Latvia Changes Rules for Labor Migrants: Who May Face Entry Restrictions?

The Ministry of the Interior has prepared a draft information report for consideration by the government, which justifies the need for such an agreement and outlines further steps for its conclusion. The document itself has been classified as restricted access. According to the published materials, starting from March 1, 2027, a liaison officer from the State Border Guard will be stationed at the Latvian embassy in Uzbekistan to address migration issues. **The agreement may stipulate stricter requirements** The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be tasked with studying the experience of European countries in concluding bilateral agreements on labor migration. Special attention is expected to be given to the possibility of including stricter conditions in such agreements. After studying international practices, the Ministry of the Interior will prepare a draft agreement between Latvia and Uzbekistan, taking into account the state interests outlined in the information report. The document will then undergo coordination and will be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for submission to the Uzbek side. Following this, negotiations on the conclusion of the agreement may begin. **Visa issuance will be restricted until the agreement is signed** At the same time, the government plans to consider a draft regulation prepared by the Ministry of the Interior, which provides for restrictions on accepting visa applications from third-country nationals and their entry into Latvia. It is anticipated that until the labor migration agreement is concluded, the issuance of visas to citizens of Uzbekistan will be limited. Recall that on September 29, the Ministry of the Interior of Latvia already proposed temporarily suspending the issuance of visas to citizens of Uzbekistan. This was prompted by several cases where citizens of this country committed crimes shortly after arriving in Latvia, including against minors. **Hundreds of exit orders from Latvia** Data from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs indicates that in 2025 and the first eight months of 2026, temporary residence permits for several citizens of Uzbekistan were revoked. The reasons included violations of the conditions of stay in the country or loss of grounds for residence. In 2025, 709 exit orders were issued to citizens of Uzbekistan. Additionally, 11 decisions on forced expulsion were made. In the first eight months of 2026, another 360 exit orders were issued, and eight decisions on forced expulsion were made. Thus, the Latvian authorities intend not only to revise the procedure for attracting workers from Uzbekistan but also to strengthen control over their entry and stay in the country.