The global passport ratings have changed and, in the new world, the Latvian passport has become a powerhouse. Is it worth it to restore Latvian citizenship and obtain your Latvian passport? Or are you better off just keeping the passport you have now?As long as you are the descendant of Latvian citizens that left because of WW2 and subsequent occupation of Latvia, you can restore Latvian dual citizenship. This means you don’t need to renounce your previous nationality and passport. You can hold a dual Latvian passport.
Because Latvia is a full member state of the European Union and the Schengen Agreement area for tourism, the passport gives you freedom of movement within this space. You are allowed to travel and settle and work in any country of the block without residence permits and, because of the right to family reunion, to get your spouse to join you where you settle.
The Latvian passport is powerful, with a score that places it in 5th place in the newly published global rank of Passport Index for year 2020 (tied with strong passports of Greece and Malta among others). But what benefits does it offer you? And can you get one? When you get a dual Latvian passport, you get to travel simpler, cheaper, and to more countries. At 130 countries with visa-free or visa-on-arrival agreements, it has better mobility than, for example, the US passport (97 countries) or South Africa (78 countries).
In all, traveling with a passport in Latvia is a less time-consuming, more enjoyable, and seamless process. You can move with more ease, less frustration, and less investment in administrative fees. Instead, you get to relax, kick back, and have the adventure of your life.
The travel advantages of a Latvian passport
Every year, more and more people are choosing to lead a lifestyle of adventure— either by working as unshackled digital nomads or simply by prioritizing travel. This lifestyle is best without bureaucratic hassles and visa applications— and you can get it if you have a Latvian passport.
With it, you can get the digital nomad experience. You can stay up to half a year (in one year) in some countries— like Canada. And you can remain 30 days to 3 months (in half a year or a year) in most other countries with no extra charges or bureaucratic bothers.
Especially after Covid-19 travel restrictions and prohibitions, many travelers are looking to obtain a stronger passport to move more freely across borders— especially within the EU.
The global impact on Covid restrictions has been severe and no one knows yet what 2021 will bring. Will you be able to travel? With a Latvian passport, you can press fast forward on your relocation plans and move more easily throughout the EU— unlike non-EU-passport holders who will probably have to apply for prior authorization.
Having a Latvian passport cuts the red tape: it can help you adventure and even live in many nations with minimal administrative inconveniences. But what exactly are the advantages of having it? And what do you need to get it?
Visa ranking of the Latvian passport
The Latvian passport is one of the strongest ones in the world, tied in 5th place with nations such as Canada and Greece (data obtained before the pandemic). What this means:
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Visa-free travel: with this passport, you’re allowed to travel visa-free (no sharing too much information, no fees, no drawn-out forms) to 93 countries, including the entire EU and Schengen area.
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Visa-on-arrival: the Latvian passport allows you to only do visa-on-arrival in 34 countries. This is an easy process: at the immigration desk at the airport the border, you get a stamp or attachment on your passport. You don’t need to fill any paperwork beforehand: it’s faster, easier, and much less frustrating than obtaining a regular visa.
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Easy, prolonged stay: as a Latvian passport holder, you can stay in many countries (eg., New Zealand and Brazil) as long as 3 months with no hassles. In other countries, such as Canada, you can simply stay up to 6 months.
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Uncomplicated access to the Schengen area.
According to the global Passport Index, the passport of Latvia is only growing more powerful over time. It rose from 6th place in 2019 to 5th in 2020, and despite Covid-19 restrictions, it will only continue its positive trend in the future.
In a world where visa barriers and administrative processes rule, having such a powerful passport makes everything easier.
What do you need to get a Latvian passport?
The requirements to restore Latvian citizenship and obtain a passport of Latvia are straightforward. You need to be able to prove descent— that at least one of your ancestors was a Latvian citizen. There is no generation barrier.
But there’s a catch. To get Latvian dual citizenship, your Latvian ancestor must be someone who left the country during the period of occupation (officially, between 1940 and 1990).
The restoration process involves finding the documents that prove descent, filling out number of forms, and presenting them in the legally required way.
If you have Latvian descent and you would like to get a Latvian dual passport, reach out to us via email at info@latviancitizenshup.eu. We offer help with document acquisition, application preparation, translation services, and guidance until citizenship is granted. Email us today so we can assess your eligibility for a Latvian passport and Latvian citizenship by descent.
