One EU Passport: What It Means for Your Family’s Future in Europe

When one spouse reinstates Lithuanian citizenship by descent, it often marks the beginning of a new chapter for the entire family. While the process of reinstatement is personal and based on ancestry, the opportunities it creates extend far beyond a single individual. It is natural to have questions during this journey: “Can my spouse work? Do the children get passports? How does this work in practice?”.

It is important to understand that while one EU passport is not an “automatic key” to every door, it provides a solid legal foundation for a family to build a life together in the European Union.

Can My Spouse Become a Lithuanian Citizen?

The short answer is: not automatically. Lithuanian citizenship law is primarily based on the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood). A spouse is not considered a descendant, so marriage alone does not grant a right to citizenship.

A non-Lithuanian spouse may eventually become a citizen through naturalization, which typically requires:

• Long-term lawful residence in Lithuania.
• Proficiency in the Lithuanian language.
• Integration into Lithuanian society and, in many cases, renouncing current citizenship.

For many international families, obtaining citizenship for the spouse is not the first or most practical step. Immediate and powerful advantages arise from EU Family Rights.

EU Family Member Status: Privileges and Opportunities

When a person reinstates Lithuanian citizenship, they become a citizen of the European Union. This grants their family members (who are non-EU citizens) privileged legal status as an “EU Citizen’s Family Member”. This status is significantly more flexible than a standard work or tourist visa.

If you are, for example, a citizen of South Africa, the USA, or Israel, and your spouse is Lithuanian, you gain specific benefits:

1. Easier Travel (Schengen Area)

• Accelerated Visa Processing: If you need a visa to enter an EU country while joining your spouse, the Member State must issue it via an accelerated procedure.
• Visa-Free Travel: Once you obtain an “EU Citizen’s Family Member” residence card in Lithuania (or any EU state), you can travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a separate visa.

2. The Automatic Right to Work (once you obtain an “EU Citizen’s Family Member” residence card)

• No Work Permit Required: Unlike other non-EU citizens who need an employer to sponsor a permit, you have an automatic right to work.
• Equal Treatment: You have the right to be employed or self-employed under the same conditions as an EU citizen.

3. Entrepreneurial Freedom

• Setting Up a Business: You can start a company, establish a satellite office, or register as a freelancer in the EU country where your spouse resides.
• No “Investor” Hurdles: Generally, without the immigration-related investment thresholds that apply to non-EU investors, although standard business and regulatory requirements still apply.

4. Simplified Residency

• Derived Right of Residence: Your right to live in an EU country is tied to your spouse exercising their treaty rights (working, studying, or being self-sufficient).

5. Social and Healthcare Benefits

• Equal Treatment: As the family member of an EU citizen, you may benefit from the same treatment as local nationals in areas such as work, education, social advantages, and access to healthcare, in accordance with EU law.

How Relocation Works: Important Legal Nuances

It is vital to distinguish between national migration rules and EU free-movement rights.

Important Note: A residence permit issued by Lithuania grants the right to live specifically in Lithuania. While it allows for short visits to other Schengen countries, it does not grant an automatic right to reside permanently in another EU Member State (e.g., Portugal, Germany, or the Netherlands).

If a family intends to move to an EU country other than Lithuania, the non-EU spouse must typically apply for a Residence Card issued by that specific country.

A typical practical path for many families:

1. Reinstatement: One spouse (and children) obtains Lithuanian passports.
2. Civil Registration: The marriage and children’s births are registered in the Lithuanian Civil Registry. This is essential for family relationships to be officially recognized across the EU.
3. Choosing a Destination: The family selects the EU Member State that best suits their professional and personal goals.
4. Documentation: The spouse applies for residency documents in the country where the family actually settles.

Why Registering Marriage and Births in Lithuania is Essential

Even if you do not plan to live in Lithuania, properly registering civil records is a cornerstone of your family’s legal stability. This ensures:

• Your marriage is officially recognized under EU law.
• Your children’s Lithuanian citizenship is formally recorded, allowing them to receive identity documents.
• Future access to European education systems, where tuition fees for EU citizens are often significantly lower.

