According to the amendments to the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Civilians adopted in the second and final reading by the Saeima on Thursday, 8 December, support for Ukrainian people fleeing the war will be extended to 30 June 2023.

“During the previous nine months, we have developed a system of provision of support, and it must continue in the next year,” said Raimonds Bergmanis, Chair of the Defense, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee of the Saeima, responsible for the progress of the amendments.

The amendments stipulate that Ukrainian civilians who are eligible to receive temporary protection status or who have been granted such status, will be issued by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs a temporary residence permit — an identity card of a third-country national — for a period of two years.

Also, the period during which a travel document issued in Ukraine, the validity of which has expired, is considered valid in Latvia is extended until 28 February 2024. Previously, the law provided that it should be considered valid until 28 February 2023.

The law also provides that as of 1 July 2023 Ukrainian civilians fleeing war will have the right to attend free Latvian language training, cultural orientation courses, and events that promote cooperation between Ukrainian civilians and Latvian society.

In addition, changes have been made to the law related to repeated donations by municipal enterprises for general support to Ukrainian society in 2022. According to R. Bergmanis, the Riga municipal public transport operator “Rīgas satiksme” informed members of the Saeima about requests for repeated bus donations to Ukrainian cities. It is an immensely needed donation that should not be delayed."

The amendments will enter into force on the day following their promulgation.

Saeima Press Service