A child born in Latvia until 31.12.2019.
Regulatory enactments:
- Section 3.1 of the Citizenship Law;
- Cabinet Regulation No. 976 "Procedures for the Recognition of a Child of Stateless Persons or Non-citizens who has been Born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 as a Latvian Citizen", adopted on 24 September 2013
A child shall be recognised as a Latvian citizen if he or she complies with the following conditions:
- the child is born in Latvia after 21 August 1991;
- the permanent residence is in Latvia;
- the child has previously been stateless or a non-citizen;
- his or parents are stateless persons or non-citizens all the time;
- the permanent place of residence of the parent, with whom the child lives together, is in Latvia at least for the last five years.
A submission about the child until the age of 15 years shall be submitted by a legal representative of the child:
- one of the parents of the child;
- mother of the child, if the birth act of the child does not contain an entry about the father of the child;
- one of the parents of the child, if the other parent has deceased.
Necessary documents:
- a submission;
- personal identification document of the parent of the child (passport or identity card, when sending the documents via mail, ONLY a COPY of the personal identification document shall be sent);
- a document confirming the permanent life of the child in Latvia (for example, a statement from the educational institution);
- a document, confirming permanent residence of the parent in Latvia during the last five years (for example, a statement of the place of work or statement regarding receipt of a benefit).
In the age from 15 to 18 years the submission shall be submitted by the child himself or herself:
- a submission;
- personal identification document (passport or identity card) (when sending the documents via mail ONLY a COPY of the personal identification document should be sent);
- a document confirming permanent residence in Latvia for the last five years (for example, a statement of the educational institution etc.);
- one of the documents specified below, confirming the ability to speak Latvian:
- a statement and certificate on the acquisition of the general principal education in Latvian;
- A certificate issued by the National Centre for Education after 31 August 2011 (valid for 5 years after the day of issue), confirming the total assessment in percentage acquired in the centralized examination in Latvia (in the accredited education programme for grade 9) not below 50%, or the total assessment in percentage acquired in the centralized examination in Latvian and Literature (in the accredited education programme for grade 12) not below 20%;
In case of not being able to submit any of the above-mentioned documents, confirming the ability to speak Latvian, the child shall be sent for examination of the skills of Latvia, taking place at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs;
5. one photograph (3x4cm), if the ability to speak Latvian will be approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
See information about the examination of the Latvian: "Examinations determined by the Citizenship Law".
Children, to whom the disability has been determined, which is confirmed by a certificate of the disability or decision of the State Medical Commission for the Assessment of Health Condition and Working Ability regarding determination of disability for work.
Where can you submit the documents?
Currently it is possible to submit documents to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs only remotely:
- by sending via mail to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to the address: Čiekurkalna 1.līnija 1 k-3, Riga, LV-1026. When sending documents by mail, copies of documents must be certified, with the exception of a copy of an identity document. If the originals of documents are sent by mail, they will be returned to the specified address along with the decision.
- with a safe electronic signature, sending to the e-mail pskn@pmlp.gov.lv, with the attachment of certified copies of the original documents signed with a secure electronic signature, with the exception of a copy of the identity document;
- by using official electronic e-address with the attachment of certified copies of the original documents signed with a secure electronic signature.
If documents are sent electronically and signed with a secure electronic signature, the document must be accompanied by a confirmation that the "copy is correct" indicating who confirms it, and a copy of the document must be signed with a secure electronic signature.
If it is necessary to verify the validity of the original document or the correctness of the derivative document, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs may at any time require the presentation of the original document.
In what time period the submitted documents are examined?
The decision shall be made within a time period of one month from the day of receipt of all necessary documents by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Where the additional information can be received?
In case of any questions and uncertainties, you may obtain information by writing to the e-mail: pskn@pmlp.gov.lv or calling during working days to the phone +371 67209400.
A child born in Latvia or abroad after 01.01.2020.
Regulatory enactments:
Law on the Termination of the Granting of the Status of a Non-citizen to Children
A child can acquire Latvian citizenship if at the time of his or her birth both parents are non-citizens, or one of the parents is a non-citizen and the other - a stateless person, or by mutual agreement of the parents if one parent is a non-citizen but the other - a citizen of another country.
A child is recognized as a citizen of Latvia, unless he or she is and has not been a citizen of another country.
If a child was born in Latvia and at the time of birth of the child:
- both his or her parents are non-citizens or one of the parents is a non-citizen, but the other - a stateless person or unknown, the child will acquire the citizenship of Latvia at the same time with registration of the fact of birth of the child by the Civil Registry Office;
- one of the parents is a non-citizen, the other - a citizen of another country, documents for acquisition of the citizenship of Latvia shall be submitted to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
If a child was born abroad, documents for acquisition of the citizenship of Latvia shall be submitted to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Necessary documents:
1. a submission;
2. personal identification document of the parents of the child (passport, identity card) (when sending the documents via mail ONLY a COPY of the personal identification document should be sent);
3. certificate of birth of the child or excerpt from the Birth Register;
4. a document confirming that the which is not and has not been a citizen of the relevant country.
When determining the country, from which the document is to be submitted regarding the fact that the child is not and has not been a citizen of the relevant country, the following should be taken into account:
- legal relations of the child with the relevant country;
- nationality of the parents of the child;
- the country, the citizen of which the child could be.
Where can you submit the documents?
Currently it is possible to submit documents to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs only remotely:
- by sending via mail to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to the address: Čiekurkalna 1.līnija 1 k-3, Riga, LV-1026. When sending documents by mail, copies of documents must be certified, with the exception of a copy of an identity document. If the originals of documents are sent by mail, they will be returned to the specified address along with the decision.
- with a safe electronic signature, sending to the e-mail pskn@pmlp.gov.lv, with the attachment of certified copies of the original documents signed with a secure electronic signature, with the exception of a copy of the identity document;
- by using official electronic e-address with the attachment of certified copies of the original documents signed with a secure electronic signature.
If documents are sent electronically and signed with a secure electronic signature, the document must be accompanied by a confirmation that the "copy is correct" indicating who confirms it, and a copy of the document must be signed with a secure electronic signature.
If it is necessary to verify the validity of the original document or the correctness of the derivative document, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs may at any time require the presentation of the original document.
Important!
If the child was born abroad, the child's birth certificate, along with a document certifying that the child is not and has never been a citizen of that country, must be translated into Latvian (unless the document is in English or German and submitted to a Latvian embassy or consulate, or sent by post from abroad) and legalised in accordance with the procedure established by applicable laws and regulations.
Legalization shall not be required for a document, issued by European Union countries, public documents issued by the countries of the European Economic Area, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (except its overseas territories) or Swiss Confederation, provided for use in Latvia.
Information about legalization of documents is available:
https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/legalisation-documents
In what time period the submitted documents are examined?
The decision shall be made within a time period of one month from the day of receipt of all necessary documents by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Where the additional information can be received?
In case of any questions and uncertainties, you may obtain information by writing to the e-mail: pskn@pmlp.gov.lv or calling during working days to the phone +371 67209400.