Dual Citizenship in the European Union: trends and analysis (2010-2020) the Second Protocol of the Convention.15 Lastly, in Austria, Germany, Latvia and Lithuania, permission can be obtained for the retention of citizenship upon the acquisition of a foreign citizenship. In Lithuania and Latvia, such permission can be obtained in incidental cases by persons of ‘outstanding merits’ (Lithuania)16 or due to ‘important state interests’ (Latvia)17. In Austria, retention of Austrian citizenship must be in the interest of the Republic of Austria due to the person’s actual or expected achievements or other grounds deserving of consideration. Additionally, Austrian citizens by birth may be granted exceptional permission to retain their citizenship on grounds related to their private and family life.18 In Germany, the grant of a ‘retention permit’ (Beibehaltungsgenehmigung) depends on a balance of public and private interests, while citizens who reside abroad must also prove that they have retained sufficient ties to Germany.19 1.2.3 Loss of citizenship upon the retention of a foreign citizenship (L06) Only in three Member States (Germany, Latvia and Lithuania), citizenship can be lost by a person who acquired a foreign citizenship during minority (e.g. at birth) and subsequently retained that citizenship after reaching a certain age. In Germany, a person who acquired citizenship due to birth in Germany and also acquired another citizenship during minority (e.g. iure sanguinis) is required to renounce the foreign citizenship upon attaining the age of 21 years. Failure to fulfil this requirement after a period of two years from the date of notification will result in the automatic loss of German citizenship. However, those who grew up in Germany are exempted from the loss provision. A person is exempted if he or she has resided in Germany for at least eight years before turning 21, or attended a German school for at least six years, or graduated from a German school or a German education institution. German citizens who also hold a citizenship of another EU Member State or Switzerland are also exempted from the loss provision. Finally, a person who does not fulfil any of these criteria can still be permitted to retain German citizenship if the loss of citizenship would constitute ‘particular hardship’, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. In addition to that, a person only loses German citizenship if he or she has not been expressly notified of this option duty by the authorities before attaining the age of 21 years. In Latvia, citizens who acquired another citizenship during minority are required to either renounce their other citizenship or submit a request for renunciation of Latvian citizenship before attaining the age of 25 years. If a person does not fulfil this requirement, he or she can be deprived of Latvian citizenship. Latvian citizens who also hold citizenship of an EU-, EEA- or NATO Member State or Australia, Brazil or New Zealand are exempted from this provision. In addition to that, Latvian citizens who hold another citizenship due to adoption or marriage or who obtained permission for retention of citizenship due to important national interests are also exempted from this provision. In Lithuania, the requirement to renounce a foreign citizenship before age 21 is not applicable to Lithuanian citizens who also acquired another citizenship at birth, which means that only a minority of Lithuanian citizens are covered by this provision (e.g. citizens by adoption). 15 https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/043/signatures?p_auth=ORav5mQp , last accessed on 20 June 2020. 16 Art. 7 par. 7 Lithuanian Citizenship Act 2010. 17 Art. par. 1 sub 5 Latvian Citizenship Act 1995. 18 Art. 28 par. 2 Austrian Citizenship Law 1985. 19 Art. 25 par. 2 German Citizenship Act 1913. 6 RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-Comp. 2020/4 - © 2020 Author