News
The question of dual citizenship
Under Latvian law, it is not possible to become a dual citizen. From 1991 until July 1995, under so-called transitional rules in the Citizenship Law, it was possible for former World War II exiles and their descendants, as well as for Soviet-era émigrés and deportees, to claim Latvian citizenship without having to give up the citizenship of their host country. In all, 30,793 persons took advantage of the transitional rules and became dual citizens, according to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde). Now pressure has been increasing to reconsider several aspects of the Citizenship Law and to once again allow dual citizenship, both for those from the exile generations and for various other groups, including recent emigrants to countries such as Ireland and Great Britain. Available on this page are links to articles on the topic of dual citizenship, as well as other resources.
Latest story
Cabinet backs citizenship law changes; justice minister calls for swift passage
December 13, 2011
The Latvian government has given its backing to a list of recommendations for proposed amendments to the country’s citizenship law, including allowing dual citizenship for World War II-era exiles and their descendants.
The Council of Ministers accepted the recommendations made by Justice Minister Gaidis Bērziņš during a Dec. 13 meeting in Rīga. The recommendations, many of which offer technical corrections, will now go to the parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee (Juridiskā komisija), which is considering a bill to amend the citizenship law.
Archive
2011
Cabinet backs citizenship law changes; justice minister calls for swift passage
Lawmakers: Latvia needs to improve, finance relations with diaspora
Saeima committee reintroduces amendments to citizenship law
Legislation proposing dual citizenship may now have to wait for 11th Saeima
Tiekoties ar ASV jauniešiem, Zatlers pārrunā dubultpilsonības jautājumu
Saeima supports dual citizenship proposal, sends bill to 2nd reading
Special commission to study changes to Latvia’s citizenship law
Jūsu brīvība bija mūsu uzdevums
Vienotība seeks dual citizenship; Saeima now has 3 proposals
Government’s action plan calls for dual citizenship by year’s end
Saeima begins discussion on president’s dual citizenship proposals
Zatlers joins dual citizenship debate, tells Saeima it’s time to change law
Nationalists in Saeima propose amendments to allow dual citizenship
2010
Saeima approves dual citizenship for Latvian woman in Canada
MPs seek end to dual citizenship ban; Latvian-Canadian asks Saeima’s help
Vienotība: Next Saeima should amend law to allow dual citizenship
Supreme Court to rule this month on Strunskis dual citizenship case
Court rules dual citizenship restriction is constitutional
Constitutional Court to review dual citizenship case in April
2009
Constitutional Court gives itself more time to ready citizenship case
Constitutional Court to hear case challenging dual citizenship rule
Top court questions constitutionality of Latvia’s dual citizenship rule
Lack of political support kills citizenship changes, premier says
TB/LNNK opposes changes to citizenship law
Five dual citizens among Europarliament candidates
2008
Minister, PBLA discuss dual citizenship options
Dual citizenship proposal moves forward
2007
Kastēns urges broader dual citizenship discussion
New work group considers dual citizenship proposals
Court throws out case challenging dual citizenship ban
Task force offers plan of action for repatriation
Survey shows strong support for dual citizenship
Survey raises hope for dual citizenship
Survey asks diaspora about dual citizenship
2004
PBLA: Say ‘no’ to ban on dual citizens in high office
Data
Resources
Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde
Part of the Ministry of the Interior, the PMLP oversees citizenship and migration affairs, including issuing passports and processing repatriation requests. EN LV RU
Documents
Pilsonības likums
Latvia's Citizenship Law, available from the law database provided by the official government newspaper, Latvijas Vēstnesis. LV
Likumprojekts 201/Lp10
Nacionālās apvienības "Visu Latvijai!" - "Tēvzemei un Brīvībai/LNNK" likumprojekts grozījumiem Pilsonības likumā, Saeimā iesniegts 2011. gada 20. janvārī. Juridiskā komisija 23. martā nolēma likumprojektu neatbalstīt. (PDF, 130 K)
Prezidenta vēstule
Valsts prezidenta Valda Zatlera 2011. gada 1. februāra vēstule Saeimas priekšsēdētājai Solvitai Āboltiņai par ieteiktiem grozījumiem Pilsonības likumā. (PDF, 372 K)
Likumprojekts 238/Lp10
Vienotības likumprojekts grozijumiem Pilsonības likumā, Saeimā iesniegts 2011. gada 17. februārī. Saeima 31. martā nolēma likumprojektu atbalstīt 1. lasījumā un to virzīt tālāk uz 2. lasījumu. (PDF, 98 K)
What's new
Multimedia
20 Feb 2012
In language referendum, Latvians abroad vote in record numbers
In the homeland and around the world, Latvian citizens on Feb. 18 voted in a referendum that, if successful, would have established Russian as the second official language. The measure was soundly defeated in turnout that set records. Outside the homeland, the busiest voting districts were mostly in the United Kingdom and Ireland, the two countries that have seen the greatest amount of immigration from Latvia in the past decade.
News
18 Feb 2012
Voters slam Russian as state language; referendum turnout sets records
Preliminary results show voters in Latvia and abroad turned out in record numbers to resoundingly reject a Feb. 18 referendum that would have made Russian the country’s second official language.
News
18 Feb 2012
Polls open in language referendum amid predictions of high turnout
Around the world Latvian citizens are going to the polls Feb. 18 to cast a simple ballot in one of the most emotional issues in the country’s brief history as an independent state.
In the forums
XXV Vispārējie latviešu dziesmu un XV Deju svētki datumi RIGA?? posted by jjanavs on 22 Feb 2012
Referendums.Sviests.Ka mes tik talu nonacam? posted by Irena on 22 Feb 2012
"What's my language" plus 1189 comments (economist.com/blogs) posted by ambersun on 19 Feb 2012
Or really, what faith do Latvians Have? posted by Ikabods Ozols on 18 Feb 2012
Not a lot of discussion on faith is there? posted by Ikabods Ozols on 18 Feb 2012
