Statistical Information on Acquisition of the Citizenship of Latvia as at October 31, 2009

Naturalization

Since February 1, 1995
•    130 442 naturalization applications have been received from the applicants of the citizenship of Latvia.
Breakdown of the number of applicants of the citizenship of Latvia as to their ethnic origin and age:

68.1 % - Russians 10.3 % - Belorussians   9.3 % - Ukrainians   3.7 % - Lithuanians and Estonians   4.1 % - Poles   0.1 % - Latvians and Livonians   4.3 % - persons having other ethnic origin   0.1 % - not given

1.9 % - 15 years old   6.6 % - 16-17 years old 32.2 % - 18-30 years old 19.7 % - 31-40 years old 20.4 % - 41-50 years old 12.4 % - 51-60 years old   6.8 % - above the age of 60

•    132 476 persons, including 13 798 underage children (under the age of 15) naturalizing together with a parent, have been granted the citizenship of Latvia through naturalization according to the decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers.
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Recognition of a person to be a citizen of Latvia

Since January 1, 1999
•    8 177 applications have been received as to recognition of a child, who was born in Latvia after August 21, 1991 and whose parents are non-citizens or stateless persons, to be a citizen of Latvia as prescribed by article 31 of the Law on Citizenship. 8 076 children, who were born in Latvia after August 21, 1991 and whose parents are non-citizens or stateless persons, have been recognized to be a citizen of Latvia.
•    9 306 applications have been received as to recognition of a person to be a citizen of Latvia through registration of the status of a citizen of Latvia as prescribed by the paragraphs 1, 11, 12 or 13, article 2 of the Law on Citizenship. 9 248 persons, including 544 underage children (under the age of 15), have been recognized to be a citizen of Latvia.

Latest Events

•    On October 27 Ms. Silvija Kaufelde, the Deputy Head of the Naturalization Board, took part at the meeting of Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee of Saeima (the Parliament) to discuss the eventual reorganization of the Naturalization Board.
•    On October 28 Ms. Silvija Kaufelde, the Deputy Head of the Naturalization Board,  took part at the meeting of the Citizenship Law Implementation Committee of the Saeima (the Parliament) to discuss the eventual reorganization of the Naturalization Board.
•    On November 2 on the initiative of the Embassy of the United States in Latvia Mr. Matt Stokes and Ms. Sannija Jauce, representatives of the Embassy, visited the Naturalization Board to discuss the possible consequences of reorganization of the Naturalization Board on the process of acquisition of the citizenship.
•    On November 4 Mr. Eriks Baranovskis, the Head of the Naturalization Board, took part at the joint meeting of the Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee of the Saeima (the Parliament) and the Citizenship Law Implementation Committee of the Saeima (the Parliament) to discuss the eventual reorganization of the Naturalization Board.
•    On November 11 Mr. Eriks Baranovskis, the Head of the Naturalization Board, was interviewed by the Latvian Radio on the current events in the field of the acquisition of the citizenship of Latvia.
•    On November 11 – 13 Ms. Mara Kokina, the Senior Desk Officer of the International Cooperation and Society Integration Department of the Naturalization Board, took part in the annual meeting of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) in Maynooth (Ireland).


Planned Events

•    On November 16 Mr. Eriks Baranovskis, the Head of the Naturalization Board, and Ms. Mara Kokina, the Senior Desk Officer of the International Cooperation and Society Integration Department of the Naturalization Board, will take part at the opening of an exposition organized by the Embassy of Slovakia to commemorate the anniversary of the Velvet revolution.
•    On November 16 Ms. Baiba Jakovleva, the Head of the International Cooperation and Society Integration Department of the Naturalization Board, will take part in an international conference  „The Uncertain Fate of Integration Policies in Central and Eastern Europe” organized by the Centre for Public Policy Providus.
•    On November 24 – 26 Ms. Baiba Jakovleva, the Head of the International Cooperation and Society Integration Department of the Naturalization Board, will take part in an experience exchange visit to Slovenia which will be organized within the framework of the project “Assimilation of Experience of the Integration of  Third Country Nationals in the European Union”.
•    On November 26 a regular “Information Day” will be organized in the Riga Regional branch of the Naturalization Board. Visitors will have the possibility to pre-test their proficiency in the Latvian language as well as their knowledge of the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the history of Latvia by filling in the test samples.
•    On December 2 a regular “Information Day” will be organized in the Central Office of the Naturalization Board at Smilsu iela 1/3. Visitors will have the possibility to pre-test their proficiency in the Latvian language as well as their knowledge of the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia and the history of Latvia by filling in the test samples.