What you should do
Coronavirus
You should follow the advice of the Latvian Government. You can also read our Latvia travel advice for our latest guidance.
For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Latvia see our coronavirus travel advice.
Stay up to date
You should:
The Withdrawal Agreement
If you were legally resident in Latvia before 1 January 2021, your rights will be protected by the Withdrawal Agreement. You must apply for a new residence status by 30 June 2021 to secure your rights.
You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.
Visas and residency
If you were legally resident in Latvia before 1 January 2021, you must apply for a new residency document by 30 June 2021.
To apply, fill in the ‘sample application’ form on the Latvian Government’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) ‘Information on Brexit’ website.
Send the completed form with a copy of your passport by post, or electronically with a secure electronic signature, to the regional division of OCMA where you would like to pick up your new residence document. You will be able to collect the new residence document from January 2021 onwards.
If you have not previously registered and have been living in Latvia for more than 90 days, you must register with the OCMA for a residence permit.
Once you are resident in Latvia you must also declare your place of residence. You can do this:
Moving to Latvia
Check the entry requirements for Latvia.
Passports and travel
You should carry your residence document, as well as your valid passport when you travel. If you have applied but not yet received your document, carry your certificate of application.
If you have not yet applied for a residence document, you should carry evidence that you are resident in Latvia. This could include a tenancy agreement or a utility bill in your name, dating from 2020.
If you cannot show that you are resident in Latvia, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen area, and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights in Latvia.
Passports
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You can apply for or renew your British passport from Latvia.
You must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Latvia, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.
If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.
Renew your passport before booking your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.
As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may have to use separate lanes from EU, EEA and Swiss citizens when queueing. You may also need to show a return or onward ticket.
Entry requirements
You can travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.
To stay longer than 90 days in any 180-day period, to work or study, or for business travel, you must meet the entry requirements set out by the country you are travelling to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit.
Periods of time authorised by a visa or permit do not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.
Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.
Travel to the UK and Ireland has not changed.
Driving in Latvia
You should exchange your UK licence for a Latvian driving licence.
For information on driving in Latvia, read our guidance on:
Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Latvia
Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.
If you are resident in Latvia, you must register your car and make the necessary changes so that it is suitable for left-hand driving. You have 6 months from the date you registered your residency to do this. The Latvian Road Traffic Safety Directorate has more information.
You can read the EU´s guidance on car registration and taxes in Latvia. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so, you will need certificates of exemption.
Driving in the UK with a Latvian licence
You can use your Latvian licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test. We will update these pages if there are any changes to the rules, as soon as information is available.
Healthcare
If you are a permanent resident of Latvia, you are entitled to the same healthcare as Latvian nationals. If you are a temporary resident and live in Latvia in connection with your employment or you are self-employed, you and your family members can receive state-funded healthcare services.
Read our guidance on healthcare in Latvia and make sure you are correctly registered.
If your UK employer has sent you to Latvia temporarily, your access to healthcare is different. Find out how to access healthcare as a posted worker.
State healthcare: S1
If you have a registered S1 form and were living in Latvia before 1 January 2021, your rights to access healthcare will stay the same if you are either:
- receiving a UK State Pension
- receiving some other ‘exportable benefits’
- a frontier worker who lives in Latvia and commutes to work in the UK
Read our guidance on using an S1 form in Latvia to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are resident in Latvia, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC for healthcare in Latvia.
If you were living in Latvia before 1 January 2021, you may be eligible for a new UK-issued EHIC if you’re:
- a UK student in Latvia
- a UK State Pensioner with a registered S1
- a frontier worker with a registered S1
An EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.
For more information read our guidance on healthcare when travelling in Europe and advice on foreign travel insurance.
You should also read guidance on:
Working in Latvia
If you were legally resident in Latvia before 1 January 2021, you have the right to work, as long as you remain legally resident.
Read our guidance on working in an EU country.
Some jobs may need you to apply for a UK criminal records check.
Your employer will need to apply to the State Revenue Service for your unique tax code. If you already have a personal code in Latvia, they will use this. Your employer is responsible for deducting your income tax and social security payments from your income.
If you are self-employed, you must register with the tax authorities yourself. You will be responsible for calculating and paying your tax and social security contributions.
Frontier workers
If you live in Latvia and commute to work in an EU or EFTA country, from January 2021 you may need a permit to prove that you are a frontier worker. We will update this guidance when more information is available.
Studying in Latvia
You will be eligible for broadly the same support as Latvian nationals, as long as you were legally resident in Latvia before 1 January 2021. You must apply for a residence permit in Latvia.
Read our guidance on:
Moving to Latvia to study
If you are planning to study in Latvia, make sure you meet all visa requirements before you arrive. Contact the relevant Higher Education provider in Latvia to check what fees you may have to pay.
For more information read studying in the European Union.
Money and tax
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Latvia to ensure you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.
Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Latvia have not changed.
Read the guidance on:
We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Latvia. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Latvia.
You can also seek professional advice at the Latvian Association of Accountants.
National Insurance
Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the UK or social security contributions in Latvia.
Banking
Whether UK banks can provide services to customers living in the EEA is a matter of local law and regulation. Your bank or finance provider should contact you if they need to make any changes to your product or the way they provide it. If you have any concerns about whether you might be affected, contact your provider or seek independent financial advice.
Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on banking, insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.
Pensions
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Latvia.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
If you retire to Latvia, you can claim:
Life certificates for UK State Pensions
If you get a life certificate from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.
Benefits
Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Latvia.
You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.
Latvian benefits
You may be eligible to claim some Latvian social security benefits if you have made enough social security contributions in Latvia.
To get benefits you must have a residence document and be living in Latvia for employment or family reasons.
The State Social Security Agency has more information.
Voting
You cannot vote in local municipal elections in Latvia or European Parliament elections.
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
Births, deaths and getting married
If your child is born in Latvia, you will need to register a birth abroad.
If someone dies in Latvia you can:
Find out how you can get married abroad.
You may also need:
Accommodation and buying property
Pets
If you have a pet passport issued by Latvia or another EU member state, you can use it to travel with your pet to Great Britain and elsewhere in the EU.
A GB-issued EU pet passport is not valid for travel to the EU or Northern Ireland. You should speak to your vet before you travel to get the necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Read guidance on:
Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.
Emergencies
Dial the European emergency number on 112 or Latvia also has:
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110 – police
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113 – first aid
If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Riga.
Returning to the UK
Tell the Latvian and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.
To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.
If you return to the UK check if your tax status will change.
If you get healthcare in Latvia through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, bringing family members, tax and access to services.
Disclaimer
Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Latvian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.
