For all those hopeful workers who are waiting to step onto the Latvian soil, it is important to have a good idea about theLatvia immigration policy.
You will have to get a temporary resident visa to be able to stay and
work in Latvia. Your company can activate the procedure of application
from their side. It is best to have it done through your employer as
they can get the whole process off to a smooth start.
Even the Latvian company would be required to give explanation as to
why it the company requires the service of a foreign national. The
company should not have any record of tax obligations.It should have a
vacancy that has been kept open for Latvian citizen for a minimum period
of one month. If within that time no Latvian citizen, qualified enough
to fill the post, is found the company can proceed with the employment
of a Latvian citizen. The company will have to submit a duplicate of the
service contract. In such cases the employer firm will have to pay for
the paper work involved in processing the temporary resident permit or
visa.
The firm will also be expected to take care of the visa
applications of the foreign national’s family, including spouse and
children. This leads to a lot of expense for the company. This ensures
that Latvian companies do not resort to mass employment of low skilled
labourers from foreign countries. Most of the immigrant workers are
highly educated professionals who would opt for permanent residence. The
foreign national is required to get a temporary resident permit before
he can apply for a permanent resident permit.
The temporary
resident permit or visa is necessary for any foreign national who wants
to stay in Latvia for a period of above 90 days. The citizens of the
other countries who are a member of the European Union can stay in
Latvia without a visa. This is because the citizens of the European
Union countries are permitted to travel to and stay in other European
Union countries without temporary resident permits or visa.
On applying for a temporary resident visa the worker or foreign
national will be required to submit the following documents. The Latvia immigration policy has
made it compulsory to submit the documents mentioned below. The primary
form required is the completed copy of a residence permit application.
The foreign national will also have to submit a single, recent
photograph of self and any other family member, if their application is
also being submitted. Documents to prove that the person can sustain
himself financially, is also required. They will also be required to
give in a proof of residence. A copy of the work contract is essential
to move the application forward. The foreign national will also be
required to produce a health certificate.
Though the rules and
regulations are not very complicated, the structure has been designed to
ensure that only high quality workers are allowed to migrate into
Latvia. This also ensures that the employment opportunities are not
snatched away from the Latvian citizens. Such rules can help to maintain
the peace between the Latvian community and the migrant community