The Report on the Migration and Asylum Situation in Latvia in 2025 provides an overview of the most significant changes in legislation and observations regarding legal migration, international protection and asylum, temporary protection, as well as other areas of migration. The report includes information obtained from migration policy makers and implementers, as well as from published studies and media analysis.
The report was prepared based on specifications developed by the European Commission and the national contact points of the European Migration Network (EMN), which enable the collection of uniform and comparable information on EU Member States and EMN observer countries.
Key Developments in Latvia’s Migration and Asylum Policy in 2025:
Legal Migration
In 2025, 14,301 initial residence permits were issued, which is 58% more than in 2024. 5,994 initial temporary residence permits were issued to Ukrainian civilians who had been granted temporary protection in Latvia. As of July 15, 2025, Latvia ceased issuing visas in passports that do not contain biometric data and also stopped accepting applications for residence permits from Russian citizens who do not possess a passport with biometric data.
International Protection and Asylum
Compared to 2024, the number of asylum seekers in 2025 increased 1.6-fold—1,288 people applied for asylum (compared to 801 in 2024).
Temporary Protection
On December 3, 2025, amendments to the Law on Support for Ukrainian Civilians were approved, reducing state support for Ukrainian civilians in Latvia by approximately 40%—from the 65 million euros planned for 2025 to just under 40 million euros.
Unaccompanied Minors and Other Vulnerable Groups
In 2025, the number of unaccompanied minors in Latvia increased significantly—to 170—all of whom applied for asylum.
Integration
In 2025, immigrants from third countries were able to learn the Latvian language, familiarize themselves with life in Latvia, attend integration courses, receive assistance in finding employment, and benefit from the support of a social mentor. Government and non-governmental organizations provided integration and Latvian language courses to asylum seekers and third-country nationals, including Ukrainian civilians.
Citizenship and Naturalization
In 2025, 724 people were granted Latvian citizenship through naturalization. The majority of those who acquired Latvian citizenship were non-citizens of Latvia (434). The number of third-countrynationals who received Latvian citizenship through naturalization has increased—in 2025, this figure stood at 280 (155 in 2024).
Border Control, Visas, and Schengen Administration
On September 1, 2025, amendments to the Immigration Law entered into force, providing that a foreign national—a citizen of any country other than a member state of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a country in the European Economic Area, the Swiss Confederation, or the Federative Republic of Brazil—who do not hold a visa or residence permit issued by the Republic of Latvia— the obligation to submit, 48 hours prior to entry into the Republic of Latvia, certain information electronically via the National Threat Prevention Information System (www.eta.gov.lv).
Irregular Migration
In September 2025, an agreement was signed titled “On Amendments to the Agreement of September 22, 2022, on Best Practices for Attracting Foreign Students and Providing Education,” which sets out five stricter requirements for higher education institutions.
Human Trafficking
On August 26, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Plan for the Prevention of Human Trafficking for 2025–2027,⁸ which aims to implement the international recommendations made to Latvia, as well as to ensure the implementation of the requirements of European Union Directive 2024/1712 into Latvian legislation. In the context of criminal proceedings initiated regarding the organization of human trafficking, three individuals have been designated as suspects. Eleven third-country nationals have been recognized as victims of human trafficking.
Returns and Readmissions
In 2025, the number of persons forcibly removed decreased to 75, while 2,206 persons voluntarily returned to their country of origin.