FAQs About Latvian Citizenship by Descent

The following cases qualify for citizenship by descent under the Law on Citizenship in Latvia:
Descent through parent – Children of Latvian parents usually qualify automatically for citizenship (regardless of birthplace).
Descent through grandparent – Grandchildren of Latvian grandparents can apply for recognition of citizenship by descent, as long as they show proof of ancestry through Latvian archives or other official records.
More distant descent – Descendants of great-grandparents and more distant ancestors who were Latvian citizens may be eligible for ancestral citizenship (if the ancestors were citizens before Soviet or Nazi occupation in the 20th century).

Yes. Based on amendments to the Citizenship Law in 2013, you may retain your foreign citizenship while claiming Latvian dual citizenship if you qualify under jus sanguinis (birthright). This provision aligns with the Law of the Republic of Latvia on Citizenship, which protects the identity of those with Latvian heritage and connections to the Latvian diaspora.

Yes. Children can qualify via jus sanguinis. If born to at least one Latvian parent, a child is automatically Latvian, regardless of their place of birth. To qualify this way, the child’s birth must have been registered with the Latvian Citizenship Office.
Children up to age 15 can also qualify by descent through the parent’s later-in-life application for citizenship, as long as parental consent is given and documentation is provided. Children typically must submit an independent application after they reach age 15. 
If you think your child might qualify but you aren’t sure how, our trusted citizenship guides can help with every step of the application process.

These are the required documents for Latvian citizenship by descent applications:
Proof of Latvian ancestry (birth, marriage, and death certificates tracing lineage).
Proof that the ancestor was a Latvian citizen as of June 17, 1940, in accordance with Latvian law.
Documentation showing no interruption in citizenship transmission in the lineage.
Personal identification (personal data, valid passport, or other government-issued ID).
Certificate of criminal record clearance issued by applicant’s country of residence.
Proof of residency and evidence of continuous legal residency (if applying from within Latvia).
Language proficiency certificate, when required (proof of passing Latvian language exam at the A2 level).
Declaration of ancestry (if claiming descent under special provisions for Latvian exiles or Latvian exile families).
Receipt of application fees.

Yes. All foreign documents submitted with applications must be translated into Latvian and legalized by apostille or superlegalization. This ensures full compliance with Latvian immigration and European Union regulations.

If your application for Latvian citizenship by descent is successful, you must then register in Latvia’s Population Register. At this point, you can also apply for a Latvian passport, which grants access to live, work, and travel freely across European countries as part of your EU passport benefits.

If your application for citizenship is unsuccessful, you’ll receive a formal written decision detailing the reasons for rejection. You have a right to appeal the decision through the Latvian court system, starting with the Administrative District Court within 30 days of the rejection notice. Further appeals can be submitted to higher courts, including the Supreme Court of Latvia, if you can show procedural errors or provide new evidence to support your claim to citizenship.

Residents of Latvia go to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) to apply. If you’re applying from abroad, your application will be handled by the competent authority in your jurisdiction – a Latvian diplomatic mission (embassy or consulate).