EU Council extends temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine until 04.03.2025

Information about refugee assistance centers

The Center for Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine in the Riga House of Congresses at: Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela 5, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010. Opening hours: 09:00 - 18:00 (Mon-Fri).

Organization of work to support refugees: Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem.

On the basis of the Confederation of Ukrainians in Latvia, VICE operates a coordination center for assistance to Ukrainians: (Jurmala, Sloka 7147), a round-the-clock call center: +37166555044 (issues of collecting humanitarian aid, reception and accommodation of refugees from Ukraine).

Social security for refugees (temporary housing, food, employment opportunities, etc.)

Citizens of Ukraine who do not have a place of residence in Latvia should contact a representative of the State Border Guard Service of Latvia when crossing the border to request assistance: +371 67913569; +37167913568.

If you arrive in Riga, please contact the Riga City Council Welfare Department at 80005055 for information on accommodation, food, clothing, etc.

If you do not have a place to stay upon arrival in Latvia, please contact the Society Integration Fund by calling the round-the-clock phone number: +371 27380380.

Long-term residence:

https://www.ss.com/en/ (Lat, Rus)

https://www.city24.lv/en/ (Eng, Lat, Rus)

https://www.cityreal.lv/en/ (Eng, Lat, Rus)

https://www.zip.lv/en/ (Eng, Lat, Rus)

https://www.rentinriga.lv/en/main (Eng, Lat, Rus)

Medical care

All state healthcare services are available free of charge, for consultation call 80001234 (English Russian).

Family doctor - consultations, prescriptions, referrals, examinations or tests, vaccinations - 80001234, [email protected]

Doctor on call - if the family doctor's office hours are over, available in Riga and other large cities - 80001234.

Family doctor consultation phone number 66016001 (round-the-clock, Latvian, Russian) in case of simple illness, minor injuries, colds, vomiting, etc.)

Dentistry - state service for children under 18, paid service for adults (80001234)

COVID-19: If symptoms are detected, the state pays for the test in the laboratory. A doctor's referral is not required. Tel: 8303 (weekdays from 08:00-18:00, weekends 09:00-14:00).

General information: 8989 (weekdays from 08:00-20:00, weekends 09:00-18:00).

For isolation and quarantine: +37167387661 (weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00).

Documents required for the service: passport/visa or permanent residence permit. In the absence of documents - 80001234. No patient co-payment (does not apply to paid services - check before receiving).

Medical care for children: tel. +37125680140 (Children's Clinical University Hospital, 45 Vienibas gatve str., +37167064459)

Possibility to extend short-term stays and visas for Ukrainian citizens

Citizens of Ukraine do not need a visa for the first 90 days of their stay in Latvia (only for holders of biometric passports). Ukrainian citizens will also be issued long-term visas to secure the right to work in Latvia.

To learn more about the procedure for obtaining a long-term visa for Ukrainian citizens:

Department of Citizenship and Migration: +371 67209400 (Monday-Thursday 8:30-16:00; Friday 9:00-15:00)

Should I apply for refugee status?

After arriving in Latvia, you can apply in person to the Robežsardze (Latvian Border Guard) at Rudolfa 5 or Stabu 89 to apply for asylum (refugee status (reception hours: 8.00 to 16.30).

! It should be understood that the procedure can take up to six months and it makes sense to do this if you do not plan to return to Ukraine. If you plan to return, but do not know when it will be, it is better to apply for an annual visa with the right to work (category D), then you need to personally apply to the Migration Service of Latvia.

Arrival in Latvia through checkpoints (external border, airport):

border control will be carried out for persons holding biometric passports. Visas will be issued to persons with other travel documents and without a valid Schengen visa.

If a person arrives without travel documents, their identity will be confirmed in cooperation with the competent authorities of Ukraine.

Information on crossing the Latvian border can be obtained around the clock and seven days a week by calling: +371 27380380; round-the-clock telephone number for information on services and support in Riga: +371 80000 800.

Crossing the border without a biometric passport - yes or no?

The absence of travel documents will not be an obstacle to entry into the territory of Latvia for Ukrainian citizens. If a person arrives without travel documents, their identity will be confirmed in cooperation with the competent authorities of Ukraine. It is also necessary to contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine for more detailed information on documents (tel: +37167332956, +37129239262 (hotline), +37167243082).

What should I do if my passport expires or if I have a child with me without a passport?

