Published: 23.01.2021.
Updated: 24.07.2025.

A Union citizen is entitled to receive a registration card if:

  1. he/she is employed in the Republic of Latvia in the status of an employee;

  2. he/she is a self-employed person in the Republic of Latvia;

  3. he/she is a service provider or an employee of a person established in a Member State that provides services in the Republic of Latvia;

  4. he/she is a student of an educational institution registered with the Register of Education Institutions of the Republic of Latvia and he/she has sufficient resources for himself/herself not to become a burden on the social assistance system as well as a valid document issued by a Member State and certifying that the person is entitled to receive in the Republic of Latvia the necessary medical or emergency medical assistance, or he/she holds a health insurance policy. Within the meaning of this Regulation, sufficient resources shall be monthly income that corresponds to at least 50% of the amount of the minimum wage specified for the relevant period;

  5. he/she has sufficient resources for himself/herself not to become a burden on the social assistance system as well as a valid document issued by a Member State and certifying that the person is entitled to receive in the Republic of Latvia the necessary medical or emergency medical assistance, or he/she holds a health insurance policy;

  6. he/she is a spouse of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen or of a foreigner with the permanent residence permit in the Republic of Latvia, and he/she has sufficient resources for himself/herself not to become a burden on the social assistance system as well as a valid document issued by a Member State and certifying that the person is entitled to receive in the Republic of Latvia the necessary medical or emergency medical assistance, or he/she holds a health insurance policy;

  7. trusteeship or guardianship has been established in respect of him/her in the Republic of Latvia.

It is not required for a Union citizen, residing in the Republic of Latvia for longer than three months, as of the first day of the entry, to register with OCMA and receive the registration card if he/she is in possession of a valid travel document and he/she:

  1. resides in the Republic of Latvia for up to six months per year, as of the first day of the entry, where the purpose of such residence is to establish employment legal relationship in the Republic of Latvia. Where, upon expiry of the period of six months, the Union citizen has not yet established employment legal relationship, he/she and his/her family members may continue to reside in the Republic of Latvia without being registered with OCMA for as long as there is evidence that the Union citizen is continuing to seek employment and there is reason to believe that he/she has a genuine chance to establish employment relationship;
  2. is employed in the Republic of Latvia, but resides in another European Union Member State, to which he/she returns at least once per week;
  3. is a student of an educational institution registered with the Register of Education Institutions of the Republic of Latvia and his/her intended period of residence in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed one year.

  1. immediately prior to applying for the permanent right of residence, has resided legally in the territory of the Republic of Latvia for a continuous period of five years;

  2. prior to becoming a citizen of a Member State, has been a citizen or non-citizen of Latvia and has submitted the documents for requesting the permanent residence card within 30 days after the decision regarding the loss of the status as a citizen or non-citizen of Latvia;

  3. is a minor child of a citizen of Latvia, a non-citizen of Latvia, a Union citizen holding a permanent residence card, a family member of a Union citizen holding a permanent residence permit or a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit.

  1. at the time of ceasing his/her professional activities, has reached the age of retirement specified in legal acts of the Republic of Latvia or has ceased paid employment, to go into retirement prematurely if he/she has worked in the Republic of Latvia at least the last 12 months and has resided in the Republic of Latvia for a continuous period of more than three years. A continuous period of residence in the Republic of Latvia shall include a period of employment in another Member State;

  2. has resided in the Republic of Latvia for more than two continuous years and terminated employment in the Republic of Latvia due to irreversible incapacity for work. The condition on the period of residence shall not apply, where such incapacity for work has resulted due to an accident occurring at work or due to occupational illness, for which a person is entitled to receive benefits in the Republic of Latvia. A continuous period of residence in the Republic of Latvia shall include a period of employment in another Member State;

  3. after three years of continuous employment relationship and residence in the Republic of Latvia, is working in an employed or self-employed capacity in another Member State, while retaining the place of residence in the Republic of Latvia, to which he/she returns each day or at least once a week.

  1. immediately prior to applying for the permanent right of residence, has resided legally in the Republic of Latvia for a continuous period of five years. The condition of a continuous residence of five years in the Republic of Latvia shall not apply to the family member of the Union citizen, where the respective Union citizen has been granted a permanent residence card;

  2. is a minor child of a Union citizen or of a family member of a Union citizen, where the respective Union citizen or his or her family member has been granted the right of permanent residence in the Republic of Latvia.

  1. for five years or less, where the foreseeable period of residence of the Union citizen in the Republic of Latvia is less than five years;

  2. for 10 years, where the family member of the Union citizen has been granted the right of permanent residence in the Republic of Latvia.