(Unofficial
translation -- August 2, 1994)
Adopted
by the Saeima on June 21, 1994 with amendments adopted on July
22, 1994
(after the State President's resubmission).
Submitted to the
State
President for his signature and official publication.
Republic
of Latvia
Law on
Citizenship
Chapter I
General
Provisions
Terms
used in the Law
Alien --
a citizen (subject) of a foreign country.
Stateless
person -- a person with no citizenship (a person who is not a subject of any
state).
Dual
citizenship -- a case when a person is a citizen (or a subject) of more than
one state.
Naturalization
-- granting of citizenship.
Descendants
-- descending direct lineal relatives.
Article
1. Citizenship of Latvia
(1) The citizenship of Latvia is a person's
permanent legal connection with the State of Latvia.
(2) The substance of Latvia citizenship is the
total complex of the mutually interrelated rights and obligations, of both a
citizen and the State.
Article
2. Possession of Latvia citizenship Citizens of Latvia are:
1) persons who were citizens of Latvia on June
17, 1940 and their descendants who have registered according to the procedures
established by law, except persons who have become citizens (subjects) of
another state after May 4, 1990;
2) persons who have obtained the citizenship
of Latvia through naturalization or another manner according to the procedures
established by law;
3) children found within the territory of
Latvia whose parents are not known;
4) children
with no parents who live in an orphanage or boarding school in Latvia;
5) children
both of whose parents were citizens of Latvia on the day of birth of such
children, regardless of the place of birth of such children.
Article 3. Citizenship of a child if one parent is
a citizen of Latvia
(1) If, on
the day of the child's birth, one of the parents was a citizen of Latvia and
the other parent was an alien, then the child shall be a citizen of Latvia
provided that he/she:
1) was born
in Latvia;
2) was born
outside Latvia but, on the day of the child's birth, both
parents or the parent with whom the child lives,
were permanently residing in Latvia.
(2) In the
cases listed above, the parents upon their mutual agreement, can choose the
citizenship of another state (other than Latvia) for the child.
(3) If, on
the day of the child's birth, one parent was a citizen of Latvia and the other
parent was an alien and the permanent residence of both parents was outside
Latvia, then the child's citizenship shall be decided upon the mutual agreement
by the parents;
(4) If, on
the day of the child's birth, one parent was a Latvia citizen and the other
parent was stateless or was unknown, then the child shall be a Latvia citizen
regardless of his/her place of birth.
Article 4. Equality of citizens of Latvia
The rights and obligations of Latvia citizens are
equal regardless of the manner in which citizenship was obtained.
Article 5. The right to retain citizenship of
Latvia after marriage
(1) The
marriage of a Latvia citizen to an alien or a stateless person, and the
dissolution of such a marriage, shall not cause a change in the citizenship of
the Latvia citizen.
(2) The
acquisition or loss of the citizenship of Latvia by one spouse does not affect
the citizenship of the other spouse.
Article 6. Retention of the citizenship of Latvia
by persons living outside the territory of Latvia
Residence outside the territory of Latvia shall not cause loss of Latvia citizenship by citizens
of Latvia, regardless of the term of such residence, except in the cases provided for by this
Law.
Article 7. Protection of
citizens of Latvia abroad
Citizens of Latvia abroad shall enjoy the
protection of the State of Latvia.
Article 8. Inadmissibility of extradition to
foreign countries and expulsion from the State as to
citizens of Latvia
(1) The
Republic of Latvia shall not extradite its citizens to a
(2) Citizens of Latvia shall not be expelled from
Latvia.
Article 9. Dual citizenship
(1) The granting of Latvia citizenship to a
person shall not lead to dual citizenship.
(2) If a
citizen of Latvia simultaneously can be considered a
country in accordance with the laws of that country, then the citizen shall be considered
solely a citizen of Latvia in his/her legal relations with the Republic of
Latvia.
Chapter Two
Regulations and Procedures
for Naturalization
Article 10.
