On April 29, 2026, amendments to the immigration law entered into force in Latvia, significantly expanding the grounds for revoking temporary residence permits. Foreign nationals may now lose their right to stay not only for serious crimes, but also for repeated administrative offenses, including seemingly minor violations such as traffic infractions.
What has changed
Under the new provisions, a temporary residence permit can be revoked if its holder has committed three administrative offenses within a one-year period. The law covers several areas: public order (including aggressive behavior, minor bodily harm, and harassment), violations of administrative regulations, traffic offenses, and child protection rules. Notably, the public use of symbols associated with totalitarian regimes is also explicitly listed among the grounds.
An important point: revocation is not automatic. Each case will be reviewed individually by the competent authorities. This means there remains a degree of discretion, but committing three offenses is now sufficient to initiate proceedings.
Who is affected
The amendments apply to all holders of temporary residence permits in Latvia, regardless of nationality or the grounds on which the permit was issued. This includes migrant workers, family members of residents, students, and other categories of foreign nationals with temporary (non-permanent) status.
The amendments came into force on April 29, 2026.
