The amendments to the Immigration Law provide that those 25 316 citizens of the Russian Federation who were Latvian citizens or Latvian non-citizens before acquiring the citizenship of the Russian Federation and have received permanent residence permits in accordance with Section 24, Paragraph one, Clause 8 of the Immigration Law must submit documents to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter - the Office) by 1 September of the current year to apply for the status of a habitual resident of the European Union (hereinafter - the EU), including proof of successful completion of the State language test.
So far 11 033 persons have already submitted all necessary documents for requesting of a status of habitual resident of the EU. When 1 September is approaching, the Office would like to remind that documents should be submitted in a timely manner, i.e., the Office shall receive the documents UNTIL 1 September of the current year.
It is essential to take into account several conditions.
1. In case if exceptions of the State language test are not attributable to the person, all necessary documents can be submitted to the Office ONLY in the case, if the person has passed the State language test. Documents that will be submitted without a proof on successfully passed State language examination, will not be registered.
2. Even in the case if the exception of the State language test refers to the person, all other documents shall be MANDATORY submitted to the Office until 1 September of the current year.
3. If the documents will not be received by 1 September, the permanent residence permit will expire on 2 September, your stay in the country will become illegal and you will have to leave the territory of the Republic of Latvia by 2 December 2023.
4. If the State language test will be unsuccessfully passed until 1 September 2023 and the timing for repeat State language test is determined during the time period until 30 November 2023, the Office SHALL NOT be informed on the date of repeat Latvian language test.
At the same time it is important to take into account that after successful passing of the State language test all documents shall be submitted to the Office not later than by 31 December of the current year.
More detailed information about amendments to the Immigration Law and exceptions with regard to the State language test for certain groups of persons is available on the website of the Office www.pmlp.gov.lv in the section “Current events on amendments to the
Immigration Law”, where it is possible to become acquainted with the full wording of the informative letter, or by calling to the info line of the Office +371 67209400.
It is possible to obtain additional information and consultations about the process for submission of documents or possibilities to arrange the temporary residence permit by writing to the Migration Department of the Office to the e-mail address mn@pmlp.gov.lv.
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
Head of Public Relations
Madara Puķe