Student Work Permit In Latvia

Studying in a foreign country is one of the best experiences of your life. This article will cover the student work permit process in Latvia, which may help you decide if this country is right for you.

Are you an international student planning to work in Latvia? Well, it is possible. You do not need a work permit but you need a residence permit. What makes the procedure so difficult is the fact that you and your employer will be responsible for ensuring you are within the law and fully committed to your responsibilities as an employee and payee. We will base our discussion today on – Student Work Permit In Latvia. But, other resources which you can find on our website include some frequently asked questions such as: latvia work permit requirements and latvia student visa success rate

Table of Contents

The student work permit in Latvia is a temporary residence permit for students who have graduated from a non-vocational educational institution. Students who have already received a degree, but are studying for another degree can also apply for the student work permit.

The student work permit is issued to students to help them gain valuable work experience that will help them find better jobs after graduation. Students must be able to support themselves financially while they are studying in Latvia.

Students who wish to apply for the student work permit must meet all of the following requirements:

1) They must be at least 18 years old and under 30 years old;

2) They must be enrolled in an educational institution or an educational program;

3) They must be able to support themselves financially while they are studying in Latvia;

4) They must pass an exam on Latvian language proficiency (if it is required by their school); and

5) They must not have any criminal record in Latvia or any other country (if it is required by their school).

Latvian student work permits are available to international students who are studying at a university or polytechnic in Latvia and need to work in order to finance their studies. These permits allow you to work up to 20 hours per week while you study and can be renewed every year.

To apply for a student work permit in Latvia, you must first register with the Student Register Centre at your university. This can take place when you arrive in Latvia or before you start your studies if you have already arrived. You will need to bring your passport and fill out some forms at this time.

Once registered, you can apply for a student work permit through the Student Register Centre or the Ministry of Education and Science (MES). You will need to provide them with copies of your passport, visa and registration certificate from your university as well as proof of financial independence (bank statements) and a letter from your bank stating that they are willing to accept deposits from outside Latvia.

The student work permit in Latvia is a legal document that allows a student to work part-time during the course of their studies. To be eligible for this, you must have been accepted to an accredited university or other educational institution, and you must be between 16 and 29 years old.

You can apply for your student work permit at the police station in your country of residence (which will be different than your citizenship). You will need to provide proof that you are enrolled in school, as well as a copy of your passport, birth certificate, and any other documents relevant to your application.

The process takes about 10 days from start to finish, but it can take longer if more information is needed from you or if there are problems with your paperwork.

Student Work Permit in Latvia

In Latvia, a student work permit is required for students who are allowed to work while they study. The permit is tied to the student’s studies and must be renewed every year. If you are planning on working while studying in Latvia, you must apply for a student work permit.

Who is eligible?

You will need a student work permit if you:

-are a citizen of the European Union or Estonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway;

-have completed at least part of your studies in Latvia; and

-are currently studying at an accredited institution of higher education in Latvia for at least 12 months.

Student Work Permit In Latvia

The student work permit in Latvia is an option that allows students to work while they are studying. The requirements for this type of work permit are simple and straightforward, but it is important to note that the student must be enrolled as a full-time student in order to apply.

Students must attend classes for at least 15 hours each week in order to qualify for this program. It is possible for students who have already obtained their primary education abroad to convert their status from student visa holder to a student work permit holder.

The process of obtaining a student work permit in Latvia is not difficult or time consuming. Students simply need to submit an application with all of their personal information including proof of enrollment or graduation from high school (or equivalent) as well as proof that they have been accepted into an accredited university or college program at one of the many higher education institutions located throughout Latvia’s major cities such as Ventspils, Daugavpils, Liepaja, Jelgava and Riga just to name a few!

If you are an international student, finding a job while studying in Latvia can be a daunting task. A work permit and not just any job is needed in order to legally work while studying in Latvia. Even though it is possible to look for jobs while studying, there are limitations under Latvian law that need to be adhered to. Some international students find themselves on the wrong side of the law, which may lead to detention, deportation or a lengthy stay in court. The best thing for any student to do is find out what is legal and what options are available prior to studying abroad.

Going to study, intern or live in Latvia? You will need a student work permit. Basically you will get a temporary residence registered with your University. Almost every university in Latvia offer this scheme for international students and interns. Also, if you are not a student but only working – you might be interested in the 90-day visa-free visit – but only if you have an invitation letter from Latvian company. The work permit can be issued in 1 day (max. 3 days). It takes less than 1 hour, not more. Would you like to know more? Then read this article and find out how to get a student residence permit on Touriago portal!

Student work permits in Latvia provide the opportunity for a whole range of foreign students to have some income and be able to work part time during their studies. They are issued for a limited period of time so that the permit holder can get some practical experience and make a contribution to Latvian society whilst studying in Latvia.

