Change of https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-in-latvia

Change description : 2025-12-03 17:08:00: Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. [Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeGuidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-08-22 07:13:55.813391899 +00:00..2025-12-03 17:08:29.137806195 +00:00

Guidance

Living in Latvia

Information aboutfor movingBritish to,citizens livingmoving to or retiringliving in LatviaLatvia, – including visas,guidance working,on healthcareresidency, passports and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
15 November 2013
Last updated
322 DecemberAugust 2025 — See all updates

Getting

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Pensions

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benefits and pensions while you are living in Latvia.

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information.

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Read the EU guidance on:

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Voting

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Births, deaths, marriagesmarriage and civil partnerships

Births

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Updates to this page

Published 15 November 2013
Last updated 322 DecemberAugust 2025 + show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

  2. "Passports and travel" section has been updated with information on EU introducing a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) on 12 October 2025.

  3. "Passports and travel" section has been updated with information on EU introducing a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES).

  4. New guidance on EU Entry/Exit System (EES) that applies from autumn 2024 added to the ‘Passports and travel’ section.

  5. Removal of the reference to COVID - 19

  6. Important information in the Working in Latvia, and National insurance sections if you work in Latvia, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

  7. Guide reviewed and updated with new information, including in the sections on driving in Latvia and national insurance and social security contributions.

  8. Guidance reviewed for people who are moving or moved to Latvia after 1 January 2021. Following the residency application deadline, it also includes sub-sections relevant to people living there since before 1 January 2021.

  9. Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in Latvia section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services and link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.

  10. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.

  11. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on pet travel and moving to Latvia

  12. Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.

  13. Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.

  14. Visa and residency section updated with information about how to apply for the new residency document.

  15. Added information relating to an online event about new resident permits for UK nationals in Latvia.

  16. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021.

  17. Visa and residency section updated with new guidance on residency permits that expired during state of emergency.

  18. New information on the Withdrawal Agreement and a new link to Latvian government guidance on residency

  19. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  20. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

  21. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

  22. EU Exit update: ´Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU' has been updated. The section now has information about travel to EEA and EFTA countries.

  23. EU Exit update: added updated information in passports, pensions and returning to the UK section

  24. EU Exit update: updated EU Exit information in voting, healthcare and visas and residency sections

  25. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  26. EU Exit update: Added link to Brexit information on the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website in the EU Exit section and added information on registration in the event of ‘No Deal’ from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs website to the visas and residency section. Please see the [information on the OCMA webpage](https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/information-on-brexit.html) on registration in the event of ‘No Deal’ scenario.

  27. Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip

  28. EU Exit update: Added link to national outreach event to EU Exit section and link to Department for Transport website with information about exchanging driving licences to the driving section.

  29. EU Exit update: updated information on access to healthcare

  30. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving.

  31. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.

  32. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

  33. First published.

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Contents

Update history

2025-12-03 17:08
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

2025-08-22 08:13
“Passports and travel” section has been updated with information on EU introducing a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) on 12 October 2025.

2024-10-23 14:07
“Passports and travel” section has been updated with information on EU introducing a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES).

2024-06-20 09:29
New guidance on EU Entry/Exit System (EES) that applies from autumn 2024 added to the ‘Passports and travel’ section.

2023-08-31 10:39
Removal of the reference to COVID – 19

2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the Working in Latvia, and National insurance sections if you work in Latvia, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

2021-02-11 14:21
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.

2020-09-07 12:02
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021.

2020-06-19 12:35
Visa and residency section updated with new guidance on residency permits that expired during state of emergency.

2020-02-05 12:07
New information on the Withdrawal Agreement and a new link to Latvian government guidance on residency

2020-01-23 14:29
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

2019-09-23 17:38
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

2019-09-03 16:42
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

2019-06-06 15:46
EU Exit update: ´Passports and travel after the UK leaves the EU' has been updated. The section now has information about travel to EEA and EFTA countries.

2019-04-16 10:25
EU Exit update: added updated information in passports, pensions and returning to the UK section

2019-04-10 16:43
EU Exit update: updated EU Exit information in voting, healthcare and visas and residency sections