Lawmakers are awaiting an assessment of the initiative's impact on the state budget
The Saeima Commission for Defense and Internal Affairs has not supported in the first reading a bill simplifying the acquisition of permanent residency for Ukrainian citizens. The decision has been deferred pending findings from the Ministry of Finance regarding budget expenditures. This was reported by Delfi citing LETA, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The parliamentary body intends to resume discussions on the document next week. Legislators aim to clarify the financial implications of implementing a special mechanism for granting permanent resident status to forced migrants from Ukraine.
Legal Status of Ukrainians
The initiative concerns individuals holding exclusively Ukrainian citizenship who currently possess temporary protection status in Latvia. The bill’s authors stress that new regulations are necessary due to amendments to the Immigration Law that came into effect on September 15.
The current version of immigration legislation limits opportunities for obtaining permanent residency, particularly for those who previously benefited from temporary protection. Since the initial five-year residency periods for a number of Ukrainian citizens expire in March 2027, the issue of legal certainty is becoming pressing.
Conditions for Obtaining a Permit
The proposed amendments provide for the inclusion of periods spent in the country under long-term visas or residence permits in the overall five-year tenure. Beyond financial requirements, the project includes provisions for documentation from competent Ukrainian authorities regarding exemption from military service for men.
The initiative’s developers are convinced that such an approach will facilitate better integration of Ukrainians into the local labor market and social life. It is expected that the opinion from the Ministry of Finance will be a decisive factor for the document’s further progress through the commission.
Illustrative photo: Ralf Roletschek / CC BY-SA 3.0 at
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