Latvian citizenship by descent (also called citizenship by ancestry or jure sanguinis) allows individuals with Latvian ancestors to reclaim citizenship of the Republic of Latvia. Latvia is one of the few European countries that has maintained a very generous policy for descendants of its pre-1940 citizens, even several generations later latvian citizenship by descent

Latvia lost its independence in 1940 when it was occupied by the Soviet Union. Hundreds of thousands of Latvians fled or were deported. In 1994, after regaining independence, Latvia passed the Citizenship Law that explicitly preserved the right of exiled citizens and their descendants to retain or restore Latvian citizenship. The key principle: citizenship was never lost for those who were citizens on June 17, 1940, or their descendants.

The current legal framework is based on:

• The Citizenship Law of 1994 (with amendments, latest major ones in 2013 and 2019)
• The 1919 Citizenship Law (still partially in force for descent cases)

You are generally eligible if at least one of the following ancestors was a citizen of Latvia on June 17, 1940:

• Parent
• Grandparent
• Great-grandparent
• Great-great-grandparent (and further, in direct line)

There is no generation limit as long as the lineage is unbroken (parent → child → grandchild, etc.).

Important exceptions and conditions:

• The ancestor must have been a citizen of Latvia between April 4, 1919, and June 17, 1940.
• You cannot claim through cousins, aunts/uncles, or sideways relatives – only direct ascending line.
• If your ancestor left Latvia after 1940 as a refugee or was deported, this usually strengthens the case.

Since the 2013 amendment, Latvia fully permits dual (or multiple) citizenship for people obtaining it by descent. You do not have to renounce your current citizenship.

The exact list depends on your lineage, but you will usually need:

1. Your birth certificate (apostilled + officially translated into Latvian)
2. Birth, marriage, and (if applicable) death certificates of all ancestors in the direct line back to the Latvian citizen
3. Proof that the ancestor was a Latvian citizen in 1940 (passport, voter list entry, military record, school documents, etc.)
4. Old Latvian passports or ID cards of the ancestor (if available – greatly simplifies the process)
5. Any documents showing name changes
6. Police clearance certificate (from countries where you lived >12 months after age 16) – only for adults

All foreign documents must be apostilled (or legalized) and translated into Latvian by a sworn translator.

1. Research your family history – locate documents proving the ancestor’s citizenship.
2. Gather and legalize all documents.
3. Submit the application – can be done:
   • In person at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) in Riga
   • At any Latvian embassy or consulate abroad
   • By post (not recommended for first-time applicants)
4. Pay the state fee – €28.46 (standard) or €71.14 (fast-track, 10 working days).
5. Wait for decision – normally 3–12 months, sometimes longer if archives need to be searched.
6. Take the citizenship oath (if over 14) – can be done at an embassy.
7. Receive your citizenship certificate and apply for a Latvian ID card and passport.

• Orphaned lines or lost documents – Latvian archives can often issue confirmation of citizenship even without a passport.
• Adoption – generally breaks the bloodline unless the adoption was by a Latvian citizen before 1940.
• Born out of wedlock – paternity must be legally established in the chain.
• Soviet-era documents – Soviet passports that say “Latvian SSR” are usually not sufficient alone; you still need pre-1940 proof.

• Full EU citizenship – live, work, study anywhere in the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein
• Visa-free travel to 183+ countries with a Latvian passport
• Right to vote in Latvian and European Parliament elections
• Access to Latvian/EU consular protection worldwide
• Ability to pass citizenship automatically to your children

Latvia remains one of the most straightforward European countries for citizenship by descent, with no language test, no residence requirement, and no generation cap. If you have even one ancestor who was a Latvian citizen before June 17, 1940, you have a realistic chance of obtaining an EU passport – often within a year or two.

Start by checking old family documents, passports, and photos. A single pre-1940 Latvian passport in the family can make the entire process remarkably quick and inexpensive.