Frequently asked questions

Yes, making photographs of the documents at the reading rooms of the State Archives using own equipment is permitted free of charge. Upon submission of the request, the readers can use personal digital cameras and other technical devices only at the specially equipped workstations in accordance with the procedure approved by the director of the State Archives. The images of documents photographed by readers may not be used for commercial purposes or transferred to any third persons. The readers shall order the digital images intended for distribution, publication or use during expositions at the archives by using the copying and scanning services available at the archive. The printed copies of digital images of the documents may not be certified by the authenticity mark.

The metric books of records, which are used to conduct genealogical research, and the documents confirming nobility are stored in the Lithuanian State Historical Archives (Mindaugo g. 8, LT- 03107 Vilnius).
If you need any specific metric records, please contact this archive indicating the required records, names, surnames, patronymics of the persons sought, the date and place of conclusion of the records and place of registration (church, community). The request forms are available on the website at www.http://www.archyvai.lt. Please mind that a fee shall be charged for this service. The price list of the services is also available on the said website.
The genealogy search services are provided by the Lithuanian State Historical Archive. The research may be conducted in the reading room of the archive by performing a personal study. The information on the genealogy search services is also provided by the Genealogy and Heraldry Society (Kauno g. 10-5, Vilnius) and private researches.

The State Archives do not have such data available. The date and time of birth of a baby and other information are recorded in the Newborn Registration Log, which is retained in the maternity unit of the hospital for a period of 75 years. If the hospital maternity unit was liquidated, the Newborn Registration Log may be stored at the hospital archive or transferred to the function successor.
The Office of the Chief Archivist of Lithuania states that according to Article 12(1)(2) of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Documents and Archives in force, the state and municipal institutions, agencies and companies, persons acting under the responsibility of the state, non-governmental organisations and private legal entities are obliged to retain their activity documents for a period necessary to ensure activity evidence and protect the rights of associated natural and legal persons.
The supervision of the implementation of the document and archive management and use requirements in the institutions transferring the documents for storage to the State Archives in the procedure set forth by the legal acts shall be performed by the State Archives.
The supervision of implementation of the document and archive management and use requirements in the institutions which do not transfer documents to the State Archives shall be performed by the institutions implementing the rights and duties of the owner of the institution or their authorised institutions (Document Management and Recordkeeping Regulations approved by Order No V-118 of the Chief Archivist of Lithuania of 4 July 2011). These institutions store documents with a short (e.g., accounting records) and long (e.g., employment contracts, orders related to personnel; prenatal, maternal and infant log, etc.) retention periods, while the supervision of compliance with the said requirements is performed through coordination of the document plans, file inventory and document destruction acts.
The retention periods of the documents generated in the health care area have been established by Order No 515 of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania of 29 November 1999 “Regarding accounting of activities of health care institutions and reporting procedure” (including any amendments thereto). The retention period of the prenatal, maternal and infant log is 75 years (it is a document with a long retention period) and such documents shall be retained for an established period by the institution that created this log; upon its reorganisation – by the successor of the function, upon liquidation – by the institution implementing the rights and duties of the state institution’s, agency’s or company’s owner or its authorised institution (Article 16 of the Law on Documents and Archives), the documents of non-governmental
organisations (including public institutions) or private legal entities – by the administration archive of the municipality, on the territory of which the legal entity was registered, which takes over the activity documents of the legal entity subject to liquidation, the retention period of which has not expired (Article 17 of the Law on Documents and Archives).

The issue of documents confirming the fact of death is managed by the Lithuanian State Historical Archives. However, you should know that private information is provided only to applicants who produce documents confirming identity.
The request must be sent by post, e-mail or fax, with a copy of an identity document attached. Where the request is made by the applicant’s representative, additionally, the documents proving identity and representation must be provided.

Yes, the document search in the State Archives is a paid service. The service fees are established in the Price List of Paid Services Provided by the State Archives approved by the order of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania. Payment for services can be provided by a bank transfer or cheque, and in separate cases – in cash at the archive.

The State Archives store the personnel documents of the liquidated enterprises, which confirm the period of service but not the wages. However, information on the place of retention of these documents can be obtained by calling (+370 5) 265 2255 or submitting an inquiry by post or e-mail.
Further detailed information is available on the website in section Paslaugos / Administracinės paslaugos / Informacijos teikimas apie valstybės archyvų, kitų institucijų, įstaigų, įmonių saugomus dokumentus or Paslaugos / Administracinės paslaugos / Dokumentų, patvirtinančių darbo stažą ir (arba) darbo užmokestį, išdavimas. This service is provided free of charge only in cases of request for documents confirming the period of service and/or wages at the state archive system institution. The issue of data on the period of service at all other institutions, the documents of which are stored at the State Archives shall be charged at the rates stated in the approved price list.
The written inquiries shall be responded to within 20 business days of their receipt by the institution.

The documents of military units under control of the USSR Ministry of Defence, including the personnel and wages documents, have not been transferred for storage to the Lithuanian State Archives. These documents are stored in the Central Archives of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation (Kirov st. 74, 142100 Podolsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia) and the archive branches.