Right to obtain the citizenship of Latvia through
naturalization
Article 11. Restrictions on naturalization
(1) The citizenship
of Latvia shall not be granted to persons who:
1) through the use of anti-constitutional methods have turned against Republic of Latvia's
independence, its democratic parliamentary state system or the existing state authority in
Latvia, if such has been established by a court decree;
2) after May 4, 1990, have propagated fascist, chauvinist, national-socialist, communist or
other totalitarian ideas or have stirred up ethnic or racial hated or discord, if such has been
established by a court decree;
3) are officials of institutions of a foreign state authority, foreign state administrative body or
foreign state law enforcement body;
4) serve in the armed forces, internal forces, security service or the police (militia) of a
foreign state;
5) after June 17, 1940, have chosen the Republic of Latvia as their place of residence
directly after demobilization from the USSR (Russian) Armed Forces or USSR (Russian)
Interior Armed Forces and who, on the day of their conscription or enlistment, were not
permanently residing in Latvia. This restriction shall not apply to persons listed in Article 13
-- Paragraph 1, Subparagraphs
1, 6 and 7 and Article 13 -- Paragraph 5 of this Law;
6) have been employees, informants, agents or have been in charge of conspiratory premises
of the former USSR (LSSR) KGB or other foreign security service,
other special service, if such a fact has been established according to the procedures
established by law;
7) have been convicted in Latvia or another state to imprisonment for a term exceeding one
year for an intentional crime which was considered as a crime in Latvia at the moment this
Law comes into force; or
8) after January 13, 1991, have acted against the Republic of Latvia through participation in
the CPSU (LCP), Working Peoples' International Front of the Latvian SSR, United Council
of Labour Collectives, Organization of War and Labour Veterans, or the All-Latvia Salvation
Committee and its regional committees.
(2) If
criminal proceedings have been initiated against a person
application for naturalization, then his/her application shall not be reviewed before a final
court decree has been issued.
Article 12. General regulations for naturalization
(1) The citizenship of Latvia shall be granted through naturalization only to those persons who
are
registered in the Residents' Registry and:
1) whose place of permanent residence, on the submission date of their application for
naturalization, has been in Latvia for no less than five years counting from May 4, 1990 (for
persons who arrived in Latvia after July 1, 1992, the five-year term shall be counted from the
date of the issuance of their
permanent residence permit);
2) who have a
command of the Latvian language;
3) who know the basic principles of the Republic of Latvia Satversme (Constitution) and the
Constitutional Law "Rights and Obligations of a Citizen and a
Person";
4) who know
the National Anthem and the history of Latvia;
5) who have a
legal source of income;
6) who have
taken an oath of loyalty to the Republic of Latvia;
7) who have submitted a statement of renunciation of their former citizenship and have
received an expatriation permit from the state of their former citizenship, if such permit is
provided for by the laws of that state, or have received a document certifying the loss of
citizenship; and
8) who are not subject to the naturalization
restrictions listed in Article 11 of this
Law.
(2) Only those persons who meet all the
requirements set in
shall be granted the
citizenship
of Latvia through naturalization.
(3) The requirements of Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7 of this Article shall not apply to
former USSR citizens who on May 4, 1990, permanently resided in Latvia and who are not
citizens (subjects) of any other country. A statement on renunciation of the former
citizenship, an expatriation permit or a document certifying the loss of citizenship should be
submitted after the person has been officially notified that there are no other obstacles
against granting him/her the
citizenship of Latvia.
(4) The procedure for testing the knowledge of the basic principles of the Republic of
Latvia Satversme (Constitution) and the Constitutional Law "Rights and Obligations of a
Citizen and a Person", the National Anthem and the history of Latvia shall be determined by
regulations issued by the Cabinet of Ministers.
(5) Upon submitting an application for
naturalization, a person
amount determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.
(6) Persons, whose applications regarding
citizenship issues
resubmit them one year after the previous denial.
