Luuk van der Baaren Latvia Latvia has a long history of emigration, and outflows have accelerated after Latvia’s accession to the European Union.53 The question therefore arose how the country can remain connected to its diaspora; tolerating dual citizenship was considered to contribute to this goal.54 Latvia nevertheless remained hesitant to accept dual citizenship in all cases, in particular in relation to other former Soviet states.55 In 2013, an amending law was approved by the Latvian parliament which brought forward a compromise, entailing that Latvian citizenship can be retained if a citizen acquires the citizenship of an EU, EFTA or NATO Member State, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, or a state with which Latvia has concluded a bilateral agreement (Art. 9 par. 1 Latvian Citizenship Act).56 In addition to that, permission for retention of Latvian citizenship can be granted in exceptional cases on a discretionary basis. If citizenship of any other state is voluntarily acquired, there is an obligation to renounce Latvian citizenship within 30 days after acquiring another citizenship (Art. 23 par. 2 Latvian Citizenship Act). Otherwise, citizenship can still be revoked (Art. 24 par. 1 Latvian Citizenship Act). A similar provision was introduced for those who wish to acquire Latvian citizenship by ordinary naturalisation. If an applicant holds the citizenship of a state mentioned above or is a recognised refugee, there is no requirement to renounce the original citizenship (Art. 12 par. 2 Latvian Citizenship Act). For meritorious naturalisation, there is no renunciation requirement (Art. 13 Latvian Citizenship Act). An equally lenient regime is in place for Latvians and Livs57 of origin who wish to acquire Latvian citizenship on the basis of their ancestry, as this group is exempted from the renunciation requirement regardless of their original citizenship (Art. 9 par. 3 Latvian Citizenship Act). This is also the case for Latvian exiles and their descendants that acquire Latvian citizenship by registration.58 A person who acquired dual citizenship before reaching the age of majority (e.g. by birth) is in principle required to renounce any other citizenship before reaching the age of 25, unless he or she holds the citizenship of a country mentioned above or acquired citizenship by registration as a (descendant of a) Latvian exile (Art. 23 par. 3 Latvian Citizenship Act). If the other citizenship is not renounced, Latvian citizenship can be revoked (Art. 24 par. 1(1) Latvian Citizenship Act). Lithuania According to Art. 12 of the Lithuanian Constitution, a Lithuanian citizen is not permitted to be a citizen of both Lithuania and another state, except for “individual cases” provided for by law. As Lithuania is experiencing a population decline that is predominantly caused by emigration, there is increasing awareness for the fostering of diaspora relations and return migration.59 53 M. ‘Hazans, Emigration from Latvia: A Brief History and Driving Forces in the Twenty-First Century’, in: Kaša, R. and Mieriņa, I., The Emigrant Communities of Latvia, Springer 2019. 54 <https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/policy/society-integration/citizenship/2013-amendments-to-the-citizenship-lawfurther-facilitation-of-citizenship>, last accessed on 20 June 2020. 55 Birka, I., Evaluation of Dual Citizenship Regulation of Latvia in Accordance with Theories of Democracy, University of Latvia Centre for Diaspora and Migration Research 2015, p. 6 ff. 56 357L/11 Amendments to the Citizenship Act, Latvijas Republikas Saeimas Ziņotājs, No. 11, 13 June 2013, p. 52 ff. 57 The term ‘Livs’ refers to an indigenous group of Finno-Ugric descent living near the Baltic Sea. See: Krūma, K., Country report on citizenship law: Latvia, EUDO Citizenship Observatory, San Domenico di Fiesole: European University Institute 2015, p. 6. 58 A Latvian exile is defined as a person who proves that he or she left Latvia escaping from the U.S.S.R. or German occupation regime or has been deported between 17 June 1940 until 4 May 1990, and for that reason has not returned to Latvia for permanent residence until 4 May 1990 (Art. 8.1 par. 1 Latvian Citizenship Act). 59 Kūris, E., Country report: Lithuania, EUDO Citizenship Observatory, 2010, p. 32. RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-Comp. 2020/4 - © 2020 Authors 13