Student work permit in Latvia

A student work permit is a document that allows students to work part-time in the country they are studying. This type of authorization is granted by the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia.

The application for a student work permit must be made at least 30 days prior to starting your studies. The procedure takes about two months, so it is best to apply as soon as possible in order to avoid delays.

The student must submit a complete application with all required documents and fees. All documents must be translated into Latvian or English by a certified translator. A criminal record check from your home country may also be required.

Student work permit in Latvia

In order to work while you are studying in Latvia, you will need a student work permit. This permit is issued by the Ministry of Education and Science and allows you to be employed as an intern or a trainee. It also allows you to work part-time during your studies at a maximum of 20 hours per week.

A student work permit can be obtained if:

You are an EU citizen or have a valid residence permit in Estonia or Latvia; and

You are enrolled at a university, college or vocational school that is recognized by the Ministry of Education and Science; and

Your studies last for at least six months.

Latvia has a provision of international students to stay back in the country. The international students who are pursuing a masters in Latvia are allowed to stay back in Latvia for the duration of six months once the study program is over. The students can opt for an internship in Latvia and have that ever valuable international experience, or they can seek for permanent employment to elongate their stay in Latvia.

Latvia student Visa Work Permit:

Working while studying is a great way to fund your expenses when you are studying abroad. If an international student wants to work and study in Latvia, he needs to apply for part time work permit in Latvia. There are restrictions on working hours for international students, and that is 20 hours a week. For the separate work permit in Latvia, students are required to present an employment contract with the employer to the authorities.

To get the benefit of international work exposure with the help of stay back and work permit in Latvia you need to study PhD or masters in the country, for that, you will require student Permit. Here are details about the study permit.

Study visa for Latvia

To get the visa for studies in Latvia you will require the following documents:
A valid Passport for more than three months of intended stay in Latvia
A recent passport photograph
Proof of your intended residence in Latvia
Latvia Invitation Letter for Visa approved by the OCMA.
Bank Statement of the Last 3 months showing that student is able to support him or herself financially during their stay in Latvia.
Previous Educational transcripts and their photocopies.
Travel Insurance.

You’ll need to apply in-person at your nearest Latvian embassy or consulate. You’ll need to present these documents in Latvian with a notarized translation. Your student visa is valid for the entire duration of your studies.

Your permit allows you to work for up to twenty hours per week during term time, going up to forty hours per week during holidays.

Remember, if you have an EU, EEA or Swiss passport, you can freely enter Latvia and, once registered, stay for as long as you like. The requirements listed here only apply to third-country nationals. Please note: UK citizens are now third-country nationals.

Traveling is the number one way to understand the world, and students especially should take advantage of their time to try something new. But there are challenges in traveling from country to country and we need to work together to overcome them so that anyone can travel anytime. I hope you enjoyed reading about our journey, and please consider becoming a part of the Touriago team!

Am I allowed to work as a student?

Yes, you are allowed to work in Latvia during studies but be aware that there are some restrictions depending on your study level:

a full-time bachelor’s student at a Latvian university has the right to work for up to 20 hours per week (part-time) or 40 hours per week (full-time) during holidays with any employer.

a full-time master’s or doctoral student at a Latvian university has the right to work with no restrictions.

Immigration Law

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. (1) The following terms are used in this Law:

1) foreigner – a person who is not a Latvian citizen or non-citizen of Latvia;

1¹) volunteer – a foreigner who based on a goodwill performs work without remuneration by participating in a volunteering programme financed by the European Commission or an international organisation without profit motive and under which objectives for achieving the common interest are implemented. A person of 18 up to 30 years of age can be admitted to the volunteering programme. This condition shall not apply to the volunteering programme financed by the European Commission and to the allowance of the person and the reimbursement of costs.

2) travel document – a personal identification document which, in accordance with international agreements binding upon the Republic of Latvia, this Law and other laws and regulations, grants the right to its holder to cross the State border of the Republic of Latvia;

2¹) European Union Blue Card – a temporary residence permit which is issued in the Republic of Latvia to a foreigner who is employed and, for an agreed remuneration, performs specific work under the management of the employer in the Republic of Latvia and also has acquired higher education in a study programme the length of which is at least three years, in the relevant speciality or in the sector determined in the employment contract or who has professional experience of at least five years in the sector determined in the employment contract or in the speciality;

2²) employee-trainee – a foreigner who has acquired higher education and is transferred within the framework of an intra-corporate transfer for career development purposes or in order to obtain training in business techniques or methods, and receives work remuneration during training in the Republic of Latvia;

3) invitation – a document approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter – the Office), in which an inviter undertakes the obligations laid down in this Law in relation to the foreigner whom he or she has invited to stay the Republic of Latvia (with a visa);

