First 30 days in Latvia for Russian speakers: a checklist of what to do and in what order

In brief

As of 6 November 2026 the first 30 days in Latvia depend almost entirely on your status. New temporary residence permits for Russian citizens are reported to be suspended except in cases listed in the Immigration Law, and entry for most visitors is limited by a Cabinet regulation reported to run until 31 December 2026. If you already hold a Latvian residence permit, the list is short: declare your address within one month, use the personal code you receive with the permit, sort out tax registration, health cover and a bank, and check your driving licence. This is a dated checklist from search summaries, not legal advice; the end of the article lists what we could not confirm.

What decides your checklist: residence permit or short stay

• Holder of a Latvian residence permit. You collect the permit card at the migration office (PMLP, in some places called OCMA), and most of the list below applies to you.
• Short Schengen stay or visa. A short stay does not give you the right to settle, to declare a residence or to open a resident bank account. It is a different, shorter list, so use the Schengen rules and not this article.
• Citizens of Russia and Belarus. The Foreign Ministry and a law-firm briefing describe a suspension of new temporary residence permits for Russian citizens, with exceptions such as family reunification, humanitarian reasons, an EU Blue Card, studies or research. Belarusian citizens are reported to have a wider set of options. We could not read the current text of the Immigration Law, so check it on the PMLP site before you plan around any route.
• Passports. The Latvian Foreign Ministry says non-biometric Russian passports are not recognised, and PMLP does not accept applications submitted with them.
• Language. A 2026 bill is reported to make A2-level Latvian mandatory for most renewals. This comes from one secondary source and the final text is not confirmed. A PMLP page says Russian citizens who failed the state language test may get a permit for up to two years if they applied for a second test; its date is unclear.

Days 1 to 3

• Collect your permit card and keep the PMLP receipt and the card number in one place with a photo of the card.
• Declare your place of residence at the same visit if the office offers it. PMLP states that a foreigner with a Latvian residence permit is obliged to declare a place of residence, and that it can be done when the card is collected.
• Note that the personal identity number is allocated to you with the temporary or permanent residence permit, so the code appears with the permit and not before.
• Collect the paper that proves your right to live at the address: a tenancy contract or an ownership document. We did not find the exact list PMLP asks for, so ask the office.
• Photograph or scan all documents and keep both the originals and certified translations, because banks and doctors ask for them again.

Week 1

• Declare your residence if you have not yet. It can be done in person at PMLP or at the municipality, or electronically at the latvija.lv portal, where PMLP says the state fee is not paid. A separate PMLP fee page lists EUR 4.27 for an in-person declaration. The deadline is within one month from the moment you habitually live at the address. We did not find a fine for missing it.
• Plan the bank account. A Latvian law-firm briefing says opening new accounts for Russian citizens without a Latvian residence permit is not possible and that old accounts are being closed. With a permit, expect a due diligence questionnaire from the bank, and bring your passport, permit card, proof of address and documents on the source of funds. Read the separate article on resident bank accounts before you go.
• Keep your money transfers documented: a bank that asks where the money came from wants a paper trail, not an explanation. See bank checks for Russian citizens living in the EU.

Weeks 2 to 4

• Tax registration. An old UK government guidance page says that with your first job the employer registers you with the State Revenue Service. We found no Latvian source for a separate self-registration step for people who are not employed, so ask the tax office or your accountant.
• Health cover. Sources conflict on whether you must register with a family doctor: one says primary care can be obtained from any doctor who provides it, another advises choosing a contracted family doctor. We did not find the official position of the health service. Keep a private policy until you have confirmation in writing, and read health insurance and doctors after moving abroad.
• Driving. The CSDD page says that a person who resides in Latvia for more than 1 year must exchange a foreign licence by passing the driving test, in person at a CSDD customer service centre. A commercial guide gives a fee of EUR 22.41, which you should check on csdd.lv. The page says nothing specific about Russian licences. See the driving licence article.
• Tax residence. Moving does not by itself change your tax residence at home or in Latvia; the rules are in tax residency when relocating.
• Children, utilities, SIM card. We did not find reliable data for Latvia, so we do not state rules here.

Deadlines and fines that matter

• Declaration of residence: within one month of starting to live at the address. No fine found.
• State fee for an in-person declaration: EUR 4.27, free online at latvija.lv.
• Driving licence: the test route applies after more than 1 year of residence.
• Cabinet regulation on visa applications and entry of Russian and Belarusian citizens: reported to run until 31 December 2026; check the current text.
• Permit renewals: apply before your permit expires and check the language requirement for your case.

Common mistakes

• Arriving on a short stay and expecting to apply for a residence permit inside the country.
• Applying with a non-biometric Russian passport.
• Postponing the address declaration because "nobody asked yet".
• Opening a bank account plan before the permit exists and then paying rent in cash with no paper trail.
• Assuming a language exemption exists without a written decision.
• Believing a forum answer about family doctor registration, driving or tax without asking the office.

One-page checklist

• Permit card collected, receipt and card number saved.
• Address declared (online at latvija.lv, free; or in person, EUR 4.27) within one month.
• Personal code noted.
• Proof of address and documents translated and scanned.
• Bank account: questionnaire answered, source-of-funds documents ready.
• Tax registration route confirmed with the office or employer.
• Health cover: private policy until the public route is confirmed.
• Driving licence: exchange plan after the first year.
• Renewal date and language requirement in your calendar.

What we could not confirm

• The current text of the Immigration Law and the Cabinet regulation (reported until 31 December 2026), and the permit routes for Belarusian citizens.
• The 2026 bill on A2-level Latvian and on real-estate golden visas.
• Fines for missing the declaration, the tax registration route for non-employed permit holders, the family doctor rule, bank policies of named banks, SIM, school and utilities.

This is a practical checklist from search summaries and not legal advice. Confirm every rule with PMLP, the municipality, the bank or a lawyer. For buying a home see the Latvia buying guide and the Baltics comparison; for the full list in any country start with the 30-day hub.

FAQ

Can I apply for a Latvian residence permit after arriving as a tourist? For Russian citizens the reported suspension of new temporary permits makes this unlikely outside the listed exceptions, and a short stay does not give you the right to settle. Check the Immigration Law and PMLP before you travel.

Do I have to declare my address? Yes if you hold a Latvian residence permit. PMLP says the obligation exists and the deadline is within one month of starting to live at the address. Online declaration at latvija.lv is free, in person it costs EUR 4.27.

When do I get my personal code? PMLP says it is allocated with the temporary or permanent residence permit, so you see it with the permit card.

Is a Russian non-biometric passport accepted? The Foreign Ministry says it is not recognised, and PMLP does not accept applications with it.

Will I need to pass a Latvian language test? A 2026 bill reportedly makes A2 mandatory for most renewals, but the final text is not confirmed. A PMLP page describes a two-year permit for Russian citizens who failed the state test and applied for a second one. Check your case with PMLP.