Latvia Implements Fee Waivers for Residence Permits

Latvia's government has established a fee waiver for residence permit applications based on three grounds, as outlined in Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 707. The regulation specifies that waivers are not automatic and require a decision from the Department or an authorized official.

The first ground for exemption is compliance with international treaties binding on Latvia. The second is when the waiver serves the interests of the Latvian state.

The third ground is humanitarian, where applicants must submit a motivated application detailing their reasons for requesting a fee exemption. The regulation also sets clear fee tiers for residence permit-related services at Latvian diplomatic missions, with a processing fee of €180 for specific categories, including students, former Latvian citizens, and dependants of citizens or permanent residents.

Other applicants fall under a general category with a higher fee of €252, and an additional €90 fee applies for document scanning.