Latvia is a fairly prosperous state in Northern Europe, a member of the EU and a member of the Schengen Agreement. If you want to become a full-fledged citizen of Latvia, then you will need to familiarize yourself with the Latvian Citizenship Law, which regulates all issues related to the acquisition, loss and restoration of Latvian citizenship.
Instructions
Step 1
There are three ways to become a full-fledged citizen of Latvia. Your rights and responsibilities will not differ, no matter which method you choose. First of all, persons who had Latvian citizenship before June 17, 1940, as well as their descendants, with the exception of cases of acquiring citizenship in other countries, can register the status of a citizen of Latvia. In addition, people who live continuously in the country and who have received a Latvian diploma of secondary education while studying in the Latvian language can obtain Latvian citizenship. A child born to two Latvian citizens receives Latvian citizenship automatically. If only one parent is a citizen of the country, then the issue will be decided depending on the place of birth of the child and the citizenship of the second parent.
Step 2
The second method of obtaining Latvian citizenship can be used by persons who were born in the country not earlier than 21.08.1991. In this case, it will be necessary to prove that you have permanently resided in the territory of Latvia for at least five years, and also do not have any other citizenship (nationality). If we are talking about a child under 15 years of age, then the documents for citizenship can be submitted by his parents or legal guardians.
Step 3
Finally, the last and most common way is naturalization. Persons who have permanently resided in the territory of Latvia for more than 5 years (since 1990-05-04), have a stable source of income and have renounced their previous citizenship can be naturalized. The naturalization procedure includes testing for knowledge of the Latvian language, the text of the Latvian anthem, the history of Latvia and the country's Constitution. After passing all the checks, you will also need to take an oath of allegiance to the Republic of Latvia. Applicants for Latvian citizenship must pay a state fee of LVL 20 with a number of benefits for veterans, orphans and disabled people.
