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Dual Citizenship: Conditional Europe

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Latvia

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP)

Embassy Finder: Latvian Embassies and Consulates

Quick Facts

CategoryDetails
Residency for naturalization5 years permanent residence in Latvia
Language requirementLatvian language proficiency at B1 level (conversational)
Civics testYes — knowledge of the Constitution (Satversme), national anthem, and basic history of Latvia
Processing time6—12 months
Naturalization feeEUR 28.46 (standard); reduced fees for certain categories
Dual citizenshipConditional — permitted with EU/EEA/NATO countries, countries with bilateral agreements, and for Latvian exiles and their descendants
Citizenship by birth in LatviaLimited jus soli — children born to non-citizen permanent residents may acquire citizenship
Citizenship by descentAutomatic for children of Latvian citizens
Governing lawPilsonibas likums (Citizenship Law of 1994, as amended)

Dual Citizenship

Latvia permits dual citizenship only in specific circumstances, making its policy conditional rather than fully open.

Permitted combinations (since 2013 amendments, expanded in 2022):

  1. EU/EEA/NATO member state citizens — Latvian citizens who acquire citizenship of an EU, EEA, or NATO country (and vice versa) may retain both.
  2. Countries with bilateral agreements — Australia, Brazil, and others where Latvia has concluded agreements permitting dual nationality.
  3. Latvian exiles and their descendants — Persons who left Latvia during the Soviet or Nazi occupations (1940—1990) and their descendants, regardless of which country’s citizenship they hold, may retain or reclaim Latvian citizenship without renouncing the other.
  4. Persons who acquired the other citizenship automatically — for example, by birth in another country.

Prohibited combinations: A Latvian citizen who voluntarily acquires citizenship of a country not on the permitted list must renounce Latvian citizenship or forfeit the foreign citizenship. This primarily affects naturalization in countries like Russia, China, and most non-EU/non-NATO states.

Special category — “Non-citizens” (nepilsoni): Latvia has a unique status of approximately 180,000 “non-citizens” — predominantly ethnic Russians and Russian speakers who were permanent residents of the Latvian SSR but did not automatically receive citizenship upon independence in 1991. Non-citizens hold a special passport, have permanent residence rights, but cannot vote or hold certain government positions. They may naturalize by passing the language and civics tests.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Latvia follows a predominantly jus sanguinis system. Pure jus soli does not apply, but limited territorial provisions exist:

Children of non-citizens or stateless persons (Section 3(1)): A child born in Latvia after 21 August 1991 to parents who are both non-citizens of Latvia or stateless persons may be registered as a Latvian citizen if:

  • The child has been permanently residing in Latvia, AND
  • The child is not a citizen of any other state.

Since 2020 amendment: Children born in Latvia to non-citizen parents are now automatically registered as Latvian citizens at birth, unless the parents explicitly opt out within a specified period. This was a significant reform aimed at reducing the non-citizen population.

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

A child acquires Latvian citizenship at birth if at least one parent is a Latvian citizen at the time of birth (Section 2), regardless of where the child is born.

Key provisions:

  • Both married and unmarried parents can transmit citizenship.
  • If only the father is Latvian and the parents are not married, paternity must be established.
  • There is no generational limit for descent, though citizens born abroad should register the birth with a Latvian diplomatic mission.

By Adoption

A child under 15 years of age adopted by a Latvian citizen acquires Latvian citizenship automatically upon the adoption taking legal effect in Latvia.

For children aged 15—18, the adopted child may acquire citizenship through a simplified naturalization process.

By Marriage

Latvia does not grant automatic citizenship through marriage. A foreign spouse of a Latvian citizen must naturalize through the standard process but benefits from a reduced residency requirement:

  • The spouse must have been lawfully and permanently resident in Latvia for at least 3 years (reduced from the standard 5 years) after marriage.
  • The marriage must be genuine and subsisting.
  • All other naturalization conditions apply (language test, civics test, income, loyalty oath).

By Naturalization (Residency)

Standard pathway (Section 12, Citizenship Law):

RequirementDetails
Permanent residence5 years of permanent residence in Latvia (non-citizens of Latvia may count residence from 1990)
Latvian languageB1 level — tested in listening, reading, writing, and speaking
Civics knowledgeWritten test on the Satversme (Constitution), national anthem text, and basic Latvian history
Legal incomeMust demonstrate a lawful source of income
Loyalty oathOath of loyalty to the Republic of Latvia
RenunciationMust renounce prior citizenship unless the dual citizenship exception applies
No security threatsMust not pose a threat to national security or public order
FeeEUR 28.46 (standard); EUR 4.27 (reduced for pensioners, disabled persons, full-time students, legally recognized low-income persons)

Exemptions from language/civics tests:

  • Persons who completed education in Latvian-language schools
  • Persons over 65 years of age (simplified test)
  • Persons with certain disabilities

Latvia is an EU and Schengen Area member state. Latvian citizens enjoy full EU freedom of movement and the right to live, work, and study in any EU/EEA country.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Latvian citizen may renounce citizenship by submitting an application to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (Section 23), provided:

  1. The person has acquired or been guaranteed the citizenship of another state.
  2. The renunciation will not render them stateless.

Involuntary Loss

GroundDetails
Voluntary acquisition of another citizenshipIf the other country is not on the permitted dual citizenship list, the person loses Latvian citizenship (Section 24).
FraudCitizenship obtained through false information or fraudulent documents may be annulled.
Service in foreign armed forcesVoluntary service in the armed forces or security services of a foreign state without authorization may result in loss of citizenship.
DisloyaltyActing against the sovereignty or constitutional order of Latvia.

Restoration of Nationality

Latvian exiles and descendants (Section 2(1)): Persons who were Latvian citizens on 17 June 1940 (date of Soviet occupation) and their descendants are entitled to register as Latvian citizens regardless of current residence or other citizenships held. This is a registration right, not discretionary naturalization.

Former citizens: Persons who previously held Latvian citizenship and renounced it or lost it may apply for restoration. The standard naturalization requirements apply, but the authorities have discretion to reduce the residency requirement.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Foundlings (Section 3): A child found in the territory of Latvia whose parents are unknown is presumed to be a Latvian citizen until the contrary is established.

Stateless persons: Latvia is party to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The non-citizen category, while not technically “stateless” under international law (non-citizens hold a recognized legal status and travel document), remains a subject of international scrutiny. UNHCR has urged Latvia to facilitate the naturalization of remaining non-citizens.

Document Checklist

Completed naturalization application form

Valid passport or non-citizen passport

Birth certificate (with Latvian translation if in a foreign language)

Proof of permanent residence in Latvia (residence permit, registration)

Latvian language proficiency certificate (B1 level)

Civics/history test results

Proof of lawful income (employment contract, tax declarations)

Proof of renunciation of prior citizenship (if applicable)

Criminal record certificate

Two passport-sized photographs

Application fee payment receipt

Marriage certificate (if applying under spousal pathway)

Sources

  1. Pilsonibas likums (Citizenship Law) — as amended. Full text in English: https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/57512

  2. Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) — official portal for citizenship applications. https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/citizenship

  3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia — embassy finder and consular services. https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en

  4. Saeima (Parliament of Latvia) — legislative records and amendments to the Citizenship Law. https://www.saeima.lv/en

  5. UNHCR — reports on non-citizen population in Latvia. https://www.unhcr.org/

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