Rules regarding entering the country with biometric passport
A border check will be carried out for persons with biometric passports. The lack of travel documents or medical documents (certificate of vaccination, Covid-19 test) will not be an obstacle to entering Latvian territory for Ukrainian citizens.
Rules regarding entering the country with passport other than biometric
Visas will be issued to persons with other travel documents and without a valid Schengen visa. The lack of travel documents or medical documents (certificate of vaccination, Covid-19 test) will not be an obstacle to entering Latvian territory for Ukrainian citizens.
Rules regarding entering the country without passport/with ID
If a person arrives without travel documents, the identity of the person will be confirmed in cooperation with the competent Ukrainian authorities. The lack of travel documents or medical documents (certificate of vaccination, Covid-19 test) will not be an obstacle to entering Latvian territory for Ukrainian citizens.
Are applications for asylum being accepted?
No visa is needed for the first 90 days for Ukrainian citizens (only for holders of biometric passports). You have a right to apply for refugee status and a permanent residence permit in Latvia. If a civilian of Ukraine has a valid travel document, the State may issue a long-stay visa with the right to employment without restrictions for up to one year.
Is any registration for refugees from UA organized?
No special registration is planned; the State Border Guard Republic of Latvia will check the documents, if any.
Is any accommodation offered for refugees from UA?
10.1. The state of Latvia will provide primary support to the population of Ukraine for up to 90 days – accommodation and catering services, as well as basic necessities.
If the refugee has nowhere to stay after arriving in Latvia, contact the Society Integration Fund (SIF), 24-hour telephone +371 27380380 or inform the border guards that you need help and accommodation and they will provide you with a place to stay in Riga.
10.2. If the refugee can provide accommodation for himself / herself, we recommend searching the Internet for short-term accommodation:
• Booking.com
• AirBnB.com.
10.3. If the refugee can provide himself / herself (apartments, houses, flats), we recommend that you look for long-term accommodation on the Internet:
• SS.com (Rus, Lat)
• City24.lv (Rus, Eng, Lat)
• CityReal.lv (Rus, Eng, Lat)
• Zip.lv (Rus, Eng, Lat)
• RentInRiga (Rus, Eng, Lat)
Is there healthcare for refugees from UA offered?
Citizens of Ukraine have the right to receive state-paid health care services in the same amount as residents of Latvia.
Informative material in Ukrainian and English with the most important information about available health care services: https://www.vm.gov.lv/lv/veselibas-aprupes-pakalpojumi-ukrainas-pilsonieminformaciya-ministerstvo-okhoroni-zdorovya
Latvia provides up to 30 days of social rehabilitation services to the State Agency for Social Integration, if a person needs a 24-hour service due to a psycho-emotional condition according to the assessment of the municipal social service.
National Health Service (NHS) telephone: 8000 1234 (in English and Russian)
Phone of the National Health Service (NHS): e-mail: nvd@vmnvd.gov.lv
Is there any central contact point where to ask for help?
Society Integration Foundation
Adress: Raina bulvaris 15, Riga, LV-1050 (entrance from the yard due to construction works)
Number: +371 27380380 (available 24/7)
e-mail: pasts@sif.gov.lv
May Ukrainian refugees work without a permit?
The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), the State Border Guard or the Latvian diplomatic and consular missions abroad will be able to issue long-term visas with the right to employment to Ukrainian citizens without restrictions for up to one year. In addition, the OCMA may set a deadline of one year for the submission of all necessary documents if they do not currently comply with the requirements provided for in the Law on Legalization of Documents.
Are there any restrictions connected with Covid at the border and after arrival?
The lack of certificate of vaccination will not be an obstacle to entering Latvian territory for Ukrainian citizens. Regarding the employment no official information is available yet, but it is planned to allow work with antigen test in certain industries.
Can non-Ukrainians use on the ground border crossings coming from Ukraine? (If Applicable)
Not applicable.
What is the situation at border crossing points with Ukraine? (if applicable)
Not applicable.
Other information
All information available on: https://www.ukraine-latvia.com/uk
A unified information: +371 27380380
Riga City Council: +371 80000800
https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/information-ukrainian-citizens
http://latvia.mfa.gov.ua
www.facebook.com/UKRinLatvia
www.twitter.com/UKRinLatvia
17.1. The Latvian state provides a payment account with a credit institution to a Ukrainian civilian
17.2. If you need free legal assistance or have any additional questions about applying for asylum, please contact:
Latvian Center for Human Rights, which assists asylum seekers:
• office@humanrights.org.lv
• www.facebook.com/LCHRLCC
• www.cilvektiesibas.org.lv//
