The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

Law on the Course of Service of Officials with Special Service Ranks Working in Institutions of the System of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prison Administration

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Purpose of the Law

The purpose of this Law is to determine the legal status of professional service in the institutions of the system of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prison Administration (hereinafter also - the Institution) in order to ensure legal, persistent, efficient and open operation of the Institution.

Section2. Service at the Institution and the Concept of the System of the Ministry of the Interior

(1) Service at the Institution shall be a type of civil service which is fulfilled by an official of the Institution who has a special service rank (hereinafter - the official).

(2) The system of the Ministry of the Interior shall include institutions that are subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior - the Internal Security Bureau, the State Police, the State Border Guard, the State Fire and Rescue Service, and also the colleges that are subordinate to these institutions.

[11 March 2010; 28 May 2015; 4 October 2018]

Section 3. Application of this Law

(1) The Law prescribes the course of service of officials.

(2) The norms of the laws and regulations governing employment relationship shall not be applicable to officials, except for the norms determining the terms, including the limitation period, the prohibition of differential treatment, the term, type, and calculation of the disbursement of work remuneration, the remuneration in cases when an employee does not work due to justifiable reasons, the deductions from work remuneration and their limits, the civil legal liability of an employee, the period which gives the right to annual paid leave, the granting of prenatal and maternity leave, the granting of leave to the father, adopter of the child or another person, and the granting of parental leave, and also the rights pertaining to pregnant women and breastfeeding women and women during the period following childbirth of up to one year.

(3) The norms of the laws and regulations governing legal relations of the State civil service shall not be applicable to officials.

(4) Restrictions on the combination of positions, generation of income, commercial activity as well as other restrictions, prohibitions, and duties of officials shall be determined by the Law on Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Activities of Public Officials.

(5) [4 October 2018]

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 11 March 2010; 8 September 2011; 15 November 2012; 6 March 2014; 4 October 2018]

Section 4. Mandatory Requirements for Service

(1) Such person may serve:

1) who is a citizen of Latvia;

2) whose physical fitness corresponds to the requirements specified by the Cabinet;

3) whose health condition and psychological characteristics correspond to the requirements specified by the Cabinet;

4) who has not been sentenced for an intentional criminal offence - irrespective of the extinguishing or setting aside of the criminal record;

4¹) who has not been convicted for an intentional criminal offence, releasing from the sentence;

4²) who has not been held criminally liable for committing an intentional criminal offence, except when the official has been held criminally liable but the criminal proceedings against him or her have been terminated on the grounds of exoneration;

5) who has not been put under guardianship.

(2) Paragraph one, Clauses 4, 4.¹ and 4.² of this Section do not apply to cases when the State Fire and Rescue Service has accepted a person into service based on the evaluation specified in Section 7, Paragraph 2.² of this Law.

[4 December 2008; 12 March 2009; 6 March 2014; 12 December 2024]

Section 5. Concept of the Term of Service

(1) The term of service is the period served by an official in the system of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prison Administration. The term of service shall be taken into account in determining the work remuneration of the official and also granting the annual leave.

(2) The term of service of a former official of the Institution, a former soldier and a prosecutor accepted into service shall also include the previously calculated length of service which gives the right to a service pension in accordance with the procedures specified by the respective law.

(3) The period when an official, in accordance with Section 14, Paragraph one, two, or three of this Law, was suspended from the performance of official duties and, in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Criminal Procedure Law, was recognised as guilty of committing a criminal offence shall not be included in his or her term of service.

