According to the judgement of the Constitutional Court read out today, 15 February, in the case on permanent residence permits for citizens of the Russian Federation, by which the contested norms of the Immigration Law on the necessity to prove language proficiency for citizens of the Russian Federation who, before acquiring the citizenship of the Russian Federation, were Latvian citizens or non-citizens and received permanent residence permits in accordance with Section 24(1)(8) of the Law on Immigration, have been recognised as compliant with the Constitution (Satversme), the Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs shall continue its work by assessing each application submitted by a citizen of the Russian Federation for the status of a permanent resident of the European Union or for another residence permit.
The Office reminds that citizens of the Russian Federation whose permanent residence permits expired on 3 January 2024 have until 1 April this year to apply for a residence permit.
"We reiterate our call not to postpone consulting the experts of the Office and submitting documents until the last minute. If the documents are not submitted by 1 April this year, the person's stay in the Republic of Latvia will become illegal," says Maira Roze, Head of the Office.
It is important to note that the documents can be submitted if the person is subject to the "Law on the Status of a Long-term Resident of the European Union in the Republic of Latvia" or one of the grounds set out in the Immigration Law for applying for a temporary residence permit, a permit to stay in the Republic of Latvia or a permanent residence permit.
For more information on the amendments to the Immigration Law and exceptions to the national language test for certain groups of persons, please visit the website of the Office www.pmlp.gov.lv in the section "Latest news on the amendments to the Immigration Law".
Further information/consultation on the further process and/or the submission of documents can be obtained by sending an email to mn@pmlp.gov.lv or by calling the info line of the Office 67209400.
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Public relations
prese@pmlp.gov.lv, 67219185