If you are a refugee from Ukraine in Latvia, please visit the website of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia, which contains practical information in Ukrainian and English, as well as the website ‘Ukraine to Latvia’ with information for Ukrainians coming to Latvia, available in Ukrainian, English, Russian and Latvian. You can also contact the helpline of the Society Integration Fund at +371 27 380 380 (available between 09:00 to 17:00 – Monday to Friday).
Extension of Temporary Protection for Ukrainians through to March 2027: European Union countries have decided to extend temporary protection for Ukrainians until 4 March 2027. This means that it is possible to apply for and benefit from temporary protection in the EU until this date. If you already have temporary protection in an EU country, your status will be extended until 4 March 2027. Read more at the European Council’s website
If you are in Poland, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Romania, or Bulgaria, please find on the Digital Blue Dot information about rights and services and where to find help. The site is also available in Ukrainian and Russian.
People arriving from Ukraine may be entitled to Temporary Protection in Latvia. You may be eligible for temporary protection in Latvia if you are a Ukrainian citizen or resident who left Ukraine and cannot return to Ukraine due to the armed conflict caused by the Russian Federation. Ukrainian residents are persons who cannot return to the country of their citizenship and who are: family members of Ukrainian citizens, persons who have received a permanent residence permit in Ukraine, the status of a stateless person, or the status of international protection in Ukraine and their family members.
If you want information about the rights and entitlements of people with Temporary Protection in Latvia, please visit the website ‘Ukraine to Latvia’, available in Ukrainian, English, Russian and Latvian.
You can easily apply for Temporary Protection when you arrive in Latvia through one of the following options:
- In person at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) office in Riga (Čiekurkalna 1. līnija 1, k-3, Riga, LV-1026) or at OCMA territorial offices (if you are outside Riga).
- By post or courier, send your documents to OCMA Migration Division in Riga, Čiekurkalna 1. līnija 1, k-3, Riga, LV-1026 or any territorial division (if you are in Latvia).
The residence permit based on temporary protection lasts for two years.
Loss of Temporary Protection
According to the changes in the Law on the Support for Civilians from Ukraine, as of January 2026 refugees from Ukraine will loose their Temporary Protection if they visit Russia or its occupied territories after they have been granted Temporary Protection in Latvia. See the full text of the Law here (available in English, Latvian, and Ukrainian.
People who are not eligible for Temporary Protection
If you do not qualify for temporary protection, it may be possible for you to apply for asylum or remain in Latvia on other grounds, even if your visa waiver or visa has expired.
➡️Visit the Government website for more information.
Pension Verification Requirement for Ukrainian Refugees
Due to recent legislative changes in Ukraine, all Ukrainian pensioners residing abroad must complete a verification procedure in order to continue receiving pension payments.
How to Complete Verification
You can complete the procedure through one of the following modalities:
- 1. Diia Application
- Via Diia Signature on the PFU web portal or the PFU mobile app (video guide is available here)
- 2. Videoconference Verification via the PFU Portal
- You may request a video call via the PFU portal or by calling the hotline: 0800 503 753.
- Calls are usually scheduled within 10–30 days and conducted via Google Meet, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Viber, or Zoom.
- You will be asked to present your original passport/ID and pension certificate during the call .
- 3. Verification at a Ukrainian Consulate
- Visit the nearest Ukrainian consulate to confirm your identity and place of residence.
- You will receive a certificate of identity, which you can upload via the PFU portal to complete verification.
- 4. In-Person Verification in Ukraine
- If you are currently in Ukraine, you can visit any PFU service centre.
Please note: Due to the suspension of thousands of pensions in January 2026, long queues are currently reported nationwide.
- If you are currently in Ukraine, you can visit any PFU service centre.
Additional Requirement for Pensioners from Temporarily Occupied Territories (ToTs)
If you are from the ToTs, you must confirm that you are not receiving a pension from the Russian Federation, by doing one of the following:
- Selecting the relevant declaration box in your PFU online account
- Stating this explicitly during videoconference verification
- Sending a written declaration by email or postal mail to the PFU
After completing all steps, please verify that your PFU personal account reflects the correct date of verification and declaration. You may check this online or by contacting the PFU hotline (0800 503 753).
Need More Help?
For more information and technical support completing the verification process through the Diia app or PFU portal please contact the UNHCR Regional Contact Centre (RCC). Additional information will also soon be available via the Ukraine is Home website