We would like to inform you that for the period of martial law in Ukraine, on March 1, 2022, Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 170 dated 28.02.2022 "Certain Issues of Entering Information in the Passport of a Citizen of Ukraine for Traveling Abroad" came into force and will be valid for one year from the date of termination of martial law in Ukraine.

According to the Resolution, the Temporary Procedure for Entering Certain Information into Passport of a Citizen of Ukraine for Traveling Abroad (hereinafter - passport) was approved, namely:

- in case of expiration of a foreign passport, such a passport may be extended. The period of possible passport renewal is up to 5 years;

- the extension of the validity of a passport can be issued no earlier than 3 months before the expiration of the passport;

- a foreign passport of a child under 12 years of age may be extended for a period not exceeding the period of its issuance;

- the data of children under 16 years of age, if they do not have a foreign passport, may be entered in the parents' foreign passport with a photograph of the child/children with their personal data. Such information about the child certifies the identity and confirms the citizenship of Ukraine of such child.

The legal representative shall submit the following documents to the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Latvia in order to enter information about the child in the passport:

1) a foreign passport;

2) an application for entering information about the child in the passport;

3) a birth certificate or a document confirming the fact of birth issued by the competent authorities of a foreign state. In the absence of a birth certificate, the legal representative may submit an extract from the State Register of Civil Status Acts of Citizens on state registration of birth;

4) two photographs of the child measuring 3.5 x 4.5 centimeters (the background for photographing the person should be uniform, light (white or light gray) and contrast with the person's face, clothes, hair (if any);

5) a document confirming the authority of the person as a legal representative.

Documents issued by the competent authorities of a foreign state that are submitted for entering information about a child into a foreign passport shall be certified in accordance with the procedure established by law, unless otherwise provided by international treaties of Ukraine. Such documents shall be submitted with a notarized translation into Ukrainian.

! Information about the child is entered on the day of the legal representative's application - free of charge.

Information about the extension of the validity period of a passport is entered into the passport on the day of the application of the person in whose name the passport is issued or his/her legal representative - free of charge.

Crossing the border with pets

If you come from Ukraine with a pet, please contact the nearest veterinarian. This visit must take place no later than 5 working days after the arrival of the animal;

The veterinarian will examine, register, chip and vaccinate the animal free of charge (information phone number of the Latvian Food and Veterinary Service +371 67095245)

Schools, kindergartens

Contact the Izglītības Departament (Department of Education) at +37167026816.

Currency exchange

Cash exchange of the currency UAH for EUR in Latvia is limited, and it is not recommended to withdraw cash from ATMs in advance.

If you have Ukrainian hryvnia in cash, please contact the Tavex currency exchange offices in Riga. One person can exchange hryvnia for up to 50 euros in foreign currency, provided that they have a Ukrainian passport with a stamp of recent border crossing or refugee status. If you want to transfer hryvnia to a bank account in Latvia, you must first convert the currency. You can find more information in the banks of Latvia SEB, Citadele, Swedbank, Luminor.

Support for startup enterprises

The Latvian startup community is ready to welcome tech workers, startups and their families to Latvia. Below are the main resources for finding practical information for tech entrepreneurs when relocating and starting a business in Latvia, as well as for integrating into the local startup community:

Ukrainians do not need a visa to enter Latvia, but if they decide to stay, they will need to obtain a long-term visa or residence permit provides non-EU entrepreneurs, their spouses and their children with a residence permit with a maximum duration of 3 years. Other types of visas and residence permits are also available.

Latvian Startup Guide - highlights the main advantages and opportunities of the Latvian startup support and hospitality package. It also presents all the main points of moving to Latvia and everyday life.

Latvian Startup Association Startin.LV is the leading startup ecosystem in Latvia, uniting startup enterprises and other ecosystem players. For more information, visit https://startin.lv/ or contact us at [email protected]

Services and support provided:

- Consultations on the local ecosystem of startup enterprises and its participants

- Legal services for startup founders

- Integration into the local tech community

- Consultations on state support programs

The Startup Support Department of the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) is a state organization that provides information support and guidance on Startup Visa programs and assistance programs available to startup enterprises. Contact by e-mail: [email protected]

Information for motorists

Foreign individuals who have arrived in Latvia from Ukraine in a vehicle registered in Ukraine may be road users in Latvia for three months from the date of arrival without registering the vehicle in Latvia.

Driving licenses issued in Ukraine are valid in Latvia for all categories of vehicles specified in it. If you stay in Latvia for more than one year, the driver's license must be replaced.

Information on the services provided by the Road Safety Directorate can be obtained by calling the information phone number +371 670 257 77.