Living in Latvia

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British Embassy regularly holds events in Latvia for UK nationals. Please find a summary of the last outreach meetings here.

You can also:

• read the Brexit section on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia website
• read Living in the EU: prepare for Brexit

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for Latvia.

If you plan to stay in Latvia for longer than 3 consecutive months, you must register with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA).

Once resident in Latvia you must also declare your place of residence. You can do this:

• at your local municipality (in Latvian)
• at the OCMA
• online through the Public Administration Services Portal (in Latvian)

Visas and residency after Brexit

After Brexit, you will have to change your residence document for a new one before 31 December 2020.

If you arealready residenthold a residence document, a letter from OCMA that explains how to get a new document after Brexit will be sent to your declared place of residence in LatviaLatvia.

All residence documents that are issued before the endUK ofleaves the implementationEU, periodincluding oneID cards or paper documents in A5 format, will be valid until 31 December 2020, youunless willthe beresidence abledocument tois stay.valid for a time period before that date.

IfIn therethe areevent of changes to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available. Sign up to our email alerts.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Latvia.

Read our travel advice for Latvia and sign up to email alerts for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Passports and travel after Brexit

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Driving in Latvia

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Healthcare

If you are a permanent resident of Latvia, you are entitled to the same healthcare as Latvian nationals. If you are a temporary resident and live in Latvia in connection with your employment or you are self-employed, you and your family members can receive state-funded healthcare services.

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State healthcare: S1

If you live in Latvia and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You must apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Latvia, you must not use youra EHICEuropean Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK for healthcare in Latvia.

When you travel from Latvia for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare in that country. During that short stay: 

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home 
• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance 
• read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad.

You can find an English-speaking doctor in Latvia.

You must also check your prescriptions are legal in Latvia.

Healthcare after Brexit

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If there’s no changesdeal, you will have the right to yourstate funded healthcare accessuntil before 31 December 2020.2020 Youif:

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• you arestarted livingyour instudies Latviaat university or movecollege therein permanentlyLatvia before 31the Decemberday 2020,the you’llUK leaves the EU, you will have life-longaccess to state-funded healthcare rightsfor inthe Latviaduration asof your studies

If you docurrently now,have providedyour healthcare costs paid for by the UK government, we can help if you remainare resident.asked to pay for treatment during the first 6 months after Brexit. To organise a payment, you must give your healthcare provider’s details to the NHS Business Services Authority’s Overseas Healthcare Services.

Working

Your EHIC may not be valid if there’s no deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme if there’s no deal. However, this is reliant on Latvia continuing to accept UK EHICs.

Read the NHS guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Latvia and studyinghow it may change after the UK leaves the EU.

Working in Latvia

Read our guidance on working in another EU country.

Some jobs may need you to apply for a UK criminal records check.

Your employer will need to apply to the State Revenue Service for your unique tax code. If you already have a personal code in Latvia, they will use this. Your employer is responsible for deducting your income tax and social security payments from your income.

If you are self-employed, you must register with the tax authorities yourself. You will be responsible for calculating and paying your tax and social security contributions.

Working in Latvia after Brexit

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If there’s no deal and you remainenter residentLatvia after Brexit, rules for third country nationals will apply for working in Latvia.

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Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Latvia to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Read the guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad

• tax on your UK income if you live abroad

• paying income tax in Latvia by the EU

National Insurance

Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

If you are employed or self-employed in the EU or EEA and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

Money and tax after Brexit

If there is no deal, it may become more expensive to use your UK bank card in the EU. Read more about using a bank card, insurance or other financial service in the EU.

Brexit will not change existing double-taxationdouble taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Latvia. You should send your taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Latvia. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Latvia.

You can also seek professional advice at the Latvian Association of Accountants.

Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you retire to Latvia, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre to claim

• your Latvian pension, if you have worked in Latvia

• pensions from working abroad, if you have worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a life certificate from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Pensions after Brexit

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If youthere areis livinga indeal Latviaand by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Latvia you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Latvian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

Benefits

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Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Latvia. You must:

• read our guidance on claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad

• use our tool to check which UK benefits you might be able to get while you’re abroad and how to claim them

Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Latvian benefits

You may be eligible to claim some Latvian social security benefits if you have made enough social security contributions in Latvia.

To get benefits you must have a residence document and be living in Latvia for employment or family reasons.

The State Social Security Agency has more information.

Benefits after Brexit

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If you work and pay social security contributions in Latvia, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Latvian contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

Read our guidance on benefits and pensions if there is no deal.

Driving in Latvia

You must exchange your UK licence for a Latvian driving licence before the UK leaves the EU, You can still use your Latvian licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

For information on driving in Latvia, read our guidance on:

• what you need to drive abroad

• driving rules in Latvia

• driving licence exchanges and renewals

Bringing a UK vehicle to Latvia

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

If you are resident in Latvia, you must register your car and make the necessary changes so that it is suitable for left-hand driving. You have 6 months from the date you registered your residency to do this. The Latvian Road Traffic Safety Directorate has more information.

You can read the EU´s guidance on car registration and taxes in Latvia. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving in Latvia after Brexit

If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same as they are now until the end of the implementation period.

Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote

• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

If you’re resident in Latvia, you can register to vote in local municipal and European Parliamentary elections.

To vote in Latvia you must be:

• at least 18 years old on election day

• registered on the Population Register of Latvia

• registered to vote

To register to vote in the European Parliament elections, citizens of EU Member States need to submit a signed application to the Central Election Commission of Latvia. You can get the application form and more guidance from the Central[Central Electoral Commission of Latvia.Latvia[(https://www.cvk.lv/en/central-election-commission/central-election-commission).

AfterUK Brexitnationals youresident in Latvia will no longer be eligible to vote in local and European electionsElections inafter Latvia.Brexit.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Latvia, you will need to register a birth abroad.

If someone dies in Latvia you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad

• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Latvia

Find out how you can get married abroad.

You may also need:

• English-speaking lawyers

• translators in Latvia

• notarial and documentary services for Latvia

Accommodation and buying property

See buying a property abroad.

Pets

CurrentYou petwill still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret when the UK leaves the EU, but the rules will staychange. theRead sameguidance untilon 31pet Decembertravel 2020.to Europe after Brexit.

While the UK is still a Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport. If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time youyou’ll musthave to visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on petreturning travelyour cat, dog or ferret to the UK and on exporting horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

Dial the European emergency number on 112 or Latvia also has:

• 110 – police

• 113 – first aid

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Riga.

Returning to the UK

Read our guidance on:

• access to benefits and services in the UK if there is a no deal

• bringing your family to the UK

• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding

• importing vehicles back to the UK

• bringing your pet back to the UK

• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

Tell the Latvian and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

If you return to the UK check if your tax status will change.

Read our guidance on bringing your pet to the UK and importing vehicles to the UK.

If you get healthcare in Latvia through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Latvian authorities. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.