Saeima supports extending state language tests for Russian citizens in Latvia who have shown initiative to learn

RIGA - Saeima today supported in the final reading the Interior Ministry's amendments to the Immigration Law, which stipulate extending state language tests for Russian citizens in Latvia by two years so they could obtain a permanent residence permit in Latvia, provided that they have taken the initiative to take the test.

The extension will also apply to Russian citizens who have failed the state language test for justified reasons.

For the above two groups of Russian citizens in Latvia, the deadline to take the state language tests required to obtain a permanent residence permit will be extended by two years.

The current version of the Immigration Law provides that permanent residence permits issued to Russian citizens will expire on September 1, 2023. To live in Latvia, they must apply for European Union permanent resident status, but to obtain it they must submit proof of A2 level of the national language and financial resources to the Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

As reported, the Latvian government in August instructed the Interior Ministry to prepare amendments to the Immigration Law, which provide for Russian citizens living in Latvia to pass a Latvian language test within two years at latest in order to be legally allowed to continue residing in Latvia.