POLICY REPORT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM IN LATVIA ...

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ANNEX OF THE EUROPEAN PACT ON IMMIGRATION AND ASYLUM
AND THE STOCKHOLM PROGRAMME
LEGAL IMMIGRATION AND INTEGRATION
1. Economic migration
1.1 European Pact on Immigration and Asylum (1-2 paragraphs in the text box created for
each commitment)
The relevant commitments in the Pact for this sub-section are in particular:
I(a) Implement policies for labour migration
Please describe the (planned) introduction of a new labour migration policy or changes to
the existing one. Elaborate any new aspects (e.g. introduction of quota, lists of professions,
agreement with specific third countries, use of private recruitment services, etc). Specify
whether these address any specific groups of migrants and describe any groups which are
not addressed under the subsequent commitments in this sub-section. Also consider the
effect of the economic crisis on labour migration (e.g. revision of quota, reduction of
professions listed, etc).
The regulatory enactments in Latvia that regulate the employment of third-country
nationals are created horizontally and applied to all third-country nationals equally.
In 2010, there are changes in the field of legal immigration of Latvia: Law of 22 April
2010 “Amendment to the Immigration Law" entered into force on 1 July 2010, which provides
several important amendments, particularly in relation to reception of third-country nationals
for employment. The Amendment to the Immigration Law provides the establishing of a one
stop agency by inviting guest workers from third countries. It means that employers will no
longer need to visit the State Employment Agency where education documents and
employment contracts of such guest workers were assessed, a work invitation letter was
approved and after that – the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs for approval of the
invitation letter to request a residence permit, but only the Office of Citizenship and Migration
Affairs which shall examine documents of employment and residence thus saving time and
simplifying the administrative procedure.
I(b) increase the attractiveness of the EU for highly qualified workers and further facilitate the
reception of students and researchers:
Please describe any (planned) measures to facilitate access of highly qualified workers,
students and researchers. Refer to the implementation of the Blue Card Directive.
Describe any incentive mechanisms for highly qualified workers, students and
researchers on top of the transposition and implementation of EU legislation. Also
consider the effect of the economic crisis.
On 27 May 2010, the Meeting of the State Secretaries announced draft law
"Amendment to the Immigration Law", which was developed in order to introduce Council
Directive 2009/50/EC of 25 May 2009 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country
nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment (henceforth – the Blue Card
Directive).
The above-mentioned amendment includes the requirements of the Blue Card Directive.
The draft law includes the definition of the Blue Card of the European Union, periods have