[4 December 2008; 12 June 2009; 1 December 2009]

Section 6. General Duties of an Official

An official has the following general duties:

1) to comply with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the norms of international law binding on the Republic of Latvia, and laws and other legal acts;

2) to fulfil the oath of the official in good faith;

3) to fulfil the official duties and the orders (writs) of officials of higher rank dutifully and in good faith;

4) to comply with the principles of ethics specified for officials;

5) while fulfilling service duties in another country, to respect and comply with the laws, norms of public order and propriety of the respective country;

6) to regularly supplement his or her knowledge and to improve the professional skills and abilities necessary for the fulfilment of his or her service (official) duties.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009]

Chapter II
Acceptance into Service and Appointment to Position

Section 7. Requirements for Acceptance into Service

(1) The following persons between 18 years of age and the age specified in Section 46, Paragraph one of this Law may be accepted into service:

1) who meet the mandatory requirements for service specified in Section 4 of this Law, except in the case specified in Paragraph 2.² of this Section;

2) who have at least a general secondary education;

3) who are proficient in Latvian to such extent which is necessary for the performance of professional and official duties;

3¹) who have an impeccable reputation;

4) who are not retired from service in the system of the Ministry of the Interior or the Prison Administration due to the imposition of a disciplinary punishment - retirement from service.

(2) Considering the need for service, the physical and professional capabilities and also the health condition of the person, a person older than the age specified in Section 46, Paragraph one of this Law may be accepted into service.

(2¹) The head of the Institution may also accept into service a person who is subject to the restriction specified in Paragraph one, Clause 4 of this Section if at least five years have elapsed since the day of retirement of the person.

(2²) The head of the State Fire and Rescue Service may also accept into service a person which does not meet the requirements specified in Section 4, Clauses 4, 4.¹, and 4.² of this Law if at least five years have passed from the moment when the person was convicted or the decision to terminate criminal proceedings for a reason other than exoneration was taken or, when the criminal record has not been set aside or extinguished within the aforementioned term, from the moment when the criminal record is set aside or extinguished, and a commission established by the head of the State Fire and Rescue Service has, after evaluating the relevant person, recommended the acceptance of the person into service.

(3) A person who wants to enter into service has the obligation:

1) to present a personal identification document;

2) to present documents certifying education and the official language certificate if education has not been acquired in the official language;

3) to submit to the Central Medical Expert-examination Commission of the Ministry of the Interior (hereinafter - the Medical Expert-examination Commission) a statement issued by a general practitioner on health history, a statement from a narcologist with data on harmful excessive use of alcohol, use of toxic substances, use of narcotic or psychotropic substances without medical indications, a statement from a psychiatrist with data on diagnosed mental illnesses or identified behavioural disorders, and present an inoculation card with notes on received vaccinations.

[11 March 2010; 8 September 2011; 6 March 2014; 4 October 2018; 12 December 2024; 3 December 2025]

Section 8. Conformity Assessment of a Candidate

(1) The conformity of a candidate with the requirements of Section 7, Paragraph one of this Law and the requirements specified for the respective position shall be assessed by an assessment commission established by the head of the Institution or his or her authorised official.

(2) An assessment commission established by the Minister for the Interior or the Minister for Justice accordingly (hereinafter - the respective minister) shall assess the suitability of a candidate for the position of the head of the Institution. The suitability of a candidate for the position of the head of a college of the system of the Ministry of the Interior (hereinafter - the college) shall be assessed by an assessment commission established by the head of such institution to which the college is subordinate.

(3) The Institution shall perform an examination of the physical fitness of a candidate and submit to the assessment commission an opinion on the suitability of the physical fitness of the candidate for the service.

(4) The Medical Expert-examination Commission shall assess the conformity of a candidate with the requirements of Section 4, Clause 3 of this Law and submit to the assessment commission an opinion on the suitability of his or her health condition and psychological characteristics for the service. For the assessment of health condition and the performance of the examination specified in Section 16, Paragraph four of this Law, the Medical Expert-examination Commission is entitled to request the person to be examined to undergo additional examinations and also to request and receive information on health condition of the person to be examined from other medical treatment institutions.

(5) The Cabinet shall determine the procedures for the performance of the examination of health condition and psychological characteristics of candidates.

Section 9. Acceptance into Service and Appointment to Position

(1) The head of the Institution or his or her authorised official shall, after acquainting himself or herself with the recommendation of the assessment commission, decide on the acceptance into service and appointment to a position of a candidate.

