iMap
Latvia

Since 2006
The main migration policy instruments in Latvia:
Non-exhaustive list of key policy documents in the area of migration:
- National policies and legislation:
- Consult Latvia’s national law database.
- Consult recent publications of the European Migration Network.
- EU legislation:
- Consult the adopted EU legislation on Migration and Home Affairs
- Ratified international treaties:
- 1997: ratification of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.
- 2003: ratification of the 2000 Protocol on Smuggling of Migrants.
- 2004: ratification of the 2000 Protocol on Trafficking in Persons.
The main ministries in charge of migration affairs:
- Ministry of Interior: Together with its subordinate authorities it is the main body dealing with migration affairs, namely immigration (entry, residence); the reception of asylum seekers and the asylum procedure; border management and irregular migration; return and readmission.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: in charge of visa and consular affairs; relations with third countries; development cooperation with countries of origin and transit of migration.
- Ministry of Culture: in charge of socio-economic integration.
- Ministry of Welfare: in charge of access to the labour market, social security, children's and family rights.
- Ministry of Education and Science: in charge of access to education.
- Ministry of Health: in charge of public health policy, access to health care.
Sources:
- Latvian National Contact Point of the European Migration Network (2012): The Organisation of Migration and Asylum Policies in Latvia. https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/networks/european_migration_network/reports/docs/emn-studies/asylum-migration/15.latvia_factsheet_institutional_chart_october2012_en.pdf
- Ministry of Culture (2018): Official website (last accessed: 10/12/2018) https://www.km.gov.lv/en
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2018): Official website (last accessed: 15/01/2019) https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/
- Ministry of Interior (2018): Official website (last accessed: 10/12/2018) http://www.iem.gov.lv/eng/
- Ministry of Welfare (2018): Official website (last accessed: 15/01/2019) http://lm.gov.lv/eng
- Ministry of Education and Science (2018): Official website (last accessed: 15/01/2019) http://izm.gov.lv/en/
- Ministry of Health (2018): Official website (last accessed: 15/01/2019) http://www.vm.gov.lv/en/
- United Nations DESA-Population Division and UNICEF (2014): Migration Profiles - Common Set of Indicators. https://esa.un.org/MigGMGProfiles/Indicators/indicators.HTM
Last update: December 2018