Dual Citizenship Latvia

Latvian citizenship is based primarily upon the principle of jus sanguinis (right of blood).

Since Latvia is a part of the European Union, a Latvian citizen can travel and reside freely in any of the member states that are a part of the EU.

Latvia permits dual citizenship under very limited circumstances. Those Latvian citizens and their direct descendants who escaped the USSR and German occupation regimes between June 17, 1940 and May 4, 1990 as refugees or who were deported, and during that time naturalized in another country, retained the right to register as Latvian citizens provided that they registered by July 1, 1995.

However, since 2012, the Latvian Parliament has been considering amending its laws on dual citizenship to permit dual citizenship for the following groups of people:

• those acquiring Latvian citizenship through naturalization, provided that the person is from a member state of the European Union, European Free Trade Area and Nato or from a country with a dual citizenship agreement with Latvia;
• Latvian citizens acquiring another citizenship as a result of adoption or marriage, or under special permission by the government;
• Latvian citizens living abroad and Latvian children born abroad.

If you would like more information about Latvian citizenship, please contact us.