4) voluntary return decision – an administrative act, in which the fact of illegal stay of a foreigner has been substantiated and the foreigner has been imposed the obligation to voluntarily return within a specified period of time to the country of his or her citizenship, third country, from which he or she entered, or another country, which he or she has the right to enter;

5) sponsorship – a document approved by the Office, in which the inviter undertakes the obligations laid down in this Law in relation to the foreigner whom he or she has invited to stay in the Republic of Latvia (with a residence permit);

5¹) competent State institution – the Security Police, the Constitution Protection Bureau, the Military Intelligence and Security Service, the State Police or an institution of the relevant competence abroad;

5²) removal order – an administrative act, in which the fact of illegal stay of a foreigner is justified and removal of the foreigner to his or her country of citizenship, the third country, from which he or she has entered, or another country, which he or she has the right to enter, is determined;

6) country of residence – the country of citizenship of a foreigner, the foreigner’s previous country of permanent place of residence, or a country which has issued a residence permit to a foreigner;

6¹) illegal stay – staying of a foreigner in the Republic of Latvia which does not conform to the provisions of Article 4 of Regulation (EU) No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) (hereinafter – Regulation No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016) or of Section 4 or 4.¹ of this Law;

6²) researcher – a foreigner holding a doctorate degree or higher education and a corresponding qualification which gives access to studies in a doctoral programme, and who has been admitted to its territory by a Member State of the European Union and has been selected by a national or private structure involved in the field of research – creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge and the creative use thereof, including knowledge of man, culture and society;

7) [9 June 2016];

7¹) seasonal worker – a foreigner who retains his or her place of residence outside the territory of the European Union and stays legally and temporarily in the territory of the Republic of Latvia to perform a temporary seasonal work according to one or more fixed-term employment contracts concluded directly between the abovementioned foreigner and the employer conducting commercial activities in the Republic of Latvia;

7²) specialist – a foreigner who is working in a group of undertakings and possesses essential and specialised knowledge related to the scope of activity, methods or management of the undertaking, and who is transferred to work in the Republic of Latvia within the framework of an intra-corporate transfer. In assessing the knowledge of the person, not only the specific knowledge related to the abovementioned undertaking, but also whether the person has a high level of qualification, including adequate professional experience conforming to the type of work or activity requiring specific technical knowledge, shall be taken into account;

7³) trainee – a foreigner who has acquired higher education or who acquires higher education in a third country and whose purpose is to travel to the Republic of Latvia in order to obtain knowledge, practical skills and experience in an adequate professional environment;

7⁴) student – a foreigner who has been admitted to a full time study programme at a higher education institution or college in the Republic of Latvia;

8) norms of international law – international agreements, international common law and general principles of international law binding on the Republic of Latvia;

8¹) written request – a document certified in accordance with the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet, in which an inviter undertakes the obligations laid down in this Law in relation to the foreigner invited by him or her to stay in the Republic of Latvia (with a visa);

9) inviter – a natural or legal person that invites a foreigner;

9¹) intra-corporate transferee – a foreigner who does not permanently stay in any of the European Union Member States and who has been transferred for professional or training purposes from the undertaking which does not perform commercial activities in a European Union Member State to the undertaking which performs commercial activities in the Republic of Latvia or in the Republic of Latvia and another European Union Member State;

9²) group of undertakings – two or more undertakings recognised as linked in one of the following ways:

a) an undertaking, in relation to another undertaking directly or indirectly, holds the majority of the subscribed capital of such undertaking;

b) controls the majority of the votes attached to another undertaking of such undertaking;

c) an undertaking as a participant (shareholder) of another undertaking is entitled to appoint or revoke the majority of members of the executive body or supervisory body of the undertaking;

9³) manager – a person who holds a senior position and who primarily directs the management of the undertaking which invites a foreigner to stay in the Republic of Latvia as an employee transferred within the framework of an intra-corporate transfer, supervises the work of other employees of the undertaking and performs other personnel action, and who is generally supervised by or who receives instructions from the board of the undertaking or an equivalent structural unit;

10) residence permit – a document which gives a foreigner the right to stay in the Republic of Latvia for a specified time period or permanently;

11) visa – a visa sticker of a specific sample which certifies that a person has requested an authorisation to enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia or another Schengen Agreement Member State, or in several Schengen Agreement Member States or cross their territory in transit, and that the authority which has issued the visa does not see, within its competence, any obstacle to the fact that the person enters and stays in the Republic of Latvia or another Schengen Agreement Member State, or in several Schengen Agreement Member States during the period indicated in the visa and for the number of times indicated therein. The visa itself does not give the right to enter the Republic of Latvia or another Schengen Agreement country;

12) Union citizen – a foreigner who has the citizenship of any of the European Union Member States, Member State of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation;

13) Schengen Agreement – the Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders;

14) Schengen Convention – Convention of 19 June 1990 implementing the Schengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 between the Governments of the States of the Benelux Economic Union, the Federal Republic of Germany and the French Republic on the gradual abolition of checks at their common borders;

14¹) third country – any country, excluding a European Union Member State, a European Economic Area State and the Swiss Confederation;

15) local border traffic permit – in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1931/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 laying down rules on local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States and amending the provisions of the Schengen Convention, a document of certain sample which is issued to an inhabitant of a border area of a foreign country and which entitles him or her to cross the external land border and stay in the border area of the Republic of Latvia.

