Citizenship for Latvia:
Citizenship in Latvia is available to anyone who:
- Having reached the minimum age of 15,
has had a permanent residence permit and been a permanent resident of the nation for at least five years, starting on the day the permit was obtained.
- Has successfully completed naturalisation exams covering the language, history, constitution, and national anthem.
- Is able to verify their own or their provider’s legitimate source of revenue,
Is prepared to renounce their own country’s citizenship.
An individual is not granted Latvian citizenship:
o Any individual holding an official position in a foreign state’s administration, law enforcement, or power structure,
o Who has turned against Latvia’s independence, advocated for totalitarianism, incited hatred towards people of colour, and committed other grave crimes,
o Anyone who is a member of any foreign armed forces, internal armed forces, security service, or police,
o Anyone who has worked for a security agency or other special service in any nation,
A person who commits a crime, which is regarded as a crime in Latvia as well, in Latvia or any other nation.
To become a citizen, you have to:
- Send in a citizenship application,
- Pay a state fee that can be made in-person at any Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs division or with a bank card at any credit institution.
- ace the naturalisation tests,
- Take the pledge of allegiance to the nation,
- Since dual citizenship is prohibited in Latvia, please present a declaration of renunciation of the prior citizenship or a certificate of loss of citizenship.
Along with their parents, children up to 15 years old who live in Latvia permanently can also become naturalised citizens.
According to the Citizenship Law, obtaining Latvian citizenship through naturalisation is only possible for a period of one year. The previous passport is no longer valid upon receiving Latvian citizenship and cannot be used to enter or exit the nation.
Visa for Latvia
Types of Latvian visas are:
A – Airport Transit Visa,
C – Short Term Visa,
D – Long Stay Visa.
A-type or airport transit visa
An individual single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry transit visa of this kind enables a foreign national to pass through the airport transit zone once, twice, or indefinitely, respectively. The only place the holder of this visa can stay is the airport’s international transit area.
A transit visa for an airport is good for a maximum of six months.
C-type or short-term visa
This is a single, double, or multiple entry visa for an individual.
The holder of a unified visa, which is a short-term visa valid in the Schengen States, is permitted to remain in any of the participating nations.
A limited-territorial validity visa, often known as a short-term visa, allows its bearer to remain within the boundaries of the State for which it is valid. It is exclusively valid in Latvia or is excluded from other Schengen states.
D-type or long–stay visa (national visa)
Long-stay visa is an individual single-entry, double-entry or multiple-entry visa that allows a foreign citizen to enter Latvia during the definite period, once, two times or an unlimited number of times.
Long–stay visa is granted:
1) If a foreign citizen intends to stay in the country for 90 days or more during six months, counting from the day of entry, and the release of a visa:
Complies with international legislation,
Complies with the interests of the Latvian state,
Is accepted by force majeure,
Is accepted by humanitarian considerations.
2) In the event that a foreign national travels to Latvia in order to get a residency permit after the OCMA decides to grant one. In these situations, a 30-day valid single-entry long-stay visa is issued.
With a long-stay visa, you can enter the nation and remain for up to 90 days in a period of six months, including the day of admission. Additionally, the bearer of a long-stay visa is permitted to travel for up to three months during a half-year within the borders of other Schengen states. A long-stay visa can only be used for up to one year.
