How to Get Latvian Citizenship by Descent?

As of October 1, 2013, Latvia’s laws allow dual citizenship (multiple citizenship). One can apply for Latvian citizenship by descent without renunciation of current citizenship(s) if they meet certain requirements.

Who is Eligible to Get Latvian Citizenship by Descent?

Latvian citizenship is available to the following three categories of applicants:

1. “Latvian exiles”

Whether you or your ancestor qualify for Latvian citizenship depends on the following:

• At the time of the Latvian Revolution, June 17 1940, he was a citizen of Latvia
• As a result of escaping the U.S.S.R. or the German occupation regime, they fled Latvia between June 17, 1940, and May 4 1990.
• As a result of the above reasons, he did not return to Latvia for permanent residence before May 4 1990.

Under this category, dual citizenship (multiple citizenship) is permitted in any country.

2. “Descendants of Latvian citizens.”

Whether you or your ancestor qualify for Latvian citizenship depends on the following:

• On June 17 1940, you were a Latvian citizen (regardless of whether you left Latvia or your ancestors did).

This category allows dual citizenship with a specific list of countries: NATO, EU, EFTA members, Brazil, New Zealand, and Commonwealth of Australia.

3. “Latvians & Livs”

If you meet the following criteria, you may qualify for Latvian citizenship:

• , likely, either you or at least one of your parents or grandparents belong to the Latvian nation (also called the Livs or Latvians), and
• You speak Latvian fluently, and
• Based on Latvia’s current borders, your ancestor lived permanently in Latvia until June 17 1940. It is possible to have dual citizenship (multiple citizenships) with any nation.

Under this category, dual citizenship (multiple citizenship) is permitted in any country.

Dual citizenship with Latvia is possible in certain other cases, such as naturalization, birth, or other means of acquiring Latvian citizenship. We are always willing to schedule a consultation with you if you have any doubts.

How to get Latvian citizenship by investment?

In 2010, Latvia introduced its golden visa program. By investing €250,000 in real estate, investors can obtain a five-year residency permit. Since 2014 the cap has applied to the first 800 applicants. From then on, the investment limit will be €500,000. The government also charges a processing fee of €25,000, or 5% of the property value.

Benefits:

• €250,000 investment
• Residency with full family. 
• Flexibility. No residency requirement. 
• Renewal after 5 years.
• Schengen visa for travelling to the EU.
• Currency of the Eurozone

Besides being a member of the Eurozone, Latvia has also joined the Schengen visa zone. In other words, Latvian residency allows investors to travel throughout the Schengen visa-free area of the EU. After five years, applicants can apply for permanent residency but have lived in the country for most of that period. It takes 90 minutes to fly from Moscow to Riga, the Latvian capital. Many Russian speakers are in Latvia, and Latvia is a popular destination for Russian investors, residents, and citizenship seekers.

How to Get Latvian Citizenship by Marriage?

As long as both parties have the appropriate visas to enter this country legally, a marriage to a Latvian citizen can legally take place in Latvia, Canada, or anywhere else. After this marriage is recognized, your Latvian spouse can apply for a permanent residence or an eTA.

Is it Possible for Foreigners to Get Married in Latvia?

Marriage is not allowed for people under the age of 16. A Latvian passport or a Latvian residence permit is required for foreigners. Visas are not required for U.S. citizens staying less than 90 days. There must be an Apostille on all documents issued in the United States.

How do I Obtain Latvian Citizenship by Naturalization?

Latvian citizens can become citizens by naturalization by proving their proficiency in the Latvian language, passing an examination of the basic provisions of the Satversme, and knowing Latvian history and the national anthem.

Since 1995, 147,469 people have acquired Latvian citizenship by naturalization.

How to Applying for Latvian Citizenship?

Our firm welcomes prospective applicants. You and your children will be provided with our experts with the full scope of services required to obtain Latvian citizenship. The process is as follows:

• We will assess your situation, review and examine the documents, and inform you whether you are eligible;
• If the Latvian archive documents proving your eligibility were lost or disappeared for some other reason, we would locate and retrieve the missing documents on your behalf;
• Our team will prepare all forms and applications required for document legalization and Apostille, and provide advice on other needs;

Your application will be submitted on your behalf to the Office of Citizenship directly in Latvia, and we will oversee the entire process to ensure that it is received favourably.

Latvians Citizenship Application Processing Time 

Two stages are involved in the process:

1. It normally takes 1-2 months for the preparatory stage to be completed, including retrieving missing documents from Latvian archives, legalizing the documents, and preparing necessary forms and applications.
2. In the application processing stage, the authorities are required to consider applications for a period of between 4 and 12 months (depending on the category under which the application falls). However, decisions are usually made very quickly.

Note: According to our experience, in less complicated cases, the whole procedure may take up to 2-4, 5 months, but mostly depends on the workload of the Latvian Citizenship Office.

how much does it cost to get latvian citizenship?

There is a fixed fee for obtaining Latvian citizenship. Accordingly, the amount of the fee will vary according to the work to be performed, the number of family members applying to become Latvian citizens, and other factors specific to each case. Therefore, in order to estimate our fees, we will perform a preliminary assessment of your situation.

Latvian institutions charge fees for issuing archive statements or copies of documents, notaries charge fees for legalizing/authenticating documents, postal expenses, etc., related to registering for citizenship. The costs will vary depending on your particular situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to get latvian citizenship by marriage?

For a Latvian passport, you will need to be married to a Latvian citizen for at least 10 years and apply for citizenship not before five years after relocating to Latvia.

How can I get Latvian citizenship?

After five years of legal residence in Latvia, you can obtain citizenship if the applicant has been a permanent resident for five years before submitting their application. A citizen of Latvia must have physically resided in Latvia for at least four of the last five years before applying for citizenship.

Do Latvian citizens have the right to dual citizenship?

Latvian citizens may have dual citizenship in any country. People who register as Latvians, Livs, or exiles have the right to retain dual citizenship with any other country.

Is it easy to obtain Latvian citizenship?

The quickest way to obtain Latvian citizenship is for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. A Latvian citizen may become a citizen within 4–12 months while retaining their existing citizenship.