Information for the press

On staying in the Republic of Latvia

The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter – the OCAM) informs you that according to the law “Amendment to the Immigration Law” adopted by the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia on 20 June 2024, your permanent residence permit will expire on 15 July 2025. In order to continue staying in the Republic of Latvia, you must submit documents to the OCMA to request a permanent residence permit (permanent resident status of the European Union): 

1. a submission of free form (sample available on the OCMA website);
2. a copy of you passport (all pages);
3. the questionnaire and the documents specified therein (the questionnaire is available on the OCMA website);
4. a document certifying regular financial means of at least the minimum salary per month (EUR 700) during the last 12 months or proof that a pension has been granted;
5. a document certifying that the national language test has been passed (level A2, certificate issued from 1 February 2001) or a document certifying that the national language test is not required.

You can get information about the documents to be submitted on the OCMA website:https://vissparmigraciju.pmlp.gov.lv/?page_id=40

(According to Paragraph 7 of Cabinet Regulation No. 157 of 8 March 2022, Regulations Regarding the Extent of the Knowledge of the Official Language and the Procedures for Examining the Proficiency in the Official Language, the test shall not be taken by a person:

• • who has completed an accredited minority educational programme and has taken a centralised examination in the Latvian language for Grade 9 or a centralised examination in the Latvian language for Grade 12 that is certified by a certificate of basic education or general secondary education;
  • who due to the health condition, has received an exemption from the official language test from a rehabilitation doctor or psychiatrist or

- has reached the age of 75).

All the information about the official language test can be found on the website of the National Centre for Education of the Republic of Latvia:  https://www.visc.gov.lv/lv/valsts-valodas-prasmes-parbaude

Before submitting the documents, you must pay the State fee for examining the documents submitted for the request for a permanent residence permit (permanent resident status of the European Union).

Purpose of the payment: VN PMLP dok. MK 557 (12.09.2017.) Name Surname

Beneficiary: Treasury, Registration No. 90000050138

Beneficiary institution: Treasury, code TRELLV22

Account No.: LV37TREL1060140918500

If the OCMA does not receive your the application before 30 June 2025, your permanent residence permit will expire on 15 July 2025 and you will have to leave the territory of the Republic of Latvia before 13 October 2025.

If by 16 June 2025 you have taken the official language test at least once, but failed, then:

• • by 16 June 2025, you must apply for a repeated official language test, which must be done by 30 September 2025,
  •  Your application for the status of a permanent resident of the European Union must have been received by the OCMA by 31 October 2025,
  •  If the above-mentioned actions are not taken, your permanent residence permit will expire on 17 November 2025, and you will have to leave the territory of the Republic of Latvia by 15 February 2026.

If your application for a permanent residence permit (permanent resident status of the European Union) has already been submitted to the OCAM, then the information provided in this letter does not affect your right to stay in the Republic of Latvia.

This letter is for informational purposes only and does not guarantee the issuance of a residence permit. The decision to issue/refuse to issue a residence permit is taken by the OCAM only after receiving the necessary documents for requesting a residence permit at the OCMA and examining them, as well as checking other information, evaluating the factual and legal circumstances of each specific case.

You can get additional information related to your future stay in the Republic of Latvia on the OCMA website: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/20062024-imigracijas-likuma-grozijumi or by sending an electronic mail message to the address mn@pmlp.gov.lv.

THE DOCUMENT IS PREPARED ELECTRONICLY AND IS VALID WITHOUT A SIGNATURE

20.04.2023 the text of the sent information letter

The Directorate of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) informs that according to 22.09.2022. According to the law "Amendments to the Immigration Law" adopted by the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, your permanent residence permit will expire on September 2, 2023. In order to continue staying in the Republic of Latvia, you must submit documents to PMLP to request a permanent residence permit (permanent resident status of the European Union):

free form application*;
passport copy;
the questionnaire and the documents specified in it*;
a document certifying regular financial means of at least the minimum salary per month (620 EUR) during the last 12 months or proof that a pension has been granted;
a document certifying that the national language test has been passed (level A2, certificate issued from 01.02.2001) or a document certifying that the national language test is not required.
(According to MK 08.03.2022 Regulation No. 157 "Regulations on the extent of knowledge of the national language and the procedure for testing the national language proficiency", paragraph 7 of the test is not taken by a person who:
- obtained basic, secondary or higher education in accredited programs in Latvian or passed the centralized exam in Latvian for the 9th or 12th grade (confirmed, for example, by a diploma, certificate, attestation, statement from the educational institution);
- received an exemption from the national language test from a rehabilitation doctor or psychiatrist due to the state of health;
- has not reached the age of 15;
- has reached the age of 75.).
Before submitting the documents, a state fee must be paid: for processing the application within 90 days – 70 EUR.
Purpose of contribution: VN PMLP doc. MK 557 (12.09.2017) Name, surname
Beneficiary: State Treasury, registration No. 90000050138
Receiving institution: State Treasury, code TRELLV22
Account no.: LV37TREL1060140918500

If your PMLP application is not received by September 1, 2023, your permanent residence permit will expire on September 2, 2023, and you must leave the territory of the Republic of Latvia by December 2, 2023.

20.09.2023 the text of the sent information letter

Notice of permanent

expiration of the residence permit

The Directorate of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the Directorate) informs you that the validity of your permanent permit, in accordance with paragraph 58 of the transitional provisions of the Immigration Law, has expired on September 2, 2023.

If you are in the Republic of Latvia, if you are in the Republic of Latvia, you must leave the territory of the Republic of Latvia by November 30, 2023.

In accordance with the first part of Article 13 of the Law on Identity Documents, you must submit your identity card - residence permit to the Administration or, if you are in a foreign country, to the diplomatic or consular representation of the Republic of Latvia within one month of receiving this notification.

If you want to continue staying in the Republic of Latvia and you are subject to the law "On the status of a permanent resident of the European Union in the Republic of Latvia" or any of the grounds established in the Immigration Law for requesting a temporary residence permit or a permanent residence permit, you have the right to submit an appropriate application.

You can get additional information regarding your future stay in the Republic of Latvia on the Administration's website: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/aktualakais-par-imigratijas-likuma-grozijuim or by sending an electronic mail message to the address mn@pmlp.gov. lv