Foto: BB.LV / люди с сумками на границе
In September of this year, a new immigration law came into effect, which delegates the Cabinet of Ministers the right to set the amount of the state fee for the consideration of documents necessary for applying for a long-term visa or residence permit and related services, as well as for appealing a decision on the refusal, cancellation, or annulment of a visa. The law introduces new elements of regulation in the field of migration, which require institutions to perform duties to a greater extent and with a higher degree of complexity, as well as a number of new functions. In this regard, the Ministry of the Interior has prepared a draft regulation on increasing the state fees for migration services. The draft provides for the retention of the existing state fee of 90 euros for applying for a long-term visa if the application is submitted based on a positive decision on the provision of a residence permit. The new immigration law stipulates the introduction of a new state fee for appealing a decision on refusal, cancellation, or annulment of a visa in the amount of 300 euros. At the same time, the draft provides that the fee is not charged for applications submitted in the public interest, for humanitarian reasons, or in cases provided for by international obligations. The current regulation provides for a uniform state fee for submitting an application for an invitation for all applicants; however, the consideration of applications related to employment or commercial activities is significantly more complex, as it requires a thorough examination of the inviting party, including an analysis of the economic activity of the enterprise. As noted by the Ministry of the Interior, the increase in fees will serve as an economic incentive to protect the local labor market, motivating employers to prioritize investment in attracting, retraining, and ensuring competitive wages for residents of Latvia and citizens of the European Union, thereby reducing indirect dependence on the import of low-skilled labor from third countries. According to the draft regulation, the state fee for submitting an application for the approval of an invitation or call for employment with a specific employer or for commercial activities will be 500 euros. In addition, for each right to employment specified in the application, a state fee of 390 euros is provided. For individuals applying for a residence permit in Latvia as family members of a citizen of Latvia, a non-citizen of Latvia, or a foreigner who has obtained a permanent residence permit, individuals who have been granted stateless status in Latvia, individuals applying for a temporary residence permit in connection with state interests, international obligations, or for humanitarian reasons, as well as for individuals applying for a repeated temporary residence permit, a lower state fee is established for the consideration of the application. The increase in fees will act as an economically justified filter, ensuring that labor from third countries will only be attracted by employers with a stable financial position, whose business is aimed at creating higher added value, rather than importing "cheap" and unskilled labor, the Ministry of the Interior stated. This financial burden is assessed as proportionate and necessary to ensure control measures conducted by state law enforcement agencies and to reduce the risks of fictitious employment and illegal migration. The draft will have the greatest impact on sectors where the share of employed citizens from third countries is traditionally high - land and pipeline transport, construction, and recruitment, the Ministry of the Interior emphasized. The draft regulation is yet to be considered by the government.
