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Latvia About to Expel 841 Russian Citizens Over Language and Residency Law Breaches
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Latvia has ordered 841 Russian citizens to leave the country by October 13 after they failed to prove proficiency in the Latvian language and complete mandatory security checks, Politico reported on October 10.
The move follows amendments to Latvia’s Immigration Law passed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and tightened in 2024, which introduced stricter residency requirements for Russian nationals. Under the new rules, Russian citizens must apply for EU long-term resident status, demonstrate A2-level Latvian language skills, and pass background checks by June 30, 2025, to remain legally in the country.
According to Politico, roughly 30,000 Russian citizens were subject to the new immigration rules, most of whom have met the updated requirements, while about 2,600 chose to leave Latvia on their own.
However, 841 individuals failed to provide the required documentation by the deadline and have now been instructed to leave the country by mid-October, according to Madara Puķe, spokesperson for Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
OCMA head Maira Roze noted that some Russian citizens appeared unaware of the rule changes until they suddenly lost access to state benefits.
“Only when they are no longer paid a pension do they realize that something is wrong,” she said. “Then they call. Why am I not being paid my pension? We tell them: You have no residence permit. They ask: Where is my residence permit? We say: You should comply with the law.”
After October 13, anyone remaining in Latvia without a valid residence permit will be considered to be staying illegally. Their access to public services will be cut off, and those who continue to ignore the requirements may face deportation by the State Border Guard, Puķe added.
Earlier, it was reported that the Baltic states are preparing contingency plans for possible large-scale evacuations as fears mount over Russia’s expanding military buildup and hostile behavior since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
