Interest in acquiring Latvian citizenship grows

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Since March, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the interest of Latvia's permanent residents in acquiring Latvian citizenship via naturalization has increased significantly, Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) told LETA June 4.

Statistics compiled by PMLP show that in 2021, on average around 45-50 naturalization applications were received in one month. In January and February 2022, these figures were 52 and 54. In March, however, the number doubled – 105 applications were received, 98 in April, 83 in May.

Thus, 392 applications were received in five months of 2022, compared to 562 throughout 2021.

Statistics on the nationality of applicants for naturalization are not currently available, but submissions come both from non-citizens and by citizens of another country with permanent residence permits.

PMLP said that people understand that the naturalization process is time-consuming and requires knowledge of Latvian, but the interest in the naturalization process is much higher than before the war began.

Around 148,000 persons have acquired Latvian citizenship since 1995.

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