Published: 05.08.2021.
Updated: 17.10.2025.

Regulatory enactments:

A child shall be recognised as a Latvian citizen if he or she complies with the following conditions:

  • the child is born in Latvia after 21 August 1991;
  • the permanent residence is in Latvia;
  • the child has previously been stateless or a non-citizen;
  • his or parents are stateless persons or non-citizens all the time;
  • the permanent place of residence of the parent, with whom the child lives together, is in Latvia at least for the last five years.

A submission about the child until the age of 15 years shall be submitted by a legal representative of the child:

  • one of the parents of the child;
  • mother of the child, if the birth act of the child does not contain an entry about the father of the child;
  • one of the parents of the child, if the other parent has deceased.
  1. A submission
  2. personal identification document of the parent of the child (passport or identification card). When sending the documents via mail, only a COPY of the personal identification document shall be sent;
  3. a document confirming the permanent life of the child in Latvia (for example, a statement from the educational institution);
  4. a document, confirming permanent residence of the parent in Latvia during the last five years (for example, a statement of the place of work or statement regarding receipt of a benefit).

In the age from 15 to 18 years the submission shall be submitted by the child himself or herself:

  1. A submission
  2. personal identification document (passport or identification card. When sending the documents via mail only a COPY of the personal identification document should be sent;
  3. a document confirming permanent residence in Latvia for the last five years (for example, a statement of the educational institution etc.);
  4. one of the documents specified below, confirming the ability to speak Latvian:
    • a statement and certificate on the acquisition of the general principal education in Latvian;
    • a certificate issued by the National Centre for Education after 31 August 2011 (valid for 5 years after the day of issue), confirming the total assessment in percentage acquired in the centralized examination in Latvia (in the accredited education programme for grade 9) not below 50%, or the total assessment in percentage acquired in the centralized examination in Latvian and Literature (in the accredited education programme for grade 12) not below 20%;
    • in case of not being able to submit any of the above-mentioned documents, confirming the ability to speak Latvian, the child shall be sent for examination of the skills of Latvia, taking place at OCMA;
  5. one photograph (3x4cm), if the ability to speak Latvian will be approved by OCMA.

See information about the examination of the Latvian: "Examinations determined in the Citizenship Law".

Children, to whom the disability has been determined, which is confirmed by a certificate of the disability or decision of the State Medical Commission for the Assessment of Health Condition and Working Ability regarding determination of disability for work.

Documents must be submitted remotely:

  1. using the official electronic eAddress, attaching certified copies of the original documents signed with a secure electronic signature;

  2. by sending an email to pskn@pmlp.gov.lv with an application signed using a secure electronic signature, as well as certified copies of the original documents signed with a secure electronic signature (except for a copy of an identity document);

  3. by sending the documents by post to the OCMA at the address: Čiekurkalna 1. līnija 1, k-3, Rīga, LV-1026.

When sending documents by post, copies of documents must be certified, except for a copy of an identity document.

Original documents submitted may be returned:

  • by collecting them in person at the OCMA or by authorizing a representative, or

  • by using postal services (a paid service) — the original documents will be sent back to the correspondence address indicated in the application. The fee for returning original documents is €12.15, and postal expenses must also be covered.

If documents are submitted electronically and signed with a secure electronic signature, a confirmation “copy is correct” must be added, indicating who certifies it, and the document copy must be signed with a secure electronic signature.

The decision shall be made within a time period of one month from the day of receipt of all necessary documents by OCMA.

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.