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.
Archive
2012
Conference in Rīga addresses citizenship
Citizenship agency to appeal court’s ruling in Latvian physicist’s case
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
Opinions
20 May 2012
Bitter Sweet World Hockey Championships for Latvia
With everything said and done, Latvia placed 10th at this year’s International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships. Victories against Germany and Italy as well as a goal differential advantage over Germany and Switzerland who finished with the same number of points was enough to propel Latvia from last year’s 13th place finish to 10th.
News
19 May 2012
President in Chicago for NATO summit
Latvian President Andris Bērziņš is on a three-day visit to Chicago to attend the NATO defense alliance summit and to meet with the local Latvian community, according to his press office.
Reviews
16 May 2012
Vasks compilation of works exceptional
Though Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks has achieved success and fame with compositions for solo instruments, string quartets, orchestras, piano, among many other instruments, some of his most powerful and memorable works are his choir songs. The addition of text and language (particularly the Latvian language), in combination with the exceptional skill of the world-class Latvian Radio Choir, make his choir songs particularly haunting and emotionally affecting.
In the forums
Latvians .. what have we done across the globe? posted by marisr on 20 May 2012
The most beautiful country in the world................. posted by peter B on 19 May 2012
Can Latvia be trusted by NATO? posted by Andrejs on 15 May 2012
Cultural Diplomacy & Sustainable Development - Geneva posted by ICD Academy on 15 May 2012
Political & Economic Inequalities: Bridging the Gap between Civil Society and the Public & Private Sectors posted by ICD Academy on 15 May 2012
