When you get Latvian citizenship, does your spouse get it too?

1. DECIVITATE When you get Latvian citizenship, does your spouse get it too? DECIVITATE A. ČAKA IELA 118 B 1012 RIGA, LATVIA 37064247449 WWW.LATVIANCITIZENSHIP.EU

2. Will your spouse get Latvian citizenship? Thinking of taking the plunge, finally getting your Latviancitizenship,andstartinganewchapterof your life together with a loved one? Or perhaps, you’re wondering if restoring your Latvian citizenship is worth it— after all, you’re already married and any big life decision affects your partnertoo.

3. Whatever your situation is, restoring citizenship is always a good idea. Not only does it give you a sense of connection to your roots, but also very tangible benefits for your future, whether you move to Europe or not.If you’re married (or if you plan to be married), these benefits can look particularly attractive. After all, Latvia is a thriving place to live and to start afamily.Andwhat’smoreromanticthanabig,life-changingadventurewith your significant other?The big question: if you restore Latvian citizenship, willyourspousegetittoo?Orwilltheybeabletogetaresidencepermit?

4. When you get Latvian citizenship, does your spouse get it too? Restoring Latvian dual citizenship by descent involves filling forms, researching documents,and presenting your case to the Latvian authorities (helping you through this process is what we do). All to prove you have an ancestor who was a Latvian citizen and left the country during the period of occupation (circa1940-1990).

5. Thismeansthatyourspousewon’tgetcitizenshipwhenyoudo.It’snotpassed on automatically (unlike what happens with any future childrenyou have). The same goes if you’re not married when you acquire Latvian citizenship.Are your bigplanslost,then?Notatall!Keepreadingtofindoutwhatyoucando! Even though the spouse of a Latvian citizen can’t become a citizen (unless they, too, can restore it by descent), other options allow you to start your new life together.Namely, acquiring a residence permit in any given country in the EU—whichisamuchsimplerprocessforthespouseofanEUnationalthanfor anyone else.Applying for (and being granted) residence means that, though you’renotacitizen,youcanliveinthecountryforlongerthan3months.You’re alsoeligibleforaworkpermitandcanrelocatewithyourLatvianspousetoany country within theEU.

6. Note:theimmigrationrequirementsandrulestoacquireresidenceasanon-EU spouse vary from country to country. If you’re planning on relocating to a differentstatewithintheEU,youshouldchecktheirspecificlaws. However, there are general benefits you receive as the Non-EU spouse of anEUcitizen: • Right of family reunion— you have the right to join your Latvian citizen spouse and live together in theEU. • This is more important than other criteria— youdon’t need to prove your work experience, education, age, or criminal record. The right to family reunion is usually reason enough to be grantedresidence. • As the spouse of someone with Latvian citizenship, you receive the right to work and study, as well asrelocate to any country of the EU with your partner (with minimal paperworkinvolved). • Eventually, you have the possibility of permanent residence and even citizenship.InSpain,Ireland,orSweden,permanentresidencecomesafter5 years of uninterrupted legal residence. In Norway, three years’ the rule (plus other requirements). You should check the rules for your chosen relocation country.

7. What about living in the EUas anon-spouse? ForanyonewhoisnotaspouseorpartnerofanEUnational,whoisnotanEU national,andwhowantstotraveltotheEU,therulesarealotmorestringent. • Thekeydifferenceswhenyou’renotanEUnationalnorthespouseorpartner of an EUnational: • You need to prove your reasons for traveling to theEU and apply for the relevant visa (when a visa isnecessary). • If you plan on a stay longer than 3 months or ifyou • want to work or study, you need to show yourcredentials. For example, acceptance by an education institution or sponsorship by anemployer. • This means you need to go through a difficult and costly process of first finding an institution or a job with an employer that is willing to sponsor you. This is easiest for highly qualified workers but, even for them, it is notsimple. If you aren’t a highly qualified worker, this becomesalmost impossible. • Unlike what happens when you’re the spouse of an EU citizen, when you onlyhaveaworkpermitorresidence,youcan’tstayifnotworking,studyingor havinganotherstrongandvalidreasontostayintheEU.

8. What about living in the EUas anon-spouse? ThespouseofsomeonewithLatviancitizenshipdoesn’treceivecitizenship automatically. However, they have the right to be reunited with their EU spouse and can easily apply to live and work anywhere in the EU. This is a clear advantage over anyone who isn’t the spouse of an EU citizen.People areincreasinglyflockingtowardsstableEuropeanstates—especiallyinthe face of pandemics and political instability in their home countries. Our advice: if you’re thinking of relocating to Europe with your spouse (or just wantasolidbackupplan)andcanrestoreyourLatviancitizenship,it’stime to do so now. Don’t wait until it’s too late to act and secure the future of your family now.Do you have Latvian descent and want to restore your Latvian citizenship? Write to us via email at info@latviancitizenship.eu. We will help you with document acquisition, application preparation, translation,andguideyouuntilcitizenshipisgranted.Emailustodaysowe can evaluate your eligibility forLatvian citizenship.

9. DECIVITATE A. ČAKA IELA 118 B 1012 RIGA, LATVIA 37064247449 WWW.LATVIANCITIZENSHIP.EU