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Pricelist Residence permits

State duty for residence permit issuance and registration

Applications

Statistics Registration cards Visas and invitations Repatriation Passports Asylum seeking Granting of identity number Departure Renunciation of the status of a non-citizen of Latvia Return decisions Population register Declaration of residence place The long-term resident status of the European Community in Latvia

Services Residence permits

RESIDENCE PERMITS

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Where can the documents be submitted?

To apply for a residence permit, a foreigner must submit documents to a diplomatic or consular representative office of the Republic of Latvia abroad. A foreigner can submit documents to apply for a residence permit to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs:

• If he or she holds a valid residence permit and the validity term of it expires after not less than 30 days;
• If he or she is a citizen or a family member of a citizen of the European Union or the European Economic Zone, or the Switzerland Confederation.
  

If a foreigner resides in the country with a valid visa or who does not need a visa for entering the Republic of Latvia, documents for application for a residence permit may be submitted to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Riga Section No. 1, or at regional offices of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs outside Riga City and Riga district (in accordance with the envisaged place of residence, if invited by an individual, or in accordance with the registered address of the legal entity if invited by a legal entity) in the following cases:

1.If a foreigner is willing to request a residence permit:

• As a pedagogue of an accredited educational establishment;
• As a scientist of a state scientific institution;
• As an advisor (an expert) providing assistance to public or municipal institutions or helping to implement an international treaty or a project where the Republic of Latvia is a partner;
• A trainer of Latvia sports team;
• A professional sports athlete; 
• As a parent of a citizen of Latvia or a non-citizen of Latvia who requests a residence permit in accordance with Section 30 of the Immigration Law; 
• As a minor; 
• As a pupil or a full-time student of an educational establishment accredited in the Republic of Latvia and the residence in the Republic of Latvia is related to participation in the exchange programme;
• Connection with acquiring the citizenship of another country and if the foreigner has been a citizen of Latvia or a non-citizen of Latvia prior to acquiring the citizenship of another country;
  

2.If a foreigner is a citizen of a state who has signed an agreement with the Republic of Latvia about visas free entrance or a citizen of the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia or Nicaragua and is willing to apply for a residence permit as:

• An individual merchant;
• Sole founder of a commercial company; 
• Self-employed person;
• A person registered in the Commercial Register as a member of a partnership with rights to represent a partnership, member of the board or the council, managing clerk, executive, liquidator or a person authorised to represent a merchant (a foreign merchant) in activities related to the branch office; 
• A specialist in the field of atomic energy.
  

!!! With the persons specified above the documents in order to receive a residence permit can submit also a spouse of a foreigner, their minor (also pupillary) children and persons being in a guardian.

!!! At Valka district regional office of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs – if you are a citizen of Estonia or a person travelling with Estonia foreigner passport, your permanent place of residence is in the Republic of Estonia, Valga and your envisaged place of residence or work in the Republic of Latvia is Valka.

!!! A foreigner who holds a valid permanent residence permit may apply to a regional office of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs according to declared place of residence of the foreigner. If declared place of residence of the foreigner is Riga or Riga district, the foreigner may apply to any regional office of Riga City, with the exception of Riga Section No. 1.