Amendments to the Agreement between the Republic of Latvia and the Ukraine on Mutual Travel of Citizens approved

On 22 January, the Government approved a Cabinet of Ministers draft project on Regulations regarding understanding between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Ukraine about amendments to the Agreement on Mutual Travel by Citizens between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Ukraine.

The amendments to the Agreement are necessary in order to address those provisions which no longer conform with the interests of the citizens of both countries and of non-citizen residents of Latvia. The amendments also envisage the harmonization of the provisions of the said Agreement so that they do not contradict with the Agreement between the European Community and the Ukraine on the Facilitation of the issuance of Temporary Visas.

Taking into account that Ukraine has, on unilateral basis, exempted EU citizens from visa requirements when travelling to Ukraine, the Agreement proposes, as a response, the issue of long-term visas to the citizens of Ukraine free of charge. This provision, on the basis of reciprocity, will also apply to citizens and non-citizens of Latvia.

The amendments also envisage the same visa free travel procedure for bearers of service passports as for bearers of diplomatic passports. At the same time, an annex to the Agreement is to be amended so that the travel documents listed therein would correspond to the actual set of documents required for citizens of both countries and Latvia's non-citizens when travelling abroad.

The Agreement is to be concluded by the exchange of notes, and will take effect after Ukraine has accepted the proposals made by Latvia. 

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