Loss and Deprivation of Citizenship (Article 24)

LT-LOS-01 documents loss and deprivation of citizenship under Article 24 of Law XI-1196 (consolidated edition in force 2024-01-01). This is a NEGATIVE/STATUS-TERMINATION ROUTE — not an acquisition pathway. Article 24 is numbered to ten points, but POINT 8 IS REPEALED (neteko galios 2018-10-31, by Law XIII-1538 of 2018-10-18). NINE points are operative: points 1-7, 9, 10. The EN render (TAIS.395555) shows only eight grounds and does not reflect the post-2018/post-2020/post-2023 state. Two decision tracks operate: (a) ORDINARY LOSS — Minister of the Interior (Art 32(3), redaction 2018-10-18): grounds Art 24(1) renunciation, (2) voluntary acquisition, (4) unauthorised foreign service, and the ab-initio/treaty grounds; (b) NATIONAL-SECURITY DEPRIVATION — President of the Republic by decree (Art 30(1) point 6, redaction 2023-03-23): Art 24(10) only — confined to Art 20 exception-granted dual nationals (approximately 800 persons at enactment in June 2023). Art 24(10) was added by XIV-1830 (redaction 2023-03-23, in force 2023-06-01). The constitutionality of the Art 24(10) PROVISION was upheld in KT51-N10/2025 (2025-10-09, e-tar TAR 2025-16984), but the second KT referral on the specific Drobiazko Presidential DECREE was accepted 2026-02-04 and is PENDING as of 2026-05-31. SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENT PENDING: bill XVP-1441 (Government-approved 2026-04-22, first-reading-approved 2026-05-13, not enacted) would add an individualised unauthorised-foreign-service loss ground with a retroactive trigger and may renumber the Law — anchor re-validation required on enactment. As of 2026-05-31.

Operative loss grounds under Art 24, Law XI-1196 (2024-01-01), nine points: (1) RENUNCIATION — voluntary application-based loss; processed by the Minister of the Interior track (Art 32(3)),. (2) ACQUISITION OF ANOTHER CITIZENSHIP except as allowed — automatic/by operation of law from the day of acquisition (Art 26(1)); escape only for persons within Art 7 carve-out points 1-5, 7, 9, 11; Art 26(2) statutory 2-month written-notification duty,,. (3) GROUNDS UNDER INTERNATIONAL TREATIES — treaty-based;. (4) UNAUTHORISED SERVICE in the armed forces/security/police/justice structures of a foreign state — quasi-punitive/discretionary; one of TWO grounds covered by Lithuania's 1961 Convention Art 8(3) declaration,. (5) CITIZENSHIP ACQUIRED BY FORGED DOCUMENTS / KNOWINGLY FALSE DATA / FRAUD — ab-initio defect,. (6) DISCOVERY OF ARTICLE 22 CIRCUMSTANCES after grant — ab-initio defect; second ground covered by the 1961 Convention Art 8(3) declaration,,. (7) CITIZENSHIP DECISION TAKEN IN BREACH OF LAW — ab-initio defect/administrative;. [8 REPEALED — former '21-years rule', neteko galios 2018-10-31, XIII-1538; NOT operative,.] (9) FAILURE TO SUBMIT RENUNCIATION PROOF within the Art 23(13)/(14) deadline (1 year + up to 1 year; maximum 2 years) — deadline-triggered post-oath; added XIV-64 (2020-12-10),. (10) NATIONAL-SECURITY DEPRIVATION of an Art-20 exception-granted dual national — both actions (Art 20 grant + dual nationality) AND public support for a state threatening Lithuania's/EU/allies' security interests AND harm to Lithuania's essential national-security interests (two-condition test per KT51-N10/2025 + Regional Administrative Court 2026-02-04 reasoning); confines exposure to approximately 800 persons; decided by President by decree (Art 30(1)(6)); added XIV-1830 (in force 2023-06-01),,. As of 2026-05-31.

For voluntary RENUNCIATION (Art 24(1)): written renunciation application via MIGRIS; valid identity/travel document; evidence of holding or assured acquisition of another citizenship (anti-statelessness consideration); other documents requested by Migration Department (Art 37(6)). For VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION notification (Art 24(2) / Art 26(2)): written notice to the Migration Department or a diplomatic/consular post within 2 months of acquiring the other citizenship; evidence of the date and fact of acquisition. For POINT 9 renunciation-proof deadline: official proof of loss/release from the other citizenship, filed within the Art 23(13)/(14) window. For POINT 10 national-security deprivation: state-initiated — no applicant documents. Evidentiary record assembled by competent authorities: evidence of the Art 20 exception grant; of dual nationality; of public expressions of support for a threatening state; of harm to essential national-security interests; Citizenship Commission file; Presidential decree (Art 36). Document language rule: applications in Lithuanian or English; enclosed documents in Lithuanian or certified translation; physical originals to a Migration Department unit within 4 months of MIGRIS submission (Art 33; Gov Res Nr. 761/2021,,). Document burden tier: LOW for the applicant in voluntary loss (renunciation/notification); N/A (state-initiated, evidentiary burden on the State) for Art 24(10) deprivation. As of 2026-05-31.

