NATO member orders 841 Russians to leave country as new immigration rules bite

Latvia has ordered 841 Russian citizens to leave the country by October 13 after they failed to meet new residency requirements, including proving their Latvian language proficiency and undergoing mandatory security checks, officials confirmed.

The move comes as part of the Baltic nation's tightened immigration laws targeting Russian nationals following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In response to the war, Latvia amended its Immigration Law that same year and introduced further restrictions in 2024, citing national security concerns.

Under the updated rules, Russian citizens residing in Latvia must apply for EU long-term resident status, demonstrate A2-level Latvian language skills, and pass comprehensive security and background checks by June 30, 2025, in order to remain legally in the country.

Approximately 30,000 Russian nationals were affected by the changes, with most complying and about 2,600 choosing to leave voluntarily.

However, 841 individuals failed to submit the required documents on time and have now been formally notified that they must leave the country by October 13, according to Madara Pue, head of public relations at Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA).

"Only when they are no longer paid a pension do they realise that something is wrong," said Maira Roze, head of the OCMA, speaking to Latvian Television's De facto programme.

"They call and ask, '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, any stay in Latvia by those who have not complied with the new regulations will be deemed unlawful, Pue said in a written statement. Access to social services will be withdrawn, and persistent non-compliance could lead to deportation by the State Border Guard.

The tightening of Latvia's residency laws is part of a broader national security push amid rising regional tensions with Moscow.

In May, Foreign Minister Baiba Braze urged European Union countries to halt visa issuance to Russian citizens, citing potential security threats.

In June, the Latvian parliament passed legislation banning Russian and Belarusian citizens from working in critical infrastructure sectors and from purchasing real estate in the country.

As Latvia continues to align closely with NATO and the European Union's hardline stance against Russia, officials have made clear that compliance with the new immigration rules is non-negotiable.