(2) The relevant minister shall appoint to positions the heads of the Internal Security Bureau, the State Police, the State Border Guard, the State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Prison Administration for five years after the respective candidate has been approved by the Cabinet. Three months prior to expiry of the term, upon recommendation of the respective minister, the Cabinet shall take the decision to extend the term for five years or the decision to dismiss the head of the Institution from the position. The respective minister shall inform the head of the respective Institution of the Cabinet decision and extend the term for five years or remove the head of the Institution from the position according to the decision taken.

(3) The head of the college shall be appointed to position by the head of the Institution to which the college is subordinate.

(4) An official may be appointed to the position of the head of the State Police, the State Border Guard, and the State Fire and Rescue Service only from among the senior or higher officers who have academic or second level vocational higher education and whose length of service in the system of the Ministry of the Interior is not less than 10 years. A candidate for the position of the head of the State Fire and Rescue Service shall be required to have corresponding education in the field of fire safety. A person who has academic or second level vocational higher education may be appointed to the position of the head of the Prison Administration.

[8 September 2011; 28 May 2015; 4 October 2018]

Section 10. Term of Probation when Accepting into Service and Appointing to Position

(1) When accepting into service and appointing to a position, a term of probation shall be determined for an official to ascertain whether the official is suitable for the fulfilment of the duties entrusted to him or her.

(2) The term of probation shall not exceed six months. The abovementioned term shall not include a period of temporary incapacity for work.

(3) During a term of probation the official who has accepted an official into service and appointed to a position may release the official from the position and retire him or her from service without specifying the reason and notifying about it in writing at least three working days in advance.

Section 11. Oath of an Official

(1) When entering into service (except for service in the State Border Guard or the State Border Guard College), the official shall take the following oath:

"I, (the given name, surname), upon entering into service, swear to be honest and fair, loyal to the Republic of Latvia, to fulfil service duties in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, international agreements, laws and other legal acts and to serve the general interests of the society."

(1¹) When entering the service in the State Border Guard or the State Border Guard College, the official shall take the border guard oath specified in the State Border Guard Law.

(2) The oath of an official shall be accepted by the respective minister, the head of the Institution or his or her authorised official.

[5 November 2020]

Chapter III
Transfer to Another Position, Being in Service without Holding a Definite Position and Suspension from the Fulfilment of the Official Duties

Section 12. Transfer of an Official to Another Position

(1) An official may be transferred to another position of an absent official or another vacant position, taking into account the requirements specified for the respective position:

1) in the interests of the service for a definite period to ensure efficient fulfilment of service duties;

2) in the interests of the service for an indefinite period to ensure efficient fulfilment of service duties;

3) of his or her own free will;

4) due to non-suitability for the position;

4¹) due to the failure of an official to be re-elected to a position of academic staff;

5) in abolishing the position or a structural unit (the Institution) or reorganising it;

6) due to the graduation from an educational institution in the system of the Ministry of the Interior;

7) due to expiry of the term for which the official was transferred to another position in the interests of the service;

8) due to disappearance of the interests of the service which formed the basis for the transfer of the official to another position;

9) due to the imposition of the disciplinary punishment of demotion;

10) [6 March 2014].

(1¹) An official may be transferred to an educational institution in the system of the Ministry of the Interior for the acquisition of education.

(1²) The head of the Institution may, in the interests of the State and service, appoint an official to a position of an employee or State civil servant for a definite period, but not longer than for five years, agreeing thereupon this with the respective sectoral minister. During this period, the norms of the laws and regulations governing employment relationship shall be applicable to the official, taking into account the previous position, and monthly wage shall be determined in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities.

(2) In the case referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 2 and 5 and also Paragraphs 1.¹ and 1.² of this Section, an official may be transferred to another position only with his or her consent.

(3) The decision to transfer an official to another position at the same Institution shall be taken by the head of the Institution or his or her authorised official, to another Institution of the system of the Ministry of the Interior - by the Minister for the Interior. When transferring an official to another position from the system of the Ministry of the Interior to the Prison Administration or from the Prison Administration to the system of the Ministry of the Interior, decision on the transfer shall be taken by the minister to whom the institution to which the official is transferred is subordinate.

