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)
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.
