Latvia issues permanent resident status to third country nationals including golden visa holders. The criteria for acquiring of the status of the long-term resident of the EU are:
Conditions
- The status of the long-term resident of the EU is granted provided the person has, for the last five years, continuously and lawfully resided in the territory thereof, with the toleration of the person’s absence that does not exceed six successive months or ten months altogether. Absence is deemed justified if the reasons thereof are circumstances beyond the person’s control (the person’s illness, force majeure, etc.). The absence is deemed justified for a holder of the European Union’s Blue Card provided the reasons thereof are performance of business activities in the status of an employee or as a self-employed, voluntary service or studies in the person’s country of origin and the absence from the European Union has not exceeded 12 successive months or 18 months altogether. The time spent by a Latvian non-citizen in another European Union Member State, provided it does not exceed a period of five years is included in the continuous residence term.
- The person has to prove sufficient means of sustenance both for himself or herself and his or her family members. Moreover, the sustenance must be stable and regular, namely, during the last 12 months prior to filing of the application the person should have had received at least the minimum wage applicable in the country, on which taxes have been paid. A pension granted to a person in the Republic of Latvia is also considered sufficient security.
- Taking into account that the aim of the directive is also integration of third country nationals who have been residing in the Member State for a certain period of time, the acquisition of the status of the long-term resident of the EU requires also the knowledge of the official language. People who wish to obtain this status must prove their proficiency in the state language at least at the A2 level.
PR Card
The holder of the status of the long-term resident of the EU will receive a permanent residence permit in which it is indicated that he or she is the long-term resident of the EU.
Apply
To acquire the status of the long-term resident of the EU a person has to personally address OCMA or a diplomatic or consular representation of the Republic of Latvia, produce a valid travel document and submit the required documents. The administration fee is as follows.
- Within 30 days – EUR 160;
- Within 10 days – EUR 280.
Processing
The decision on granting of the status of the long-term resident of the EU is passed within three months after submission of all documents. If the status is applied for by a Latvian non-citizen, the decision is passed within 30 days.
Free Movement
A person with the status of the long-term resident of the EU may travel without visa to other countries of Schengen Agreement. OCMA reminds that Ireland, Great Britain, Cyprus, Romania and Bulgaria are not members of Schengen Agreement.
PR Revocation
The person is deprived of the PR status of the long-term resident of the EU, if:
- the person threatens national security or public order, whereby an opinion of a competent security authority has been received.
- the person acquires citizenship of another Member State of the European Union, a country of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation and has not refuseed the status;
- the person acquires the status of the long-term resident of the EU in another State and has not refuseed the status;
- the person has provided false information to acquire the status;
- the person has without interruption stayed outside the territory of the European Union for 12 months or for 24 months if prior to acquisition of the status the third country national was the holder of the European Union’s Blue Card or his/her family member and the absence was related to performance of business activities in the status of an employee or as a self-employed, or voluntary service;
- the person has stayed outside the Republic of Latvia for six years without interruption;