(2) The term “border area” used in this Law shall conform to the term used in Regulation (EC) No 1931/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 laying down rules on local border traffic at the external land borders of the Member States and amending the provisions of the Schengen Convention.

(3) The term “carrier” used in this Law shall conform to the term used in Article 2(15) of Regulation No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016.

(4) The term “qualified venture capital investor”, “early stage venture capital investment” and “innovative product” used in this Law shall conform to the terms used in the Law on Aid for the Activities of Start-up Companies.

[20 December 2007; 22 April 2010; 26 May 2011; 5 December 2013; 9 June 2016; 2 February 2017; 21 June 2018; 6 June 2019]

Section 2. The purpose of this Law is to determine the procedures for the entry, stay, transit, exit and detention of foreigners, as well as the procedures by which foreigners are kept under temporary custody in the Republic of Latvia and returned from it in order to ensure the implementation of migration policy conforming with the norms of international law and the State interests of Latvia.

Section 2.¹ (1) The conditions of Section 4, Paragraphs three, five, six, eight and nine, Section 5, Paragraph three, Sections 9.¹, 10 and 11, Section 13, Paragraphs two and four, Sections 14, 15, 16, 17, Section 18, Paragraph two, Sections 20, 21, Section 46, Paragraph five, Sections 50.⁴, 50.⁵ , Section 51, Paragraph five, Sections 52, 53, 54, 54.¹, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 59.¹, 59.², 59.³, 59.⁴, 59.⁵, 60, 65.¹, 65.², 65.³, 65.⁴, 65.⁵, 66, 67 and 70 of this Law shall apply to Union citizens and their family members.

(2) The procedures by which Union citizens and their family members enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia, as well as residence restrictions for these persons shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[26 May 2011; 5 December 2013; 6 June 2019 / Amendment regarding supplementation of the Section after the number and words “Section 5, Paragraph three” with the number “9.^1′” shall come into force on 1 July 2020. See Paragraph 48 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 3. (1) The entry and stay of foreigners in the Republic of Latvia shall be documented and controlled by the Office, State Border Guard, diplomatic and consular representations of the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter – the representations) and the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter – the Consular Department) in accordance with their competence.

(2) [9 June 2016]

(3) The Office and State Border Guard for the fulfilment of their duties shall establish and maintain electronic information systems, the amount of information to be included and procedures for the use of which shall be determined by the Cabinet.

[22 April 2010; 9 June 2016]

Section 4. (1) A foreigner is entitled to enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia if he or she concurrently:

1) has a valid travel document. The travel document is valid if:

a) it is recognised in the Republic of Latvia;

b) it conforms to a specified sample;

c) it contains all identity data and photographs of the foreigners who use this document as a travel document. In order to request a residence permit, each foreigner needs to have his or her own travel document;

d) its term of validity exceeds the time period of the planned residence in the Republic of Latvia or in the territory of another Schengen Agreement country by at least three months;

e) it does not contain any unstipulated corrections by the issuer of the document, mechanical damages or smears due to which it is not possible to identify the holder of the document, to read the information indicated in the document or to detect document forgeries;

f) it contains space for at least two notes on border-crossing in the pages provided for visas. This condition shall not be in effect if international agreements which are binding on the Republic of Latvia lay down that there is no need to make such notes on border-crossing;

2) has a valid visa, a residence permit issued in the Republic of Latvia or a residence permit of a long-term resident of the European Union. A foreigner who has received a new travel document may use the previous travel document with a glued-in valid residence permit for a single entry in order to receive a residence permit issued by the Republic of Latvia;

3) has a valid health insurance policy. The Cabinet shall determine the cases when a foreigner may enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia without a health insurance policy;

4) does not have any other obstacles laid down in the law or other laws and regulations regarding entry into the Republic of Latvia;

5) has the necessary financial means in order to stay in the Republic of Latvia or another Schengen Agreement country and return to the country of residence or to depart to a third country which he or she has the right to enter. The Cabinet shall determine the amount of necessary financial means and how to establish the existence of financial means.

