Starting from March 21, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter referred to as the OCMA), the State Border Guard (hereinafter referred to as the SBG) and the State Fire and Rescue Service (hereinafter referred to as the SFRS) continue their work in the Riga Support Center for Ukrainian residents on Kaļķu iela 1, identifying Ukrainian residents, accepting visa and residence permit application and ensuring an opportunity to find housing in Riga or any other municipality.
The institutions subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior – the OCMA, the SBG, the SFRS - in the Riga Support Center for Ukrainian residents continue to provide the following services to Ukrainian residents:
The SBG officials carry out verification and identification of documents of Ukrainian residents, i.e., direct the persons with valid personal identity documents to the OCMA for requesting visa or residence permit.
On the other hand, for persons who do not have personal identity documents, the officials take the necessary actions to identify them. The SBG officials in the center also provide support to the OCMA in issuance of visas, as well as identify possible witnesses to the crimes of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.
The OCMA officials accept applications for visas and residence permits from Ukrainian residents, as well as ensure that persons are photographed for visa purposes. Long-term visas are issued for one year and are free of charge. Persons who do not have valid travel documents are granted temporary residence permits for a period of one year. Both visa and temporary residence permit give the right to employment in the Republic of Latvia. Decisions on the granting of visas and residence permits are made within ten working days.
The support center also consists of volunteer assistants and employees of other State administrative bodies (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Probation Service), who provide significant assistance in provision of services to Ukrainian residents, by helping with correct filling in of visa and residence permit applications, as well as by issuing prepared visas.
It is important to note that persons who have submitted residence permit applications must then come to any territorial division of the OCMA in order to submit biometric data and then obtain the prepared residence permit in the same division. Residence permits are prepared and issued free of charge, while services to Ukrainian residents are provided without prior appointment and in order of priority, i.e. without waiting in queues.
The SFRS officials contact the civil protection commissions of the cooperation territories and coordinate the accommodation of Ukrainian residents not only in Riga but also in other Latvian municipalities. Ukrainian residents are transported to accommodation by means of transport provided by the SFRS or local authorities.
The SFRS reminds that support for Ukrainian residents is provided not only in Riga, but also in other municipalities in Latvia, where not only accommodation is provided, but also other types of assistance, including catering, issuing of essential goods, health care and social services, continuing education and free learning of Latvian language, as well as animal care and registration options.
The Riga Support Centre on Kaļķu iela 1 is open every working day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The most up-to-date information about the center's activities – www.riga.lv.
Information is prepared by:
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
Personnel Management and Public Relations Department
prese@pmlp.gov.lv, phone: 67219185