Latvia will continue providing aid to Ukrainian refugees until the 30th of June 2023. This is provided by the amendments passed by the 14th Saeima in the second and final reading to the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians on Thursday, the 8th of December.
Members of the Saeima supported the amendments unanimously – 90 votes in favour. None of the deputies abstained or voted against. It is planned for amendments to come in to force the day after their publication.
Amendments state that Ukrainian citizens who have the right for temporary protection are to be provided with a residence permit – third country citizen ID – by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Additionally, the parliament agreed to extend until the 28th of February 2024 the period of time until which travel documents issued in Ukraine and which have expired will remain considered valid in Latvia.
The law also states that Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war will have the right to attend free Latvian language lessons starting with the 1st of July 2023.
The law also includes amendments related to the donations from municipal companies to support Ukrainian refugees for the remainder of 2020.