(1¹) By derogation from that laid down in Paragraph one, Clause 1, Sub-clause “d” of this Section, a foreigner who has been issued a visa in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code), or who has received a residence permit or a certificate of an accredited person in the Republic of Latvia or another Schengen Agreement Member State, is entitled to enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia until the end of the term of validity indicated in the travel document insofar as it does not exceed the term indicated in the visa, residence permit or certificate of an accredited person. If a foreigner requests a residence permit for a period of time exceeding one year, his or her travel document must be valid for at least six months.

(2) Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Section shall not apply to a foreigner who:

1) enters and stays in accordance with the procedures laid down in international treaties binding on the Republic of Latvia regarding the abolition of visa requirement or Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (hereinafter – Regulation No 539/2001);

2) uses a United Nations passport (Laissez-passer) as a travel document;

3) uses a Vatican passport as a travel document;

4) uses a European Commission passport as a travel document;

5) [22 April 2004];

6) [20 December 2007];

7) is a holder of a seaman’s discharge book issued in accordance with the seafarers identity documents conventions of the International Maritime Organisation, is included in the list of the crew of an international route ship and enters in the Republic of Latvia, but has disembarked ashore while the ship is in port and stays in the administrative territory of the port city;

8) is a holder of the certificate of a crew member issued in accordance with the International Convention on Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944, enters the Republic of Latvia within the scope of his or her work duties in order to take the next flight and stays in the administrative territory of the city nearest to the airport;

9) uses a valid travel document issued by his or her country of nationality and a passport of the Council of Europe (Laissez-passer) as a travel document.

(3) A foreigner who, in accordance with the provisions of this Law, has been included in the list of those foreigners for whom entry in the Republic of Latvia is prohibited (hereinafter also – the list), or regarding whom a notification has been included in the Schengen Information System in order to refuse entry and residence in the territory of the Schengen Agreement countries (hereinafter – the prohibition to enter Schengen Area), is not entitled to enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia.

(4) The procedures by which the travel documents of foreigners are recognised shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(5) The specimens of travel documents, visas, residence permits, seals and stamps shall be included in the information system of specimens of documents. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which the information system of specimens of documents is established and used.

(6) The procedures for foreigners’ health insurance, as well as the procedures by which a foreigner receives health care services in the Republic of Latvia, the minimum insurance amount, the minimum amount of services to be covered and cases when a visa or a residence permit without health insurance policy may be issued to a foreigner shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(7) [21 June 2007]

(8) When issuing a visa or a residence permit to a foreigner who is a citizen of a country included in the list referred to in Paragraph nine of this Section, or a foreigner whom the status of a stateless person or refugee status has been granted in a foreign country, an official shall examine the information available in respect of whether the entry of the foreigner will not cause a threat to national security or public order and safety (hereinafter – the additional assessment). The Cabinet shall determine the procedures in respect of additional assessments.

(9) The Cabinet shall determine the list of countries for the citizens of which in issuing a visa or a residence permit the additional assessment shall be performed.

(10) [20 December 2007]

(11) Military personnel of the armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and European Union Member States, civil personnel of the armed forces, dependants of such military or civil personnel, and also other persons related to the armed forces shall enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia in accordance with the international agreements binding to the Republic of Latvia. A certification of the right to stay in the Republic of Latvia shall be issued to these persons. Information on certifications issued to the aforementioned persons shall be included in the electronic information system. The Cabinet shall determine the authority which issues the certification to the military personnel of the armed forces, civil personnel of the armed forces, dependants of such military or civil personnel, and also other persons related to the armed forces, the procedures for issuing the certification, the sample and content of the certification and also the information to be included in the electronic information system, the procedures for the use thereof, the procedures for keeping and destroying the certification data.

[8 July 2003; 22 April 2004; 24 November 2005; 6 April 2006; 21 June 2007; 20 December 2007; 22 April 2010; 26 May 2011; 5 December 2013; 9 June 2016; 2 February 2017; 21 June 2018]

Section 4.¹ (1) A foreigner is entitled to enter and stay in the border area of the Republic of Latvia, if he or she has a local border traffic permit which is issued by the representation in accordance with the international agreements entered into.

(2) The procedures by which a local border traffic permit shall be registered, annulled and revoked, the data to be included therein, as well as the amount of information to be included in the electronic information system and the procedures for the use thereof shall be approved by the Cabinet.

(3) A foreigner has the right to contest a decision to refuse to issue a local border traffic permit, as well as a decision to annul or revoke the issued local border traffic permit within 30 days after entering into effect of the abovementioned decision by submitting a relevant submission:

1) to the Director of the Consular Department, if the decision was taken by an official of a representation or an official of the Consular Department;

2) to the Head of the Office, if the decision was taken by an official of the Office;

3) to the Chief of the State Border Guard if the decision was taken by an official of the State Border Guard.

(3¹) A foreigner may appeal a decision on the contested administrative act in accordance with the procedures laid down in law to the District Administrative Court. The court ruling shall be final and cannot be appealed.