Foreign marriage certificates can be registered in Lithuania even years after the wedding. This process generally requires a translation into Lithuanian and legalization or an Apostille.

How IN IURE Supports Your Family

Relocating to Europe involves navigating the complex intersection of national migration rules and EU free-movement laws. We assist families not just in “getting a passport,” but in building a complete, sustainable legal and practical framework for their move:

• Reinstatement of Lithuanian Citizenship: We guide you through the reinstatement of Lithuanian citizenship by descent, often on a dual citizenship basis, providing a legal status that lasts a lifetime.
• Civil Registration: We handle the registration of foreign marriages and children’s births in Lithuania, ensuring your family ties are officially recognized under EU law.
• Residence Permits: We assist with obtaining residence permits in Lithuania for spouses and family members, creating a stable legal entry point into the European Union.
• Business Entry & Integration: We support setting up a company or a satellite office in Lithuania, serving as a strategic gateway to the European market.
• Real Estate & Relocation: Through our specialized RE services, we help you find, inspect, and legally secure residential property in Lithuania. Whether renting or buying, we ensure your home search is legally sound and supports your residency requirements.

Our role is to provide you with the clarity and peace of mind needed to organize your family’s journey to Europe safely, efficiently, and with full legal confidence.

Key Takeaways

• Marriage is not a shortcut to citizenship: Marrying a Lithuanian citizen does not grant citizenship automatically; it is generally acquired through descent or a long-term naturalization process.
• EU law protects the family unit: As a spouse of an EU citizen, you possess a privileged legal status that allows you to live and work in Europe under EU free-movement rules.
• Residence rights are specific: A residence permit issued by Lithuania is primarily for living in Lithuania; moving permanently to another EU country requires a specific residence card from that Member State.
• Civil registration is vital: Registering your foreign marriage and children’s births in Lithuania is a necessary step to ensure your family’s rights are officially recognized across the EU.
• Children’s rights: Children can usually obtain Lithuanian citizenship if at least one parent is a citizen at the time of birth, but their birth must be formally registered in the Lithuanian system.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can my spouse automatically obtain Lithuanian citizenship through our marriage?

No. Marriage does not grant citizenship automatically. A spouse can typically only become a citizen through naturalization, which requires years of residence in Lithuania, passing a language and constitution exam, and often renouncing their current citizenship.

If only I have Lithuanian citizenship, can my whole family move to Europe?

Yes, in many cases. Under EU law, the spouse and dependent children of an EU citizen have the right to accompany them and live together in another EU Member State.

Does a Lithuanian residence permit allow my non-EU spouse to live anywhere in Europe?

Technically, no. A Lithuanian residence permit grants the right to reside in Lithuania and travel within the Schengen Area for short visits. If you plan to settle permanently in another country (like the Netherlands or France), your spouse will usually need to apply for a residence card issued by that specific country.

Why do we need to register our marriage in Lithuania if we were married abroad?

Registering your marriage ensures that it is officially recognized by Lithuanian authorities and reflected in national civil records. This confirmation of your family relationship is essential for practical matters such as registering children’s births, issuing Lithuanian identity documents, and handling inheritance or property matters. It is also often required when exercising EU free-movement rights, as authorities in other EU countries may request officially recorded proof of family ties.

Do our children automatically become Lithuanian citizens?

In most cases, children acquire Lithuanian citizenship automatically if at least one parent is a Lithuanian citizen at the time of birth, subject to applicable legal conditions. However, if the parent reinstated citizenship after the child was born, the child may need to go through a separate reinstatement process. In all cases, the birth must be registered in Lithuania to receive a passport.

How can IN IURE help with this process?

IN IURE Law Firm provides comprehensive support, from reinstating citizenship by descent to handling the registration of marriages and births, as well as assisting with residence permit applications for family members.