EU Citizen Free Movement Residence

The procedure for the entry and residence in the Republic of Latvia of citizens of the European Union Member States, countries of the European Economic Area and Swiss Confederation and their family members is governed by the Directive 2004/38/EC

A Union citizen is entitled to receive a registration card if: he/she is employed in the Republic of Latvia in the status of an employee; he/she is a self-employed person in the Republic of Latvia; he/she is a service provider or an employee of a person established in a Member State that provides services in the Republic of Latvia; he/she is a student of an educational institution registered with the Register of Education Institutions of the Republic of Latvia and he/she has sufficient resources for himself/herself not to become a burden on the social assistance system as well as a valid document issued by a Member State and certifying that the person is entitled to receive in the Republic of Latvia the necessary medical or emergency medical assistance, or he/she holds a health insurance policy. Within the meaning of this Regulation, sufficient resources shall be monthly income that corresponds to at least 50% of the amount of the minimum wage specified for the relevant period; he/she has sufficient resources for himself/herself not to become a burden on the social assistance system as well as a valid document issued by a Member State and certifying that the person is entitled to receive in the Republic of Latvia the necessary medical or emergency medical assistance, or he/she holds a health insurance policy; he/she is a spouse of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen or of a foreigner with the permanent residence permit in the Republic of Latvia, and he/she has sufficient resources for himself/herself not to become a burden on the social assistance system as well as a valid document issued by a Member State and certifying that the person is entitled to receive in the Republic of Latvia the necessary medical or emergency medical assistance, or he/she holds a health insurance policy; trusteeship or guardianship has been established in respect of him/her in the Republic of Latvia.

for up to 3 months without registering as a resident,

valid national identity card or passport

Registration Card of the Union Citizen  is issued if a citizen of the Union or his/her family member, who is a citizen of the Union, resides in the Republic of Latvia for a definite period. Instead of the above document a citizen of the Union or his/her family member, who is a citizen of the Union, is entitled to request the identity card of the citizen of the Union featuring the entry “Registration Card of the Union Citizen”;

It is not required for a Union citizen, residing in the Republic of Latvia for longer than three months , as of the first day of the entry, to register with OCMA and receive the registration card

A family member of a Union citizen, who is not a Union citizen, shall be issued a residence permit: for five years or less, where the foreseeable period of residence of the Union citizen in the Republic of Latvia is less than five years; for 10 years, where the family member of the Union citizen has been granted the right of permanent residence in the Republic of Latvia.

A Union citizen has the right to receive a permanent residence card, provided that he/she: immediately prior to applying for the permanent right of residence, has resided legally in the territory of the Republic of Latvia for a continuous period of

five years

You can lose your right to permanent residence if you live outside the country for more than 2 consecutive years