(3²) The contesting and appeal of the decision referred to in Paragraph three of this Section shall not suspend its operation.

(4) In respect of examination of the documents necessary for requesting a local border traffic permit, a foreigner shall pay a State fee in the amount and according to the procedures stipulated by the Cabinet. The Cabinet shall determine the categories of persons exempted from payment of the State fee.

[22 April 2010; 26 May 2011; 5 December 2013]

Section 4.² (1) If a foreigner enters the Republic of Latvia in accordance with the provisions laid down in Regulation No 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016, the entry requirements specified in the relevant Regulation shall apply to him or her.

(2) The travel document of the foreigner referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be regarded as valid, if the latter conforms to the requirements of Section 4, Paragraph one, Clause 1, Sub-clauses “a”, “b”, “c”, “e” and “f” of this Law.

(3) The financial means necessary to the foreigner referred to in Paragraph one of this Section for entry and residence shall be determined in accordance with the Cabinet regulations regarding the amount of financial means necessary to the foreigner and establishing the existence of financial means.

[9 June 2016; 2 February 2017]

Section 5. (1) [9 June 2016]

(2) If a foreigner has stayed in the Republic of Latvia with a long-stay visa or with a temporary residence permit, after the expiry of the time period thereof, without exiting from the territory of the Republic of Latvia or another Schengen Agreement country, he or she is not entitled to receive a visa or to continue to reside in the Republic of Latvia in accordance with Section 4, Paragraph two, Clause 1 of this Law. The Head of the Office or his or her authorised official may permit the issuing of a visa if it conforms to international legal norms, the State interests of Latvia or is associated with force majeure or reasons of a humanitarian nature.

(3) A foreigner has an obligation, if it is requested by a State institution in accordance with the competence thereof, to present the documents laid down in Sections 4 and 4.¹ of this Law, as well as allow their fingerprints to be taken.

(4) A foreigner who is not a Union citizen and who has been recognised as a victim of trafficking in human beings, as well as minor children accompanied by him or her has the right to reside in the Republic of Latvia without a visa or residence permit until the specified reflection period has ended or has been terminated or a decision to issue a temporary residence permit has entered into effect.

[24 November 2005; 25 January 2007; 20 December 2007; 22 April 2010; 26 May 2011; 9 June 2016; 21 June 2018]

Section 5.¹ An employee of a foreign diplomatic or consular representation accredited in Latvia, international organisation or its representation, consular institution or a family member of such employee, on the basis of a certificate of an accredited person, is entitled to stay in the Republic of Latvia throughout the term of accreditation, if he or she is exempted from the visa requirement in accordance with Regulation No 539/2001 or such procedures are laid down in the international agreements binding to the Republic of Latvia.

[5 December 2013]

Section 5.² (1) A researcher to whom a long-stay visa or a temporary residence permit has been issued in another Member State of the European Union in relation to research is entitled to stay in the Republic of Latvia within the validity period of the aforementioned visa or temporary residence permit for the purpose of conducting the research work for a period of 180 days in any time period of 360 days. A family member of the researcher who has a valid long-stay visa or temporary residence permit issued in another Member State of the European Union can stay together with the researcher. During the period of stay in the Republic of Latvia the researcher and his or her family member must hold a valid travel document.

(2) A researcher to whom a long-stay visa or a temporary residence permit has been issued in another Member State of the European Union in relation to research and who plans to stay in the Republic of Latvia for the purpose of conducting the research work for more than 180 days shall submit a visa application in accordance with Section 11, Paragraph two of this Law or a temporary residence permit application in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph one, Clause 9 of this Law. A family member of the researcher shall submit a visa application in accordance with Section 11, Paragraph two of this Law or a temporary residence permit application in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph four of this Law.

[21 June 2018]

Section 5.³ A student who acquires a joint study programme in the implementation of which a higher education institution accredited in Latvia is involved as one of the partnership bodies and to whom a long-stay visa or a temporary residence permit has been issued in another Member State of the European Union is entitled to enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia within the validity period of the aforementioned visa or temporary residence permit for a period of 360 days for the purpose of acquiring a part of the relevant study programme in a higher education institution of the Republic of Latvia. During the period of stay in the Republic of Latvia the student must hold a valid travel document. This provision shall also apply to the student who within the framework of a study programme of a college or a higher education institution participates in an international student exchange programme.

[21 June 2018]

Section 5.⁴ A researcher or a student to whom a temporary residence permit has been issued in the Republic of Latvia and who conducts part of his or her research work or acquires a study programme in another Member State of the European Union in accordance with a request of the relevant Member State of the European Union is entitled to enter the Republic of Latvia also if the validity period of the temporary residence permit issued in the Republic of Latvia has expired or it has been annulled. Such rights shall be also applied to a family member of the researcher.

