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Loss of the citizenship

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The reason for loss of the citizenship of Latvia can be renunciation or deprivation of the citizenship of Latvia.

Renunciation of the citizenship of Latvia

Each person, who has citizenship (nationality) of another country or citizenship (nationality) of another country is guaranteed, has the right to renounce the citizenship of Latvia.

An application to renounce the citizenship of Latvia may be denied if:

1. the person has unfulfilled obligations towards the state;
2. the person has not fulfilled mandatory active military service obligations.

A decision as to denial of an application for renunciation may be appealed to a court.

Regulations No. 13 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia "The Procedure for Documenting Loss and Restoration of the Citizenship of Latvia" (January 9, 2001) and Regulations No. 410 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia "Regulations on the State Duty Payable for Documenting Renunciation of the Citizenship of Latvia and Restoration of the Citizenship of Latvia" (November 28, 2000) prescribe the procedure through which applications on renunciation of the citizenship of Latvia are accepted.

An application for renunciation of the citizenship of Latvia must be submitted in the any regional branch of Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

Deprivation of the citizenship of Latvia

The citizenship of Latvia may be deprived of by a decision of a Regional Court only in case if a person:

1. has acquired citizenship (nationality) of another state without submitting an application as to renunciation of the citizenship of Latvia;
2. is serving in the armed forces, internal military forces, security service, police (militia), or is employed in a law enforcement service of a foreign state, without permission of the Cabinet of Ministers;
3. has intentionally provided false information about him/her when attesting his/her belonging to the citizenship of Latvia or during naturalization and thus has acquired the citizenship of Latvia without having any grounds for it.