All institutions and organisations in Latvia communicate with the public in Latvian. Often, but not always, it is possible to communicate in Russian or English. Ask your social mentors to assist you with your communication with institutions or organisations.
Work
How to obtain the status of an unemployed person?
How to contact the employment consultant?
State Employment Agency – a specialized consultant to refugees and persons under subsidiary protection.
Telephone: + 371 25704510
integracija@nva.gov.lv; nva@nva.gov.lv
Who do I contact, if the employer treats me unfairly?
State Labour Inspectorate
Telephone for enquiries: + 371 67186522, + 371 67186523
e-mail: vdi@vdi.gov.lv
K. Valdemara iela 38 k-1, Riga
Where can I find out how much and what taxes I have to pay?
State Revenue Service
e-mail: VID.konsultanti@vid.gov.lv
Where can I find information about the size of minimum wages in Latvia?
Ministry of Welfare of the Republic of Latvia
Housing
Who do I contact to declare my place of residence?
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
e-mail: pmlp@pmlp.gov.lv
Telephone for enquiries: + 371 8300
Education
Who do I contact, if I want to learn Latvian?
- If you are unemployed, apply for the State Employment Agency Latvian language courses.
State Employment Agency – a specialized consultant to refugees and persons under subsidiary protection.
Telephone: + 371 25704510
e-mail: integracija@nva.gov.lv; nva@nva.gov.lv
- If you work and live in Riga, apply for the Latvian language courses organised by Riga municipal authorities.
Education, Culture and Sports Department of Riga City Council
K.Valdemara iela 5;
Telephone: + 371 67026678; + 371 67026816
e-mail: iksd@riga.lv
- If you work and live in another municipality, inquire with your municipality about the possibilities to learn Latvian.
- Make use of private language school offers.
Where can I take Latvian language examination to obtain the official language proficiency certificate?
National Centre for Education
Registration for the official language examination, issue of certificates
Monday 10:00–17:00,
Tuesday – Thursday 10:00–16:00,
Riga, Vaļņu iela 2, 1st Floor, Room 100,
Telephone: + 371 67281232
Where can I obtain information about education possibilities in Latvia?
Ministry of Education and Science
Telephone: 67226209
e-mail: pasts@izm.gov.lv
Where can I obtain information about adult education in Riga?
Education, Culture and Sports Department of Riga City Council
K.Valdemara iela 5;
Telephone: + 371 67026678; + 371 67026816
e-mail: iksd@riga.lv
Social assistance
Who do I contact to receive state social allowances?
State Social Insurance Agency
e-mail for consultations: konsultacijas@vsaa.lv
Who do I contact to receive municipal social allowances?
To receive social assistance from you municipality you should apply to the Social Service in the municipality where your place of residence is registered. If you live in Riga, it is:
Riga Social Services
Baznicas iela 19/23
Telephone: + 371 67105048
You can obtain information about social assistance provided by the Riga municipal authorities on the website of Riga City Council Welfare Department in Latvian and Russian, or by calling toll-free information hotline at 80005055.
Who do I contact, if I require the assistance of a social mentor?
Society Integration Foundation
Aspazijas bulvāris 24, 3rd Floor, Riga, LV-1050
Telephone: + 371 67078226 (LV, EN, RU)
e-mail: info@sif.gov.lv
Who else can I contact in a crisis?
The Latvian Red Cross
Aids people in a crisis, regardless of their nationality, race, religious beliefs, social status or political opinions.
Society „Gribu palīdzēt bēgļiem” (I want to help refugees)
The purpose of the society’s activities is to provide practical, immediate and voluntary help to refugees, asylum seekers and persons under subsidiary protection based on their identified needs through their economic, social and cultural integration.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1044267682279709/
gribupalidzetbegliem@gmail.com
Legal aid
Where can I receive legal aid?
Ombudsman’s Office of the Republic of Latvia
Baznicas iela 25, Riga, LV 1010
Telephone: + 371 67686768
e-mail: tiesibsargs@tiesibsargs.lv
Latvian Centre for Human Rights
Skolas iela 21, 6th Floor, 609c,
Riga, LV – 1010, Latvia
Telephone: + 371 67039290
Telephone: + 371 67039290 (CSC Telecom)
e-mail: office@humanrights.org.lv
Society “Shelter “Safe House””
Telephone helpline for third country nationals: + 371 25565098
e-mail: drosa.maja@gmail.com
Documents
Who do I contact, if I require identification and travel documents?
Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
e-mail: pmlp@pmlp.gov.lv
Telephone for enquiries: + 371 8300
Who do I contact, if I have a foreign diploma that has to be validated?
Academic Information Centre
Telephone: + 371 67225155
e-mail: aic@aic.lv
Who should I contact, if I would like to have my driver’s licence recognized/acquire a driver’s licence?
Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD)
Telephone: + 371 67025777
e-mail: csdd@csdd.gov.lv
Useful Internet resources
http://www.beglis.lv
Provides up-to-date information to asylum seekers, refugees and persons under subsidiary protection in Latvian, Russian, English, French, Arabic and Dari languages.
http://www.integration.lv
Provides information to third country nationals in Latvia:
- services available to third country nationals;
- up-to-date information about integration measures implemented by the government and non-governmental organisations;
- information materials and resources for third country nationals.