On 12 May, Lithuania held a referendum on amending the country’s constitution in order to allow dual citizenship with countries of the European Union, European Economic Area, NATO and the OECD, while retaining prohibition of dual nationality with countries that are members of organisations based around the former Soviet Union, including the Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organisation and Eurasian Economic Union. 52.6% of the electorate went to the polls, with 71.9% of voters supporting and 26% opposing the constitutional change.

As noted in a previous GLOBALCIT post, dual nationality is particularly divisive in Lithuania due to fears that Russian-speaking nationals may acquire that country’s passports and be used as ‘a playing card between the two countries‘.

For further information on the present and past citizenship policy of Lithuania, consult our country profile pages.