Starting February 12, Latvian citizens will go through a revamped passport issuance process, which, amongst others, will introduce a new passport format and increased fees.
In this regard, the government explains that under the updated guidelines, there is a slight adjustment to the passport fee, seeing an increase of €4, a figure significantly lower than initially anticipated.
The Latvian Ministry of the Interior underlines that these new passports boast the latest anti-counterfeiting features, in line with the strict standards set by the Council of Europe.
As LSM explains, implementing these innovative anti-counterfeiting measures extends beyond citizens to include ‘non-citizens’ of Latvia as well as the travel documents of stateless individuals, refugees, and those granted alternative status.
In addition to the increased security measures, the new passports offer a practical advantage with increased pages. The number of pages goes from 34 to 42, meeting the needs of frequent travellers who travel beyond the borders of the Schengen Area, LSM notes.
Passports of the previous model, introduced in 2015, remain valid until their specified expiration dates. During a government session, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis revealed that the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs issues an average of around one and a half thousand passports per day – an unexpectedly substantial figure considering Latvia’s population of 1.9 million.
As a result, the issuance of passports has witnessed a significant increase over the past two years. While 121,000 passports were issued in 2021, the number rose to 318,679 in 2022, and a total of 378,551 passports were issued last year.
LSM highlights that factors such as Brexit, the United Kingdom’s determination only to recognise passports as valid identification at its borders, and the war in Ukraine have fueled this growth.
Simultaneously with the presentation of new passports comes an adjustment in passport fees. Previously, obtaining a passport within ten working days required a fee of €30. However, from February 12, the fee will increase by €4 to €34. For the expedited issuance of the passport within two working days, the cost will increase from €55 to €60.
The reduced fee previously available for simultaneous passport and identity card applications has been abolished.
Moreover, those exempt from paying the fee include children in care, individuals residing in long-term social care institutions, and incarcerated persons.
