At least 1,213 Russians who have not submitted documents to obtain a residence permit by November 30, which was the deadline according to amendments to the immigration law, and have not left Latvia, may be expelled from Latvia. According to RBC, this was reported by the country’s Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
By the appointed deadline, 1,344 people submitted documents for issuance of a residence permit from among those who had not done so earlier. Another 904 have now left the country, the department said.
The requirement for Russians, as well as Belarusians, to provide a certificate of proficiency in the Latvian language in order to renew a residence permit has been in effect since September last year. It has been possible to take the linguistic test since April; two attempts are given for this.
At the same time, those who were unable to pass the language test must submit documents for a permit by December 31, which will allow them to stay in Latvia for two years and have the right to receive medical and social services. This amendment was previously adopted by the Latvian Seimas.
The number of Russians subject to deportation may still change, since from January 3 next year, previously issued permanent residence permits, which were subject to changes in the immigration law, will no longer be valid, and their holders can apply for new ones until December 31.
Source: Rosbalt
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