Article
13. Exceptions to naturalization
requirements
(1) After this Law comes into force, citizenship of Latvia can be individually granted to
persons:
1) one of whose parents is a Latvian or a Liv and who permanently reside in Latvia or have
repatriated to Latvia, and to their
spouses, if they have been married for at least 10 years;
2) who were former USSR citizens and their direct descendants, who are permanent
residents of Latvia on the day this Law comes into force and who were entitled to the
citizenship of Latvia (in accordance with Article 1 of the August 23, 1919 "Law on
Citizenship") but did not exercise this right, and to their spouses, if they have been married
for at
least 10 years;
3) who legally entered Latvia and permanently resided there on June 17, 1940, and to their
descendants, who on the day this Law comes into force are permanent residents of Latvia
(the provisions of this Subparagraph do not apply to persons who have entered Latvia in
accordance with the Mutual Assistance Pact between Latvia and the USSR of October 5,
1939);
4) who, during the German occupational regime from 1941 to 1945, were forcibly
transferred to Latvia and stayed
descendants who, on the day this Law comes into force, are permanently
residing in Latvia;
5) who have acquired a general education in a school with the Latvian language as the
language of instruction and who have permanently resided in Latvia for no less than five years
as of the submission date of their application for
naturalization;
6) who were Lithuania or Estonia citizens on June 17, 1940 and their descendants, if they or
their descendants have permanently resided in Latvia for no less than five years as of the
submission date of their application for naturalization;
7) who have been married to a Latvia citizen for at least ten years and who have
permanently resided in Latvia for no less than five years as of the submission date of their
application for naturalization
8) who have an excellent command of the Latvian language in compliance with the
regulations issued by the Cabinet of Ministers.
(2) Persons,
who meet at least one of the requirements listed in
may be naturalized out
of turn.
(3) The restrictions listed in Article 11, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 7 and the requirements
of Article 12, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1 shall not apply to the granting of Latvia
citizenship to persons listed in Paragraph 1 of
this Article.
(4) The
applications for naturalization by the persons listed in
shall be reviewed
separately in each category in the order of submission.
(5) A person who has rendered outstanding services for the benefit of Latvia can be granted
the citizenship of Latvia upon a resolution of the Saeima which shall be published in an official
newspaper.
Article
14. General procedure for
naturalization
(1) Applications
for naturalization shall be reviewed in
of Articles 11 and
12 of this Law in the following order:
1) starting from January 1, 1996 -- the applications of those persons who were born in
Latvia and are 16 to 20 years old on the submission date of
their application;
2) starting from January 1, 1997 -- the applications of those persons who were born in
Latvia and who are up to 25 years old on the submission date of their
application;
3) starting from January 1, 1998 -- the
applications of
4) starting from January 1, 1999 -- the applications of those persons who were born in
Latvia and who are up to 40 years old on the submission date of their
application;
5) starting from January 1, 2000 -- the applications of all other persons who were born in
Latvia;
6) starting from January 1, 2001 -- the applications of those persons who were born
outside
of Latvia and who have entered Latvia as minors;
7) starting from January 1, 2002 -- the applications of those persons who were born
outside
of Latvia and who have entered Latvia up to the age of 30;
(8) starting
from January 1, 2003 -- the applications of all other persons.
(2) The
applications for naturalization by the persons listed in
Subparagraphs 1-7 shall
be reviewed in the order of their submission.
(3) The order for reviewing the applications for naturalization by the persons listed in this
Article, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 8 shall be determined by giving precedence to those
persons who have resided in Latvia for the longer period.
(4) Amendments
to this Article which accelerate naturalization
Paragraph 4 of this Article shall come into force no earlier than one year after their
adoption.
Article 15. Naturalization of children
(1) The naturalized person's under-age children who are permanently residing in Latvia shall
obtain Latvia citizenship together with those persons. This also shall apply to adopted
children and children born out of wedlock. The provisions of Article 12 of this Law shall not
apply to the under-age children being granted the
citizenship of Latvia.
(2) If one
parent is naturalized in Latvia, but the other parent
under-age child shall
obtain the citizenship of Latvia if:
1) the
parents have agreed upon it; or
2) the parents have not agreed, but the child's place of permanent
residence is Latvia.
(3) If an
under-age alien (stateless person) is adopted by a
a citizen of Latvia
while the other is an alien, the child shall obtain the
1) the
adoptive parents have agreed upon it; or
2) the
child's place of permanent residence is Latvia.
(4) If an
adoption is annulled, the child's citizenship can be changed.
Article 16.
Necessity of receiving the approval of an under-age
child to change his/her citizenship
(1) The citizenship of a 14- to 18-year-old minor shall be changed in conformity with the
parents'
(adoptive parents') citizenship only upon the minor's written consent.
(2) If the
minor's citizenship is changed in conformity with the
(adoptive parents) without the minor's written consent, then, within one year after the minor
has come of age, he/she shall enjoy the right to restore his/her Latvia citizenship irrespective
of the time period resided in Latvia.
(3) If a marriage has been contracted between a citizen of Latvia and an alien and the child
has acquired the citizenship of a foreign state, then upon the child's coming of age, the
requirements set in Article 12, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 1 of this Law shall not apply to
his/her naturalization.