[21 June 2018]

Section 6. A foreigner shall pay a State fee for the examination of the documents necessary for requesting a long-stay visa or residence permit and the services related thereto in accordance with the procedures and in the amount stipulated by the Cabinet. The Cabinet shall determine the categories of those persons who are exempted from the payment of the State fee or whom, upon requesting a uniform visa, a reduced rate of the State fee is applied.

[20 December 2007; 26 February 2009; 22 April 2010]

Section 7. The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the entry and residence of those minor foreigners who enter and reside in the Republic of Latvia not accompanied by their parents or guardians.

Section 8. An obligation of civil liability, the term of which exceeds the period of time during which a foreigner is allowed to reside in the Republic of Latvia, may not in itself be the basis for the issue of a visa or the issue or registration of a residence permit.

Section 9. (1) A foreigner may be granted the right to employment:

1) with restrictions upon entering into an employment contract with a specific employer in a specific speciality (profession) or part-time work or concluding another civil legal contract, if the foreigner wishes to be employed;

2) for conducting of commercial activities, if he or she is an individual economic operator, a member of the board or the council, a proctor, an administrator, a liquidator or a member of a partnership who has the right to represent the partnership, or a person who is authorised to represent an economic operator (a foreign economic operator) in activities related to a branch registered in the Commercial Register, or a self-employed person;

3) without restrictions.

(2) The decision to grant the right to employment shall be included in the decision to issue a visa or residence permit. The right to employment shall be certified by a corresponding entry in the visa or residence permit issued to the foreigner.

(3) A certification regarding the right to employment with a specific employer and in a specific speciality (profession) shall not be required if a foreigner is lawfully staying in the Republic of Latvia in relation to:

1) performance on tour (concert on tour) as a creative artist or performing artist, or as an, administrative or technical worker involved in ensuring of the performances (concerts) and the intended length of stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 14 days;

2) an invitation from an educational institution or scientific institution, or individual scientist for conducting of scientific research or participation in the implementation of educational programmes and the intended length of stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 14 days;

3) the fact that he or she is a researcher who stays in the Republic of Latvia in accordance with Section 5.², Paragraph one of this Law and has been elected to an academic position at any college, higher education institution or scientific institutes of the Republic of Latvia or is a student who stays in the Republic of Latvia in accordance with Section 5.³ of this Law and whose employment does not exceed 20 hours per week;

4) being a crew member of the ship, which performs international voyages and is registered in the Latvian Ship Register;

5) being a crew member of a vehicle which performs international voyages and is registered in a foreign country;

6) being lawfully employed in another European Union Member State, Member State of the European Economic Area or in the Swiss Confederation and the employer appoints him or her for the provision of services in Latvia for a time period not exceeding 90 days within six months;

7) being an individual economic operator registered in the Commercial Register, a member of the board or council, a proctor, an administrator, a liquidator or a member of a partnership who has the right to represent the partnership, or a person who is authorised to represent an economic operator (foreign economic operator) in activities related to the branch, or a self-employed person, and the duration of stay does not exceed 90 days within six months;

8) being an intra-corporate transferee whose duration of stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 90 days in any period of 180 days and who holds a valid temporary residence permit issued by another European Union Member State as an intra-corporate transferee;

9) being employed in the Republic of Latvia and duration of his or her stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 14 days in any period of 180 days;

10) traineeship within the scope of a study programme;

11) acquisition of adequate professional experience in the status of a trainee not later than two years after completing higher education studies.

(4) A certification regarding the right to employment with a specific employer and in a specific speciality (profession) shall not be required if a convicted foreigner who is serving a sentence in the investigation prison, deprivation of liberty institution or juvenile correctional institution is employed in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Sentence Execution Code of Latvia.

(4¹) A certification regarding the right to employment with a specific employer and in a specific speciality (profession) shall not be required if a foreigner is lawfully staying in the Republic of Latvia and unlimited access to the labour market is stipulated by an international treaty binding upon the Republic of Latvia.

(5) A foreigner who has received the following shall be granted the right to employment without restrictions:

1) a permanent residence permit or a residence permit of a long-term resident of the European Union in the Republic of Latvia;

2) a temporary residence permit as the spouse of a citizen of Latvia, a non-citizen of Latvia or a foreigner who has received a permanent residence permit;

3) a temporary residence permit as the child of the foreigner referred to in Clause 2 of this Paragraph and will be employed in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Labour Law;

4) a temporary residence permit in relation to the fact that he or she had been a citizen of Latvia on 17 June 1940;

5) a temporary residence permit as an adult child of a citizen of Latvia or as his or her family member;

6) a temporary residence permit as a person who has been granted alternative status or as a family member of such person;

7) a temporary residence permit as a person who has been granted the status of temporary protection in Latvia;