Documents by track: RENUNCIATION (Art 24(1)): Written renunciation application via MIGRIS; valid identity/travel document; evidence of holding (or assured acquisition of) another citizenship where required to avoid statelessness; other documents the Migration Department may request (Art 37(6)). VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION NOTIFICATION (Art 24(2)/Art 26(2)): Written notice to the Migration Department or a diplomatic/consular post within 2 months of acquiring the other citizenship (Art 26(2)); form data follows Annex 9 of Government Resolution Nr. 761/2021; evidence of the date and fact of acquiring the other citizenship. POINT 9 RENUNCIATION PROOF: Official proof of loss/release from the other citizenship, filed within the Art 23(13)/(14) window (1 year + up to 1 year). POINT 10 NATIONAL-SECURITY DEPRIVATION: State-initiated — no applicant documents; evidentiary record assembled by competent authorities (evidence of Art 20 grant, dual nationality, public support expressions, essential national-security interest harm; Citizenship Commission file; Presidential decree published per Art 36). Document language rule: Applications in Lithuanian or English; enclosed documents in Lithuanian or certified translation; physical originals to a Migration Department unit within 4 months of MIGRIS submission. [,, ] As of 2026-05-31.

Procedure by track: RENUNCIATION (Art 24(1)): Application via MIGRIS → Migration Department review → Minister of the Interior decision (Art 32(3)). Anti-statelessness consideration where loss would leave the person stateless. VOLUNTARY ACQUISITION (Art 24(2)/Art 26): Loss arises by operation of law on the day of acquiring the other citizenship (Art 26(1)), subject to the Art 7 carve-out; the citizen must notify within 2 months (Art 26(2)); the Migration Department records the loss. POINT 9 DEADLINE (Art 24(9)/Art 23(13)/(14)): triggered automatically on expiry of the renunciation-proof window without proof; Minister/Migration Department track. NATIONAL-SECURITY DEPRIVATION (Art 24(10)/Art 30(1)(6)): Minister of the Interior petition → Citizenship Commission preliminary examination (Art 31) → President decides by decree (Art 30(1)(6)) → decree published (Art 36) → challengeable before the Regional Administrative Court → possible Constitutional Court referral on the law (KT51-N10/2025) and/or the decree (2026-02-04 referral, PENDING). Two tracks are administratively distinct: ordinary loss (Minister, Art 32(3)) from national-security deprivation (President by decree, Art 30(1)(6), Minister co-signs). Primary authorities: Migration Department (operational handling); Minister of the Interior (ordinary loss, Art 32(3)); President by decree (Art 24(10) deprivation, Art 30(1)(6)); Citizenship Commission (preliminary examination of Art 24(10) petitions, Art 31); Vilnius Regional Administrative Court (Art 29 pt 5, XIV-1602, in force 2024-01-01) → LVAT (judicial review). As of 2026-05-31.

Primary: Law on Citizenship No. XI-1196 (consolidated 2024-01-01), Article 24 ('Lietuvos Respublikos pilietybės netekimas' / 'Loss of Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania'), nine operative grounds (points 1-7, 9, 10; point 8 repealed by XIII-1538, 2018-10-18). Decision authority articles: Art 32(3) (redaction 2018-10-18) — Minister of the Interior decides ordinary loss; Art 30(1) pt 6 (redaction 2023-03-23) — President of the Republic decides Art 24(10) deprivation by decree. Supporting articles: Art 26(1)-(3) — automatic loss on voluntary foreign-citizenship acquisition + Art 7 carve-out (pts 1-5, 7, 9, 11) + 2-month notification duty + liability for non-notification; Art 23(13)/(14) — renunciation-proof deadline (1 year + extendable up to 1 more year; breach triggers Art 24(9)); Art 22(1)-(4) — disqualification circumstances (later discovery triggers Art 24(6)); Art 31 — Citizenship Commission preliminary examination (since XIV-1830) of the Minister's Art 24(10) petition; Art 29 — five authorised institutions incl. Vilnius Regional Administrative Court (added XIV-1602, in force 2024-01-01); Art 36 — publication of Presidential decrees. Amendment chain: point 8 REPEALED by XIII-1538 (2018-10-18, neteko galios 2018-10-31); point 9 ADDED by XIV-64 (2020-12-10, in force 2021-01-01); point 10 ADDED by XIV-1830 (redaction 2023-03-23, in force 2023-06-01). Apex: KT51-N10/2025 (2025-10-09, e-tar TAR 2025-16984) — Art 24(10) + Art 30(1)(6) constitutional; confinement to exception-granted dual nationals upheld; each case 'assessed individually' by competent authorities and courts. 1961 Convention Art 8(3) declaration (deposited 2013-07-22): covers Art 24(4) and (6) ONLY — points 9 and 10 not covered. FORWARD-MONITORING: bill XVP-1441 (not enacted) would materially amend Art 24 and may renumber — re-validate anchors on enactment. As of 2026-05-31.