Article 17. Procedure for the receipt and review of
applications
for naturalization
(1) Applications for naturalization shall be received by and reviewed by the Ministry of the
Interior.
(2) The procedure and the terms for receipt and review of applications for naturalization
shall be determined by the regulations issued by the Cabinet of Ministers. Applications shall
be reviewed and the applicant shall be provided with a response no later than one year after
the
submission date of all documents required by the Cabinet of Ministers
regulations.
(3) A Ministry of the Interior decision denying naturalization may be appealed to the
courts.
Article 18. oath of loyalty to the Republic of
Latvia upon acquiring
the citizenship of Latvia
All persons who are granted the citizenship of
Latvia shall sign the following oath of loyalty to the Republic of Latvia:
(given name, surname) born (birthdate and place)
vow to be loyal solely to the Republic of Latvia.
I undertake to honestly
abide by the Republic of Latvia Satversme and laws and to spare no efforts to
protect
I undertake, without regard to my life, to defend
the independence of the State of Latvia, to live and work honestly in
order to augment the prosperity of the state and the people of Latvia."
Chapter Three
Procedure
for testing command of the Latvian language
Article
19. Latvian language examination
commissions
The command of the Latvian language by the person being naturalized shall be tested by
commissions established by the Cabinet of Ministers and the work of these commissions shall
be determined by the
regulations issued by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Article 20. Level of Latvian language knowledge
A person is considered to have a command of the
Latvian language if he/she:
1) completely understands information of an everyday and official
nature;
2) can freely talk, carry on a conversation and answer questions on topics of an everyday
nature;
3) can read freely and understand any texts of an everyday nature, laws and other normative
acts and other instructions of an everyday nature;
4) can write a composition on a topic from everyday life.
Article 21. Persons exempt from taking the Latvian
language examination
In reviewing the application for naturalization, the following persons are exempt from taking
the Latvian language examination:
1) persons, who have acquired a general education in a school with the Latvian language as
the language of instruction;
2) persons with category 1 invalid status, if such status has been permanently conferred upon
them.
Chapter Four
Loss and restoration of the citizenship of Latvia
Article 22.
Loss of the citizenship of Latvia
The reason for the loss of the citizenship of
Latvia can be:
1) renunciation of
citizenship;
2) deprivation of the citizenship.
Article 23. Renunciation of the
citizenship of Latvia
(1) Any person who is the citizen (subject) of another country or has been guaranteed the
citizenship of another country, shall be
entitled to renounce his/her citizenship of Latvia.
(2) An application to renounce citizenship can be
denied, if:
1) the person has
not fulfilled his/her obligations towards the State;
2) the person has
not fulfilled mandatory state military service.
(3) A decision to deny an application for the
renunciation of
the courts.
Article 24. Deprivation of the citizenship of Latvia
(1) The citizenship of Latvia may be deprived by a
Supreme
1) has acquired the citizenship of another country without submitting an application for
renunciation of the citizenship
of Latvia;
2) serves in the armed forces, internal armed forces, security service, the police (militia) or
institutions of justice of a foreign country
without permission from the Cabinet of Ministers;
3) has intentionally provided false information about him/herself when proving his/her right to
Latvia citizenship or naturalization and thus, has illegally obtained the citizenship of Latvia, if
this is discovered within five years from the date of naturalization.
(2) The deprivation of the citizenship of Latvia shall not affect the citizenship of the person's
spouse, children or other family
members.
Article 25.
Restoration of the citizenship of Latvia
(1) A person who has lost his/her citizenship of
Latvia as a
his/her biological or adoptive parents, or due to a juridical error or an illegal deprivation of
citizenship, can regain his/her citizenship of Latvia upon his/her own request and a decision of
the Cabinet of
Ministers.
(2) A person, who has been deprived of his/her
Latvia
24 of this Law, can reacquire the citizenship of Latvia only through naturalization and not
earlier than after five years of permanent residence in Latvia starting from the date the Latvia
citizenship was deprived.
Article 26.
Procedure for documenting the loss and restoration of the citizenship of
Latvia
The procedure for documenting the loss and
restoration of the citizenship of Latvia shall be determined by regulations
issued by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Chapter Five
concluding Provisions
Article 27.