(4) When transferring an official from the college or to the college, the decision to transfer the official shall be taken by the head of such institution to which the college is subordinate.

(5) When transferring an official to another Institution, the opinion of the head of such Institution from which and to which the official is intended to be transferred shall also be evaluated.

(6) When transferring an official to another position with a lower monthly wage, the official shall, in the case referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 1 and 2 of this Section, keep the monthly wage specified in the previous position. An official who has been transferred to an educational institution in the system of the Ministry of the Interior for the acquisition of education shall keep the monthly wage specified in the previous position.

(7) In the case referred to in Paragraph one, Clause 1 of this Section, an official shall be transferred for a period that is not longer than three years and he or she shall keep the right to return to the previous or similar position.

(7¹) An official who has been appointed to a position of an employee or State civil servant shall, in accordance with Paragraph 1.² of this Section, keep the right to return to the previous or a similar position.

(8) If an official has been transferred to a position in accordance with the procedures laid down in Paragraph one, Clause 1 and Paragraph 1.¹ of this Section, applying Paragraph six of this Section to him or her, and the term of service or monthly wage of such official changes, the head of the Institution to which the respective official has been transferred or an authorised official thereof shall determine an amount of monthly wage of such official according to the position from which he or she was transferred.

(9) If an official has been transferred to a position in accordance with the procedures laid down in Paragraph one, Clause 2 of this Section, applying Paragraph six of this Section to him or her, and the term of service or monthly wage of such official changes, the head of the Institution to which the respective official has been transferred or an authorised official thereof shall determine an amount of monthly wage of such official according to the position to which he or she was transferred.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 8 September 2011; 6 March 2014; 23 November 2016]

Section 12.¹ Appointment of an Official to Another Structural Unit

Taking into account the need for service, an official may be appointed to fulfil the service duties to another structural unit within one regional (territorial) structural unit for a period of up to one month by an order (writ) of the head of the Institution or an authorised official thereof, covering the travel expenses related to the appointment and ensuring accommodation. Such appointment does not constitute a transfer to another position or an official trip.

[11 March 2010]

Section 13. Being in Service without Holding a Definite Position

(1) An official may, in accordance with the procedures specified by the respective minister, be in service without holding a definite position while he or she is appointed to a position in an international institution which operates in the field of internal and justice affairs. During this period, remuneration shall not be preserved for the official.

(2) An official may, in accordance with the procedures specified by the respective minister, be in service without holding a definite position while he or she is hired on the basis of an employment contract in an institution subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior which operates in the field of sports, and he or she fulfils the official duties of a professional athlete. During this period, remuneration shall not be preserved for the official, except for the paid health care which is specified for officials.

[16 December 2010; 6 March 2014]

Section 14. Suspension of an Official from the Fulfilment of Official Duties

(1) An official against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated may be suspended from the fulfilment of the official duties by a written order (writ). Work remuneration shall not be paid to such person for the period of suspension.

(2) An official on whom a prohibition of a specific occupation with a restriction to perform duties of a specific position temporarily or a house arrest has been imposed as a safety measure shall be suspended from the fulfilment of the official duties by a written order (writ). Work remuneration shall not be paid to such person for the period of suspension.

(3) An official on whom detention has been imposed as a safety measure shall be suspended from the fulfilment of the official duties by a written order (writ). Work remuneration shall not be paid to such person for the period of suspension.

(4) If the court acquits the official suspended in the cases referred to in Paragraphs one, two, and three of this Section or criminal proceedings against such official are terminated on the grounds of exoneration, the suspended official shall be disbursed work remuneration for the period of suspension.

(5) An official may be suspended from the fulfilment of the official duties for the period of investigation of a disciplinary matter in accordance with the procedures specified by the Law on Disciplinary Liability of the Officials with Special Service Ranks Working in Institutions of the System of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prison Administration.