8) a temporary residence permit as a person who has been appointed as a guardian or trustee upon a citizen of Latvia or a non-citizen of Latvia;

9) a temporary residence permit until the day when a court judgment regarding dissolution of marriage and determination of the place of residence of a child enters into effect, or until the day when a sworn notary has prepared a certification of dissolution of marriage;

10) a temporary residence permit in relation to the fact that pre-trial investigation institutions or a court need for him or her to stay in the Republic of Latvia until investigation of a criminal matter is completed or a criminal matter is examined in a court;

11) a temporary residence permit in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph one, Clause 22 of this Law;

12) a temporary residence permit as a person who has been granted the status of a long-term resident of the European Union in another Member State of the European Union, or as a family member of such person who has been staying in Latvia with a temporary residence permit and wishes to be employed in the Republic of Latvia;

13) a temporary residence permit as a person who has made an investment in the equity capital of a capital company in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph one, Clause 28 of this Law, or as a family member of such person;

14) a temporary residence permit as a person who has purchased and who owns immovable property in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph one, Clause 29 of this Law, or as a family member of such person;

15) a temporary residence permit as a person who has made financial investments in a credit institution of the Republic of Latvia in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph one, Clause 30 of this Law, or as a family member of such person;

16) a temporary residence permit on the basis of a decision of the Minister for the Interior, which has been taken in relation to the national interests;

17) a temporary residence permit on the basis of a decision of the Head of the Office, which has been taken in relation to international legal norms or reasons of a humanitarian nature;

18) a temporary residence permit as a victim of human trafficking;

19) a temporary residence permit in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph one, Clause 25 of this Law;

20) a temporary residence permit in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph one, Clause 27 of this Law;

21) [2 February 2017];

22) an identification document of a family member of an employee of a foreign diplomatic or consular representation accredited in Latvia, international organisation or its representation, consular institution, if the Republic of Latvia has entered into a corresponding contract or also an agreement on application of the principle of reciprocity with the relevant country or international organisation;

23) an identification document of an asylum seeker and has not received a decision of the Office to grant the status of a refugee or alternative status or to refuse to grant it within three months after submitting a submission regarding granting the status of a refugee or alternative status, and it has not happened due to his or her fault. The right to employment shall remain until the moment when the final decision to grant the status of a refugee or alternative status or to refuse to grant it has entered into effect and is no longer disputable;

24) a temporary residence permit as a person who has purchased interest-free government securities in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph one, Clause 28 of this Law, or as a family member of such person;

25) a temporary residence permit as a student in an education institution accredited in the Republic of Latvia in a full time master’s or doctoral study programme if there is no study break;

26) a temporary residence permit as a family member of such foreigner who has been granted the right to employment with a specific employer or the right to conduct commercial activities;

27) a visa or a temporary residence permit as a researcher;

28) a temporary residence permit in relation to youth holiday work and whose entry and stay in the Republic of Latvia complies with international laws and regulations binding upon the Republic of Latvia.

(5¹) A foreigner who has received a long-stay visa or a temporary residence permit in relation to full time studies in an educational institution accredited in the Republic of Latvia or in relation to student exchange has the right to employment of up to 20 hours per week or 40 hours per week during the break with any employer, except the foreigner who has the right to employment in accordance with Paragraph five, Clause 25 of this Section.

(6) The procedures for granting and revoking the right to employment to a foreigner shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(7) The Cabinet shall determine the list of those specialities (professions) in which a significant lack of labour force is forecast and in which foreigners may be invited to the Republic of Latvia for employment purposes. The following conditions of admission may be applied to the foreigner invited in the abovementioned speciality (profession):

1) if the European Union Blue Card is requested, the work remuneration shall conform to the average monthly gross work remuneration in the Republic of Latvia in the previous year, applying the coefficient 1.2;

2) in other cases, if, in accordance with the laws and regulations regarding the procedures for employing foreigners, prior to inviting a foreigner it is necessary to register a vacancy at the State Employment Agency, the respective workplace must be vacant for not less than 10 working days.

(8) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures by which professional experience may be recognised as valid for receiving the European Union Blue Card in the relevant speciality or in the relevant field.

[5 December 2013; 29 May 2014; 9 June 2016; 2 February 2017; 21 June 2018; 2 September 2021]

Section 9.¹ An inviter shall take responsibility for the conformity of the purpose of the entry and stay of the invited foreigner with the purpose laid down in the documents submitted for requesting a visa or residence permit and for his or her exit from the State on specified time, and shall immediately, but not later than within three working days, inform the Office or the State Border Guard in writing if the aforementioned conditions are not met and also, where necessary, shall ensure coverage of the expenditures related to the health care, stay in the Republic of Latvia and return to the country of residence of the foreigner.

Student Work Permit In Latvia