Latvia will oblige third-country nationals to provide personal data. In particular, information about relatives

Latvia is taking another step towards strengthening its borders and protecting the state from potential threats by requiring third-country nationals to be transparent and as open as possible when planning visits. Find out what you will need to provide and who will be affected by the changes

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The Latvian Parliament has finally approved amendments to the Immigration Law and the State Border Law, according to which third-country nationals who do not have a Latvian visa or residence permit will be required to provide detailed information about themselves in advance, among other things. The new rules will kick in this year and are meant to boost national security and control migration flows.

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What information will need to be provided

All foreigners who do not have a visa or residence permit in Latvia will be required to notify the authorities 48 hours before crossing the border of the purpose of their trip, the expected duration of their stay, their itinerary and place of residence, as well as their contact details.

Additionally, information must be provided about elected positions (both personally and by relatives), candidacy in elections, service in the army, police, border guards, customs and other state structures.

It is particularly emphasised that providing false information is punishable by a fine of up to €2,000.

Who will be affected by the changes

The new rules will be mandatory for citizens of all countries except residents of the EU, NATO, OECD countries, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Brazil. Exceptions are persons with diplomatic immunity, as well as those entering the country for official duties or technical support for a short period.

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Restrictions on visiting border areas

Once the amendments come into force, foreigners will only be able to enter Latvia's border area with written permission from the State Security Service. All previously issued temporary passes will remain valid for no more than two months from the date of entry into force of the new rules.

According to current legislation, all persons aged 15 and over must have a permanent or temporary special pass to stay in the border zone, which is issued by the border service.

Before travelling to Latvia, it is also important to prepare in advance not only for the new requirements, but also to take care of your protection. Take out travel insurance from Visit Ukraine — it is a reliable guarantee of support in emergency situations abroad, medical assistance and coverage of unforeseen expenses.

And if you plan to travel by car, don't forget to get a Green Card. On the Visit Ukraine platform, you can do this in just a few minutes online and be sure that your trip will be safe and secure.

Why is Latvia tightening measures

The reason for such strict measures is the threats associated with the activities of foreign special services, especially after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation. The Latvian authorities fear that Russian and Belarusian citizens may use their connections or documents issued by other Schengen countries to move freely within the European Union and enter Latvia without additional checks.

The explanatory memorandum to the bill notes that some EU countries, such as Hungary, do not conduct thorough security checks when issuing residence permits to citizens of Russia and Belarus. As a result, the Latvian border service may not have complete information about such persons upon their entry.

The amendments were drafted by the Latvian Parliament's State Security Committee. The document emphasises that the tightened controls are intended to minimise the risks of espionage and hybrid threats, which have increased in the region in recent years. Since February 2022, Latvia has already had stricter migration controls in place, which will now become even more stringent.

Reminder! Ukrainians planning to travel to Latvia should be aware that in many cases a visa is required to enter the country. Find out under what circumstances a permit is mandatory, what requirements applicants must meet and how to apply.

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