# Latvian citizenship by naturalisation Latvian naturalisation requires proven permanent residence, Latvian language and civic knowledge, lawful support and a loyalty pledge. Retaining another nationality is permitted only for specified cohorts, not universally. Scope: Ordinary naturalisation, available from age fifteen; descent, Latvian/Liv registration and special-merit acquisition are distinct routes. Jurisdiction: Latvia. Sources reviewed 2026-09-17; review due 2026-12-16. General information, not legal advice or a finding of eligibility. Requirements depend on the route, applicant and filing date. Verify the official instructions before applying. ## Five years with the correct starting point The permanent home must have been in Latvia for the previous five years. For foreign citizens and stateless people, the clock starts when the permanent-residence permit or certificate is received. Up to one year of interruption in total is allowed, but not during the final year. Actual residence must be documented. Evidence: conditional. [Latvijas Vēstnesis, official legal acts portal: Citizenship Law: current Latvian consolidation](https://likumi.lv/ta/lv/id/57512-pilsonibas-likums); [Latvijas Vēstnesis; State Language Centre translation: Citizenship Law: English consolidation through April 2022 amendments](https://likumi.lv/ta/en/id/57512-citizenship-law); [Latvia Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: Naturalisation: requirements and procedure](https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/naturalisation). Source location: Law: permanent-place definition and Section 12(1)(1); OCMA requirements and residence documents. ## Latvian and civic tests Demonstrate Latvian listening, reading, writing and speaking for everyday and public situations. The separate knowledge test covers the Constitution, national anthem, history and culture. This profile retains the authority's description without inventing a CEFR equivalence; the language and knowledge tests are distinct. Evidence: conditional. [Latvia Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: Examinations determined in the Citizenship Law](https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/examinations-determined-citizenship-law); [Latvijas Vēstnesis, official legal acts portal: Citizenship Law: current Latvian consolidation](https://likumi.lv/ta/lv/id/57512-pilsonibas-likums). Source location: OCMA: test purpose and four skills; Law Sections 12(1)(2)–(4), 19–20. ## Age, education and disability relief Applicants aged 65 or more are exempt from writing, not all testing. Specified basic education with more than half taught in Latvian can exempt both tests. Qualifying higher education or school-exam results can exempt the language test, subject to the five-year evidence window. Disability relief depends on the certified category and may be partial. Evidence: conditional. [Latvijas Vēstnesis, official legal acts portal: Citizenship Law: current Latvian consolidation](https://likumi.lv/ta/lv/id/57512-pilsonibas-likums); [Latvijas Vēstnesis; State Language Centre translation: Citizenship Law: English consolidation through April 2022 amendments](https://likumi.lv/ta/en/id/57512-citizenship-law); [Latvia Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: Examinations determined in the Citizenship Law](https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/examinations-determined-citizenship-law). Source location: Law Section 21(1)–(4); OCMA Relief arrangements and five-year footnote. ## Lawful support and statutory restrictions Have a lawful source of support and satisfy the statutory conduct and security checks. Unfulfilled tax or other state-payment obligations can bar naturalisation; criminal and foreign-service restrictions also require assessment. A residence permit alone is not proof of citizenship eligibility. Evidence: conditional. [Latvijas Vēstnesis, official legal acts portal: Citizenship Law: current Latvian consolidation](https://likumi.lv/ta/lv/id/57512-pilsonibas-likums); [Latvia Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: Naturalisation: requirements and procedure](https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/naturalisation). Source location: Law Sections 11 and 12(1)(5), (8); OCMA restrictions and income documentation. ## Retention, renunciation and the loyalty pledge Naturalising citizens of EU, EFTA or NATO states, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand or a qualifying treaty state may retain that citizenship under Latvian law. Other ordinary applicants generally must complete the required release process after other obstacles are cleared; refugees have a statutory documentation exception. Give the loyalty pledge, then await the Cabinet's decision. Another country's law still matters. Evidence: conditional. [Latvijas Vēstnesis, official legal acts portal: Citizenship Law: current Latvian consolidation](https://likumi.lv/ta/lv/id/57512-pilsonibas-likums); [Latvijas Vēstnesis; State Language Centre translation: Citizenship Law: English consolidation through April 2022 amendments](https://likumi.lv/ta/en/id/57512-citizenship-law); [Latvia Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs: Naturalisation: requirements and procedure](https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/naturalisation). Source location: Law Section 12(1)(6)–(7), (2), (4), Sections 17–18; OCMA dual citizenship and completion. ## Scope and limitations - General information, not an eligibility guarantee. Latvian non-citizen status, statelessness and foreign citizenship are distinct categories; the permanent-permit clock is not applied indiscriminately to every cohort. - The English law is labelled with its April 2022 amendment endpoint; the cited operative sections were also checked in the current Latvian consolidation and OCMA guidance. Document validity, exceptions and other nationality laws require individual confirmation. ## Explore this passport - [Passport rank and travel access](https://multipassrank.com/passport/latvia) - [Tax residence & income](https://multipassrank.com/passport/latvia/taxes) - [Country-profile JSON, including sources and scoped requirements](https://multipassrank.com/api/v1/country-profiles/LV) - [Multiple-citizenship policy guide](https://multipassrank.com/dual-citizenship-countries) [Canonical page](https://multipassrank.com/passport/latvia/citizenship)