Personal identification documents certifying the citizenship of Latvia
The personal identification documents which certify
the citizenship of Latvia include a Republic of Latvia passport and the
citizenship certificate issued by the Republic of Latvia diplomatic and
consular representative offices.
Article 28.
Application of international agreements
Article 29.
Control over the implementation of the Law on Citizenship
Parliamentary control over the implementation of
the Law on Citizenship shall be undertaken by a special saeima Commission.
Transitional provisions
1. citizens of Latvia and their descendants who, during the period from June 17, 1940 until
May 4, 1990, in order to escape the terror of the USSR and German occupational regime,
have left Latvia as refugees, have been deported or due to the aforementioned reasons have
not been able to return to Latvia, and who have become naturalized during this time in a
foreign state shall retain their right to register in the Residents' Registry as Latvia citizens, and
after the registration shall enjoy the full scope of citizens' rights and fulfill citizens, obligations,
if registered by July 1, 1995. If these persons register after July 1, 1995, they must renounce
the citizenship of the foreign state.
2. The provisions of Article 24, Paragraph 2 of this Law shall not apply to citizens of Latvia
with dual citizenship, if their place of permanent residence is
outside the territory of Latvia.
3. Persons, who by the date this Law comes into force, have been registered or have
applied for Latvian citizenship
Republic of Latvia Supreme Council Resolution "on the Renewal of Republic of Latvia
Citizens' Rights and Fundamental Principles of Naturalization" (The Republic of Latvia
Supreme Council and Government Reporter, No. 43, 1991) and the October 28, 1992
Resolution "on the Conditions for the Recognition of Republic of Latvia Citizens' Rights to
Persons Who Resided within Latvia before August 1, 1914, and Their Descendants" (The
Republic of Latvia Supreme Council and Government Reporter, No. 46/47/48, 1992), shall
be regarded as citizens of Latvia and their registration shall not be annulled, except in cases
provided for by this
Law.
4. Upon the
date this Law comes into force, the following laws and resolutions shall become
null and void: the October 15, 1991 Republic of Latvia Supreme Council
Resolution "On the Renewal of Republic of Latvia Citizens' Rights and
Fundamental Principles of Naturalization" (The Republic of Latvia Supreme
Council and Government Reporter, No. 43, 1991); the November 27, 1991 Republic
of Latvia Supreme Council Resolution "On the Application of the October
15, 1991 Republic of Latvia Supreme Council Resolution "On the Renewal of
Republic of Latvia Citizens' Rights and Fundamental Principles of
Naturalization" to the Republic of Latvia Citizens Living Abroad"
(The Republic of Latvia Supreme Council and Government Reporter, No. 49/50,
1991); the October 28, 1992 Republic of Latvia Supreme Council Resolution
"On the Conditions for the Recognition of Republic of Latvia Citizens'
Rights to Persons Who Resided within Latvia before August 1, 1914, and Their
Descendants" (The Republic of Latvia Supreme Council and Government
Reporter, No. 46/47/48, 1992); the October 28, 1992 Republic of Latvia Supreme Council
Resolution "On Amendments to the October 15, 1991 Republic of Latvia
Supreme Council Resolution "on the Renewal of Republic of Latvia Citizens'
Rights and Fundamental Principles of Naturalization" (The Republic of
Latvia Supreme Council and Government Reporter, No. 46/47/48, 1992); the
February 2, 1993 Republic of Latvia Supreme Council Resolution "On the
Temporary Regulations on the Procedure by which Republic of Latvia Citizens Who
Renounce Republic of Latvia Citizenship Lose Republic of Latvia Citizenship"
(The Republic of Latvia Supreme Council and Government Reporter, No. 7, 1993);
and the November 4, 1993 Republic of Latvia Saeima Law "Amendments to the
February 2, 1993 Republic of Latvia Supreme Council Resolution on the
"Temporary Regulation on the Procedure by which Republic of Latvia
Citizens Who Renounce Republic of Latvia Citizenship, Lose Republic of Latvia
Citizenship" (The Republic of Latvia Saeima the Cabinet of Ministers
Reporter, No. 34, 1993).
Adopted by the Saeima on July 22, 1994.
President of State GUNTIS ULMANIS
Riga, August 11, 1994.
