped by Lithuania. School documents come in handy even at times. You do not need to go searching everything by yourself. Professional specialists do this and know where and which archives to consult. I would suggest going to the site that explains all the steps and conditions of lithuanian citizenship by descent . Principally, it involves three steps, which include, checking citizenship rights, reinstatement by submitting documents and issuance of a passport. You can begin with a free assessment to know your chances in case you even actually have the slightest idea. The fact is that it is not to lose hope; despite being without a passport, there are successful cases.

I would suggest you to have all the papers your family has, and carefully scanned. Archivists or lawyers might pick something you have missed over even when they appear to be insignificant. In many instances, details on a document that is old are the clue to the case. Nor should you leap hasty to believe that in the absence of a passport, you have little chance. A large number of people receive citizenship based on the references of archives, certificates of residence or employment. Meanwhile, you may attempt to write demands to Lithuanian archives yourself,--and occasionally the replies are more prompt than you suppose. Although you may choose to resort to the experts, pre-collected data will make the process fast. And, above all, take a small step first - take a free check to know how appropriate your documents are. In such a manner, you will not spend money on needless expenses and have a better understanding of the situation.