Get Birth Certificates in Lithuania

A birth certificate (gimimo liudijimas) in Lithuania is an essential legal document used for obtaining a personal code (asmens kodas), enrolling in school, applying for a Lithuanian passport, and many other official purposes. Lithuania has a modern civil registration system with strong digital services. This guide explains how to get birth certificates in Lithuania, including in Vilnius and Kaunas.

How Birth Registration Works in Lithuania

In Lithuania, birth registration is administered by the State Enterprise Centre of Registers (Registrų centras), through the Civil Registry Division. When a baby is born in a hospital, the hospital issues a medical birth certificate (medicininis gimimo liudijimas). Parents must then register the birth at any Civil Registry Office (Civilinės metrikacijos skyrius) within three months of birth.

Upon registration, the child is assigned a personal code (asmens kodas), an 11-digit unique identifier used in all official Lithuanian documents throughout a person’s life. Lithuania has also developed digital registration capabilities through the e-Government portal (epaslaugos.lt), allowing some registration tasks to be completed online.

Documents Required for Birth Registration in Lithuania

To register a birth and obtain a birth certificate in Lithuania, parents generally need:

Medical birth certificate issued by the hospital (medicininis gimimo liudijimas)
Valid identity documents of both parents (Lithuanian ID card or passport)
Marriage certificate if married (santuokos liudijimas)
If unmarried: a joint application to establish paternity signed before the civil registrar

The first original birth certificate (gimimo liudijimas) is issued free of charge. Duplicate copies require a fee. Registration must be completed within three months of birth.

Getting a Birth Certificate in Vilnius

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania. Birth registration in Vilnius is handled by the Vilnius City Civil Registry Office (Vilniaus miesto savivaldybės Civilinės metrikacijos skyrius). Parents bring the hospital medical birth certificate and their identification to register the birth and receive the official gimimo liudijimas.

Lithuania’s e-Government services have been expanding. Vilnius residents can use the epaslaugos.lt portal to request copies of civil registry documents online using a Lithuanian ID card with a digital signature or mobile signature (Mobile ID). This makes it convenient to obtain duplicate birth certificates without visiting the office in person.

Getting a Birth Certificate in Kaunas

Kaunas is Lithuania’s second-largest city. The Kaunas City Civil Registry Office handles birth registrations in the city. The process is identical to Vilnius — parents present the hospital birth notification and identification at the Kaunas civil registry office to complete registration and receive the birth certificate.

As with the rest of Lithuania, Kaunas residents can request duplicate birth certificates online through epaslaugos.lt with a Lithuanian digital identity. Lithuania’s Registrų centras maintains a national database of civil records, so records from any Lithuanian civil registry office are accessible through the portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lithuanian word for birth certificate?

The Lithuanian birth certificate is called “gimimo liudijimas.” It is issued by the Civil Registry Office (Civilinės metrikacijos skyrius) and serves as the primary proof of birth and parentage.

Can I get a Lithuanian birth certificate online?

Yes. Through the epaslaugos.lt portal with a Lithuanian digital identity (ID card chip or Mobile ID), residents can request certified copies of civil registry documents including birth certificates. Digital copies are legally valid for most purposes.

How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Lithuania?

Birth certificates are usually issued on the same day of registration or within a few working days. Online requests for duplicate copies are also processed quickly through the e-Government portal.

Can a Lithuanian birth certificate be apostilled?

Yes. Lithuania is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles for Lithuanian civil registry documents are issued by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania or authorized courts.

Conclusion

Getting a birth certificate in Lithuania is a well-organized process through the Civil Registry Office. In both Vilnius and Kaunas, parents register the birth within three months using the hospital’s medical birth certificate and receive the gimimo liudijimas. Lithuania’s expanding digital services through epaslaugos.lt make it easy to request duplicate certificates online. The Lithuanian birth certificate and asmens kodas are the cornerstones of civil identity in the country.