Less than 1000 foreigners naturalize for Latvian citizenship every year

Latvia admitted  a total of 146,512 persons for citizenship by naturalization during a period of 24 years since 1995,  according the latest 2019 citizenship report released by PMLV migration office of Latvia. 

In 2019, a total of 150 people received their citizenships through naturalization. The Naturalization process began in Latvia on February 1, 1995.

On March 19, the Cabinet of Ministers issued an order for 89 persons to be granted Latvian citizenship by naturalization, including 5 under-aged minors.   Of 89 citizenship applicants, 76% are Russians, 10% are Ukrainians, 4% are Belarusians, Lithuanians, Poles and other nationalities.  16% of citizenship applicants are basic, 57% – average, 25% – higher education.

Source: PMLV

The Citizenship acquisition by foreigners peaked between 2004 to 2006, with over 16,000 naturalizations, since then it has considerably declined due to tightening of citizenship rules by Latvia.

Latvia also operates an active golden visa scheme . By the end of 2018, a total of 4313 golden visa cards issued by Latvia for investments in business, real estate, bonds or securities.

Foreigners may be admitted to citizenship of Latvia under a naturalisation procedure:

• Reached the age of 15;
• Permanent place of residence has been in Latvia for not less than the last five years
• Fluent in the Latvian language, know the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the text of the National Anthem, and the basics of the history and culture of Latvia;
• Legal source of income;
• Renounced of their former citizenship and received an expatriation permit from the country of their former citizenship

PMLV advises new citizens that admission to Latvian citizenship, the legal status of a person is changed, therefore the former non-citizen’s passport is no longer valid for use either domestically or abroad.