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LATVIA
Chartered Flights
Latvia has no need of chartered flights – the groups of persons to be expelled are rarely larger
than ten, and never more than 20.
Framework Agreements with Countries of Origin or Transit
Latvia has signed Readmission Agreements with 23 countries: Austria, Belgium, Baltic countries
– Estonia and Lithuania, Benelux countries, Denmark, France, Greece, Croatia, Island,
Italy, Liechtenstein, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Hungary,
Germany and Sweden.
Generally, the agreements concluded with the EU countries and Lithuania are implemented well,
whereas Estonia has in the past had some difficulties implementing the agreement. Usually the
agreements foresee that readmission may be requested during a period from six to 12 months
after illegal entry or rejection. Some of the agreements do not provide for time limits.
Most illegally crossing migrants enter Latvia via Russia or Belarus. Latvia is willing to sign
readmission agreements with both Russia and Belarus, as with other Member States of the Commonwealth
of Independent States. There are no return agreements signed with these countries.
Russia signalled that it is ready to sign such an agreement with Latvia, once readmission agreements
have been signed with the countries on Russia’s southern border.
To date, a special agreement has been concluded with the Embassy of the Russian Federation
concerning the issue of transit visas for expelled foreigners and multiple visas for Immigration
Police officers who escort deportees.
Latvia has not concluded specific transit agreements aiming at expulsion, although several
readmission agreements also contain transit provisions for the purpose of expulsion.
Costs
The Latvian state budget is limited in regard to expenditures on expulsions. Last year, Latvia
spent around US$ 50,000, only for tickets and escorts.
Detention
Asylum seekers are generally accommodated during the initial examination of their claims
either in the facilities of border control points or police cells for a period of up to 72 hours, or if
approved by a court for a longer period. If not refused entry on grounds of manifestly unfounded
claims or reasons of state security and public order, they are transferred to the nearest reception
centre.
Failed asylum seekers, who lose their legal status and do not leave within seven days after
rejection of their application, are regarded as illegal migrants under Latvian legislation, and thus
detained. Pending their deportation, rejectees are moved from the Mucenieki reception centre to
the closed temporary detention centre for illegal migrants in Olaine, some 30 kilometres south
from Riga. The Mucenieki reception centre, 20 kilometres east of Riga, is the only asylum centre
with a capacity for 100-150 persons, but rarely has more than a dozen asylum seekers residing
there. MOI also use the premises for repatriants, police students and women in crisis. IOM also
occasionally pays for shelter for returned trafficked victims.