Naturalisation

Citizenship self-check tool

Persons are admitted to Latvian citizenship through naturalisation from the age of 15 years, if:

• a person independently lives in Latvia for the recent 5 years (the citizens of the European Union, countries of European Economic Area and Swiss Confederation have a permanent residence permit of a citizen of the European Union for 5 years, for citizens of other countries - a permanent residence permit in Latvia for 5 years) and they can prove it documentary;
• a person knows Latvian; 
• a person has knowledge of the text of the National Anthem, the basics of the history and culture of Latvia and the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia;
• a person has a legal source of maintenance.

At the same time with the person children in the age up to 15 years can be naturalized without payment of the additional State fee (if the permanent place of residence thereof is in Latvia).

Persons, who have criminal records, related to terrorism, act in anti-state or criminal organization, have failed to fulfil tax or other payment obligations against the state, or if other restrictions referred to in Section 11 of the Citizenship Law refer to them, cannot be admitted to Latvian citizenship through naturalisation. Find out more about restrictions here 

Procedure for acceptance and examination of the application for naturalization is governed by the Cabinet Regulation No. 1001 "Procedures for Receiving and Examining Applications for Naturalisation", adopted on 24 September 2013.

Necessary documents: 

1. Application for naturalisation
2. Please, specify also the contact phone number in the application.
3. personal identification document - passport or identity card (when sending the documents via mail ONLY a COPY of the personal identification document should be sent);
4. a document about the habitual life in Latvia during the recent five years (for example, the statement from the employer on employment, a statement from the State Social Insurance Agency, statement from the education institution, the document proving that commercial or financial activities are performed in the set period of time in the territory of Latvia etc.);
5. a document on the legal source of maintenance (for example, a statement from the place of work, pensioner’s certificate, statement from the State Social Insurance Agency regarding receipt of the benefit, or statement from the bank about positive account balance, statement from the educational institution about receipt of the scholarship etc.);
6. 1 photograph (3x4 cm);
7. a document regarding payment of the State fee. State fee is 28.46 euro. Reduced State fee is 4.27 euro. 
8. If the person is a citizen of another state a statement on the criminal record issued by the competent institution of the country of citizenship and issued not earlier than six months prior to submitting the application, or a documentary certification that it is not possible to acquire such document.

Statement on the criminal record should be legalized in accordance with the procedure determined by regulatory enactments and translated into Latvian.

In turn, 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.  As well as for documents, issued by the consular authorities of Russia, Moldova,Turkey and Ukraine abroad (including embassies of such countries in Latvia).

Information about legalization of documents is available: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/konsulara-informacija/dokumentu-apliecinasana-ar-apostille-un-legalizacija

If a child in the age up to 15 years is being naturalized at the same time with the person, a submission and document should be submitted, confirming the permanent life of the child in Latvia.

Where can you submit the documents?

Documents can be submitted remotely:

1. by sending via mail to any territorial unit of the OCMA;

When sending the documents via mail, copies of documents should be certified, except the copy of the personal identification document. For copies of documents a certification "the copy is correct" should be created with indication who certify them and the copies of documents should be signed. Find out more about certification of the copies of documents here

If original documents are sent via mail, pursuant to the request of the person, they shall be returned to the address specified in the application.

2. with a safe electronic signature, when sending to the electronic mail of any territorial unit of the OCMA, attaching an application signed with a safe electronic signature, as well as certified copies of the original documents signed with a safe electronic signature;
3. by using official electronic e-address, attaching certified copies of the original document signed with a safe electronic signature.

If documents will be sent electronically, signed with a safe electronic signature, copies of documents shall include a certification "the copy is correct" with indication who certifies it, and the copies of documents should also be signed with a safe electronic signature. Find out more about certification of the copies of documents here.

Important! In order to make sure on the legal force of the original document or correctness of the derivative of the document, the OCMA may request at any time to present the original document.

 After submission of the application the person will be assigned within two months for:

• Latvian language proficiency test;
• Testing of the knowledge of the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the text of the National Anthem, the basics of the history and culture of Latvia.

Information about the tests is available here.

If a person is to be released or reliefs from any of the tests is to be applied for him/her, the document confirming it shall be submitted. 

After passing the examination, if it will be established that the person complies with all provisions of the Citizenship Law, it will be asked to give a solemn declaration about the trust to the Republic of Latvia.

In accordance with the Citizenship Law, a dual citizenship may be with the member states of the NATO, European Union and Free Trade Association, as well as Australia, New Zealand and Brazil, or the citizenship of the country, with which the Republic of Latvia has entered into the agreement on recognition of the dual citizenship.

In turn, if a person does not have a citizenship of any of the above-mentioned countries, he/she shall submit the document on refusal from the citizenship of the current state before giving a solemn declaration about the trust to the Republic of Latvia.

The document on the refusal from the citizenship of the current state should be legalized in accordance with the procedure determined by regulatory enactments and translated into Latvian.

This is to draw your attention to the fact that the documents, issued by the consular authorities of Russia, Moldova and Ukraine in foreign countries (including embassies of such countries in Latvia) do not need to be legalized.

Information about legalization of documents is available: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/konsulara-informacija/dokumentu-apliecinasana-ar-apostille-un-legalizacija

The processing time for naturalisation applications typically ranges from 6 to 12 months to obtain Latvian citizenship, applicants are required to successfully pass a naturalisation test. If you hold a citizenship of another country and are required  to renounce it as part of naturalisation process, the duration of your naturalisation process depends on the time frame relinquishing your existing citizenship and the submission of requisite documentation.

Important!

Decision regarding admission to the Latvian citizenship through naturalization procedure is made by the Cabinet of Ministers.

After signing of the order of the Cabinet of Ministers, an informative letter on admission to Latvian citizenship will be sent to the person.

After admission to the Latvian citizenship and the person shall prepare the personal identity document of the Latvian citizen within the time period of one month at any territorial unit of the OCMA.

After admission of the person to Latvian citizenship, the personal identity document of a non-citizen of Latvia or stateless person previously issued to the person shall become void.

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