From Johannesburg to the Lithuanian National Rugby Team – Jake Glass’s Citizenship Story

When my family began exploring our Lithuanian roots, we never imagined where that journey would lead. Restoring Lithuanian citizenship eventually connected eleven members of our family to Lithuania – and even gave me the opportunity to represent the country on the rugby field.

I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. Our family always knew we had Lithuanian heritage, but for many years it was simply part of our family history rather than something we actively explored.

Everything changed when adv. Dainius Ambrazaitis visited South Africa and met with our family. During that meeting we realized that restoring Lithuanian citizenship by descent might actually be possible.

From there, the decision felt natural. The value of an EU passport is difficult to measure, but for us the journey was also about reconnecting with our family’s past and opening opportunities for the future. In the end, eleven members of our family restored Lithuanian citizenship.

At the time I was living in the United States while coordinating the process with family members in South Africa. Despite the distance and time zones, working with IN IURE was seamless. There were virtual notary sessions, document signings, and plenty of coordination across countries, but the team guided us through every step.

Rugby has been part of my life since 2004. After receiving Lithuanian citizenship, I reached out to the Lithuanian Rugby Federation simply to introduce myself. I didn’t have any particular expectations – I just wanted to explore whether there might be a connection through the sport.

Not long after, I had the chance to train with the team and eventually represent Lithuania in an international match.

Standing on the field wearing Lithuania’s jersey felt incredibly meaningful. My great-grandmother left Lithuania in the 1920s and settled in South Africa. Through this journey, our family was able to reconnect with that part of our history in a way none of us expected.

If someone is considering restoring Lithuanian citizenship by descent, my advice would be simple: be patient. The process takes time, but it is absolutely worth it. For our family, it opened new opportunities – and for me personally, it even led to representing Lithuania on the rugby field.