On Tuesday, June 2, the Cabinet of Ministers issued an order to take 55 persons, including 2 children of their minors, into Latvian citizenship by naturalisation.
Of the 53 applicants for citizenship, 77% are Russians, 11% Ukrainians, 7% Belarusians, as well as Lithuanians, Poles and other nationalities.
9% of applicants for citizenship are basic, 45% - average, 43% - higher education.
In the coming days, young citizens will receive a statement by post from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), which will include information on the person's admission to citizenship, as well as the most relevant information regarding the possibilities for drawing up the passport of the new Latvian citizen.
The OCMA recalls that, with the admission to Latvian citizenship, the legal status of the person is changed, so the passport of the former non-citizen is no longer valid for use either domestically or for travel abroad.
Citizenship of Latvia in naturalisation was held by 147 551 persons: in 1995 - 984; in 1996 - 3 016; in 1997 - 2 992; in 1998 - 4 439; in 1999 - 12 427; in 2000 - 14 900; in 2001 - 10 637, in 2002 - 9844; in 2003 - 10 049; in 2004. 16 064 in 2005; 19 169 in 2005; 16 439 in 2006; 6826 in 2007; 3 004 in 2008; 2 080 in 2009; 2 336 in 2010; 2 467 in 2011; 2 213 in 2012; 1 732 in 2013; 939 in 2014; 971 in 2016; 987 in 2017; 915 in 2017; 930 in 2018; 808 in 2019; 383 in 2020.
In order to become a citizen of Latvia in naturalisation procedures, a person must refer to any territorial division of the OCMA regardless of his or her place of residence. Latvian citizenship consists of persons who have confirmed their Latvian language skills, as well as have successfully passed a verification of the basic rules of the Constitution, the text of the national anthem and the knowledge of the history of Latvia.
Prepared by:
Maris Zarins
Head of the Interior Ministry's
Communications Department
Tel. : 67219213
Mob. : 29120858
E-mail: maris.zarins@iem.gov.lv