Currently the citizens and non-citizens of Latvia, when reaching the age of 15 years, should have at least one valid personal identification document - a passport or eID card. As of 1 January 2023 citizens and non-citizens of Latvia, when reaching the age of 15 years, shall have an eID card, but the passport - at the choice of the person.
A passport or eID card should be changed in the following cases:
- validity period of the document has expired;
given name, surname or legal status of the person has changed; - the document contains damages due to which it is not possible to visually identify the holder of the document or read the information specified therein;
- the information on the holder of the document specified in the document has changed or any inaccuracies in entries have been established;
- a holder of the personal identification document has notified in writing about the loss of the passport or eID card to the issuing authority of the document, the State Police or State Border Guard institution, or diplomatic or consular services of the Republic of Latvia,
- and other cases.
It is important to remember that the documents for receipt of a new passport or eID card shall be submitted within 30 days from the day, when the validity period of your personal identification document has expired.
If you don’t have an eID card valid for use at your disposal, then you should receive also eID card, when receiving the passport.
Many people ask, is it possible to change the passport or eID card before expiry of the validity period?
Yes, it is possible to do it in a timely manner, by preparing a new passport or eID card one month before expiry of the validity period. If necessary, the you may apply for a change of passport or eID card indefinitely before the document expires, if the document is not valid for travel.
When preparing a new passport or eID card, the previously issued document that has become invalid shall be submitted to the Office.
It is not possible to keep an invalid eID card , but it will be possible to keep your invalid passport, when receiving a new document, ONLY in the case if:
- it bears a valid visa or residence permit;
- the passport is necessary for receipt of visa or residence permit;
- or for a trip abroad.
In turn, it is possible to apply for preparation of the passport or eID card ONLY BY APPLYING IN ADVANCE at any territorial unit of the Office, regardless of the declared place of residence:
- by using the possibility to apply in advance;
- at 14 divisions by using the pilot project application possibility;
- by applying for the e-service on the portal Latvija.lv.