Latvian citizenship by repatriation
A European Union passport for those whose ancestor was a Latvian citizen or ethnic Latvian: three routes and what changed after repatriation closed.
Latvia is a small, beautiful country in Northern Europe with a rich history and culture. It is a member of the European Union and the Schengen area, so its citizens enjoy freedom of movement across Europe and access to social and economic opportunities. The repatriation program is designed to bring descendants of Latvians back to the land of their ancestors.
Legal grounds
The word repatriation is misleading for Latvia today: since 1 January 2024 repatriate status is no longer granted, and the repatriation law itself expires on 1 July 2028. What people look for under that word is citizenship by descent under the citizenship law. There are three routes:
- descendants of Latvian citizens as of 17 June 1940 - registration of citizenship with no language exam and no residence in Latvia, with no limit on generations;
- exiles of 1940-1990 and their descendants - those whose ancestor fled the occupation regime outside the USSR and could not return;
- Latvians and Livs - if the ancestor was ethnically Latvian or Liv and lived on Latvian territory in 1881 or later but was not a citizen; fluent Latvian is required here.
The exact ground depends on your family tree. In a free consultation we check your documents and tell you which route suits you.
Statutory timelines
| Route | Decision | Language | Previous citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descendants of citizens as of 17.06.1940 | within a month of a complete file | no exam | only European Union, NATO and EFTA countries, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand |
| Exiles of 1940-1990 and their descendants | up to 4 months | no exam | any |
| Latvians and Livs | up to 1 year | fluent Latvian, tested in Latvia | any |
Decisions are made by Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
We will work out online when you can apply and what fees and documents will cost for your family.
Documents and where to get them
- Proof of the ancestor's citizenship or ethnicity: a pre-war passport, the 1935 census, civil registry records and, for Latvians and Livs, the 1886-1887 censuses and parish registers. They are found in the Latvian State Historical Archives.
- A chain of birth and marriage certificates for each generation down to you; different spellings of the surname are covered by name-change certificates or archive extracts.
- Proof of renouncing citizenship if yours is not on the permitted list.
- Latvian translation and legalisation of foreign documents, except those issued in the European Union, the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland.
Archive searches take one to six months depending on whether the ancestor's place of birth is known.
Cost by item
- the office names no separate fee for registering citizenship; return of originals by post costs $14 (12.15 euros);
- archive requests - at the archive's rates;
- legalisation and Latvian translation of foreign documents;
- renouncing your previous citizenship through its consulate, if required.
Our manager calculates the cost of our support in the chat and confirms it in writing.
Dollar amounts use the market rate of 20 October 2026, 1.1229 dollars per euro, rounded up.
Compare with all programs: second passport cost in 2026
How to get approved the first time
- the ancestor was not a Latvian citizen specifically on 17 June 1940;
- the chain of kinship has a gap or surname discrepancies without supporting certificates;
- no proof of renouncing a citizenship that cannot be kept;
- for Latvians and Livs - insufficient Latvian;
- doubts about the authenticity of origin documents: since 2022 they have been checked especially carefully.
What changed by 2026
Since 1 January 2024 repatriate status has not been granted. Descendants of Latvians and Livs from third countries now receive a 5-year temporary residence permit under the immigration law, and permanent residence after 5 years of continuous residence and Latvian at A2 level or higher. Since 15 July 2025 only biometric passports have been accepted from Russian citizens. Registering citizenship by descent does not formally depend on these measures. A detailed analysis is in our article on repatriation to Latvia and Lithuania in 2026.
Comparison with other ancestry routes to a European Union passport
| Country | Who qualifies | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Latvia | descendants of citizens as of 17.06.1940, no generation limit | no exam |
| Bulgaria | descendants of Bulgarians up to a great-grandparent | no exam |
| Romania | former citizens and descendants up to the third generation | Romanian at B1, except some categories |
Benefits of Latvian citizenship
Freedom to travel
Visa-free entry to 188 countries, including the Schengen area, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Business in the European Union
Duty-free trade and access to the European Union single market - plenty of opportunities for business in Europe.
European healthcare
The right to free medical care and social guarantees.
Dual citizenship
Exiles, Latvians and Livs keep any citizenship; descendants of citizens keep citizenship of European Union and NATO countries and a few others.
European education
The right to study at European universities at lower fees and on tuition-free programs.
How to get citizenship: step by step
Preliminary check
A Murblz expert runs a free consultation and reviews your documents. If there are potential complications, they suggest a solution or another program.
Collecting documents
You need to prove your Latvian roots with documents, birth certificates or other official papers.
Filing the application
The citizenship application is filed with a Latvian consulate or the immigration service.
Interview
An interview confirms that you meet the requirements of the repatriation program.
Getting citizenship
Once the application is approved you become a Latvian citizen and can apply for a passport.
FAQ
Who qualifies for Latvian citizenship by descent?
Do I have to give up my first citizenship?
Can I bring my family if they have no Latvian ancestry?
How long does it take to get a Latvian passport?
Can I get Latvian citizenship through a great-grandparent?
Do I need to know Latvian for citizenship by descent?
Where do I look for documents on a Latvian ancestor?
Is repatriation to Latvia still available in 2026?
How much does Latvian citizenship by descent cost?
188 visa-free countries with a Latvian passport
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Services
Murblz services in Latvia
A passport or residence permit opens the door, but life behind it is awkward without a bank account and a roof over your head. Murblz specialists help with the account, property and company in the same country. The quote is fixed in writing before work starts.
See also
Related programs and destinations
All programs - Latvia:
Similar destinations:
The same program in other countries:
How to send money to Latvia in 2026 →
We can help with the transfer: ask in the chat.
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Read →Repatriation to Latvia and Lithuania in 2026: who qualifies and what you actually get
Read →Do you have ancestors from Latvia?
We help search the archives for records of your ancestors, check your grounds for Latvian citizenship and prepare the filing documents. The catalogue lists every route to a second passport.
The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.
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