Amendments to the Law on Citizenship
To Make the following amendments to the Law on Citizenship (Republic of Latvia Saeima and the Cabinet of Ministers Zinotejs, 1994, No. 17)
1. To supplement Article 2 with paragraphs 1a, 1b, and 1c in the following wording:
" 1a. Latvians and Livs who permanent residence is Latvia, who have registered by March 31, 1996, according to the procedures established by law and who have no other citizenship or who have received an expatriation permit from the state of their former citizenship, if such permit is provided for by the laws of that state;
1b. Women whose permanent residence is in Latvia and who, in accordance with Article y of the August 23 1919 Republic of Latvia "Law on Citizenship", had lost their Republic of Latvia citizenship, and their descendants, if these individuals have registered according to the procedures established by law, except for those individuals who have acquired the citizenship of another state after May 4, 1990);
1c. Persons whose permanent residence is in Latvia, who have registered according to the procedures established by law and who have completed a full educational course in a general education/Latvian language school or have completed the Latvian language course in a general educational school with both Latvian and Russian languages courses, thereby having acquired a basic primary or a general secondary education in such a school, if these individuals are not citizens of another state or they have received an expatriation permit form the state of their former citizenship, if such permit is provided for by the laws of that state;"
2. To delete the number "1" in Article 11, paragraph 1, subparagraph 5
3. To supplement Article 12, paragraph 4 with a second sentence in the following wording:
"The persons listed in Article 21 of this Law are exempted from the testing of knowledge on the basic principles of the Republic of Latvia Satversme (Constitution) and the Constitutional Law. "The Rights and Obligations of a Citizen and a Person", the text of the State anthem and the history of Latvia."
4. In article 13:
to amend paragraph 1, subpargraph 1 to read:
"1) who are Latvians or Livs and have repatriated to Latvia after March 31, 1996";
to amend paragraph 1, subparagraph 5 to read:
"5) who have graduated from a general education school with the Latvian language as the language of instruction or from the Latvian language course in a general education school with both Latvian and Russian language courses and thereby having acquired a basic primary education or a general secondary education in such a school";
to add the following sentence to paragraph 1, subparagraph 7:
"This provision is also to be applied to those spouses whose marriage has ended with the death of the other spouse (the Latvian citizen)";
to delete paragraph 1, subparagraph 8;
to supplement paragraph 5 with the following text:
"When granting citizenship to and individual on the basis of outstanding service for the benefit of Latvia, the provisions of Article 12 (except for paragraph 1, subparagraph 7) of this Law do not apply. If, on the basis of outstanding service for the benefit of Latvia, citizenship is granted to a former USSR citizen who has not citizenship of another state, the provisions of Article 12, paragraph 1, subparagraph 7 also do not apply";
to supplement Article 13 with a new paragraph 6 with the following text:
"6) a person who is to be granted citizenship on the basis of outstanding service for the benefit of Latvia shall submit to the Saeima an application to be granted such citizenship. The application shall include the person's autobiography and a notice stating that there is no facts which would indicate that the restrictions listed in Article 11 of this Law apply."
5. To replace in Article 17 the words "Ministry of the Interior" with the words "Naturalization Board".
6. To add to Article 18 after the word "born" (male case) the word "born" (female case),"
7. To amend Article 21 to read:
"In reviewing the applications for naturalization, the following persons are exempted form taking the Latvian language examination:
1) persons, who have acquired general, special secondary, higher or vocational education in a school with the Latvian language as the language of instruction (vocational secondary school, vocational gymnasium, trade school);
2) persons with category I invalid status who have been declared invalids for live, as well as persons with category II and III invalid status for sight, hearing or speech disabilities;
3) persons, who are eligible to be naturalized in accordance with Article 13, paragraph 3 and 6 of this Law, if they have reached the pension/retirement age set by law."
8. To replace in Article 24 the words "Supreme Court" with the words "Riga District Court".
Transitional Provisions
Persons who meet the requirements for the categories 1a, 1b, 1c and who, upon the submission of naturalization applications, have paid the state duty, shall be reimbursed for the state duty.
This Law shall take effect on the day following its promulgation.
This law has been adopted by the Saeima on March 16, 1995.
The President of State G. Ulmanis
Riga, march 22, 1995
For purposes of interpretation, the original Latvian text is to be regarded as official.
This amendment applies merely to a Latvian language specification by which both the masculine and feminine conjugation of the verb born are included.