Joshua Stein: A Journey to Lithuanian Citizenship

For us, restoring Lithuanian citizenship was a bridge — connecting our family’s history with new opportunities and a sense of belonging we didn’t know we were missing.

I began this journey seeking freedom and connection. As an American Jew, I already had a U.S. passport — and could have easily obtained an Israeli one — but I wanted my family to have more choices in a rapidly changing world. Lithuania was where my great-grandparents once lived before leaving for America. For decades, the stories in my family carried both pain and pride — economic hardship, fear, and loss. Every Jew in the two central Lithuanian towns my family came from was killed during World War II.

Restoring our Lithuanian citizenship felt like reclaiming that story — not letting those who once forced my ancestors to leave, or those who destroyed their community, write the final chapter. Today, every time I use my Lithuanian passport, I feel proud to be part of a modern, multicultural Lithuania.

I first tried navigating the process myself — doing genealogical research, contacting the archives, even hiring a translator. But when the Migration Department flagged issues in my documents, I realized I needed an advocate. That’s when I reached out to IN IURE. Dainius and his team were professional, highly competent, and incredibly supportive. They didn’t judge me for my earlier attempts — they simply got to work and saw it through. When my citizenship was finally approved, it was one of the proudest days of my life — alongside my wedding, earning my medical degree, and the birth of my twin daughters. For me and my family, this citizenship represents freedom, continuity, and the chance to belong once more.