Residence permit - must be continuous!

A client contacted our company whose five-year residence permit expired in the summer of 2020. The Department sent him several letters asking whether he planned to renew his residence permit or not. The client replied (by email) that he planned to renew his residence permit, but later, when COVID restrictions would be lifted and he could travel to Latvia.

In May 2021, we prepared and submitted all documents.

Our company's lawyer had doubts - would the Department perceive the documents as a "new application for a residence permit" or as a "continuation" of the previous residence permit.

In the first case, it would be necessary to pay a fee of 5% of the purchase amount, and to resubmit certificates of birth of children, marriage certificate, and other documents.

In the second case, the fee would be 5,000 euros.

When the Department sent its decision, it stated the following. Since the "gap" was more than three months, our client's request was treated as a new residence permit application. This entails payment of a fee of 5% of the amount for which the property was purchased.

The gap is the time period between when the "old" residence permit card expired and when documents are submitted for renewal of the residence permit.

Therefore, we strongly recommend keeping track of your residence permit expiration dates. If due to force majeure circumstances you cannot submit documents, you can write a letter to the Department and request an extension in advance. If you do nothing, your residence permit will be cancelled.

If you wish to purchase any good real estate property, if individual approach is important to you, if you want to communicate with a real estate agent and lawyer in your native language, then contact our company KOM-INVEST! We will be happy to find a suitable property for you, answer all questions, draw attention to important details, complete the transaction, arrange your residence permit, and manage your property.