(5¹) An official who has failed to undergo the examination of the health condition referred to in Section 16, Paragraph four of this Law for unjustifiable reasons may be suspended from the fulfilment of official duties by a written order (writ) of the head of the Institution for a period not exceeding three months. Work remuneration shall not be paid to such person for the period of suspension. Contesting or appeal of the order (writ) regarding the suspension of the official shall not suspend its enforcement. If the official has failed to undergo the examination of the health condition referred to in Section 16, Paragraph four of this Law without any justifiable reason during the period of his or her suspension, the head of the Institution shall decide on the retiring of this official from service.

(6) In the cases referred to in Paragraphs one, two and three of this Section, the head of the Institution or his or her authorised official may suspend an official from the fulfilment of official duties, and the relevant minister - the head of the Institution. The head of the college may be suspended from the fulfilment of official duties by the head of such institution to which the college is subordinate.

(7) If suspicions exist that an official, while fulfilling the official duties, is under the influence of or is intoxicated with alcohol, narcotic, psychotropic, toxic or other intoxicating substances, a higher official or another official authorised by the head of the Institution shall transport the official for the performance of a medical examination.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 15 November 2012; 6 March 2014; 4 October 2018]

Chapter IV
Job Description of the Position, Conformity Assessment, and Official Trips

[1 December 2009]

Section 15. Job Description of the Position of an Official

(1) The requirements (including the necessary minimal education), duties, rights, liability and subordinate relationship specified for the position shall be specified in the job description of the position of the official. The procedures for its development shall be regulated by the Cabinet.

(2) The job description of the position of the official shall be approved by the head of the Institution or his or her authorised official. The job description of the position of the head of the Institution shall be approved by the respective minister. The job description of the position of the head of the college shall be approved by the head of the Institution to which the college is subordinate.

(3) The following necessary minimal education shall be indicated in the job description of the position of the official:

1) for a position corresponding to the special service rank of a private - secondary education;

2) for a position corresponding to the special service rank of a corporal, sergeant, first sergeant or warrant officer - vocational (at least 2^nd vocational qualification level) education (in the Prison Administration - secondary education);

3) for a position corresponding to the special service rank of a lieutenant, first lieutenant or captain - first level vocational higher education;

4) for a position corresponding to the special service rank of a major, lieutenant colonel, colonel or general - academic or second level vocational higher education.

[4 December 2008]

Section 16. Conformity Assessment of an Official

(1) Activities of an official and their results shall be assessed by the direct manager of the official. If the official does not agree with the assessment given by the direct manager, activities of the official and their results shall be assessed by an assessment commission established by the head of the Institution or his or her authorised official.

(2) The assessment commission established by the respective minister shall evaluate the activities of the head of the Institution and his or her deputy and their results. The assessment commission established by the head of the Institution or his or her deputy to which the college is subordinate shall assess the activities of the head of the college or his or her deputy and their results.

(2¹) The procedures for assessing activities of an official and their results shall be determined by the Cabinet.

(3) The assessment of activities of an official and results thereof may be as follows:

1) meets the specified requirements, may be promoted for appointment to a higher position;

2) meets the specified requirements;

3) partly does not meet the specified requirements;

4) does not meet the specified requirements.

(4) The Institution shall, not less than once a year, send an official to the Medical Expert-examination Commission, preserving his or her work remuneration, in order to examine the suitability of the health condition of the official for the service. The procedures for the examination of the official's health condition shall be determined by the Cabinet. The official has the obligation to undergo the examination of the health condition according to the referral of the Institution and within the period determined by the Institution.

(5) The Institution shall examine, once a year, the conformity of the physical fitness of an official with the requirements of Section 4, Paragraph two of this Law. The official has the obligation to undergo an examination of the physical fitness according to the order (writ) of the Institution.

(6) The assessment of the activities of an official and the results thereof referred to in Paragraph three of this Section or the results of the examinations referred to in Paragraphs four and five of this Section shall be used as the grounds for deciding on:

1) retiring the official from service due to non-suitability for the service;

2) retiring the official from service due to the health condition non-conforming to the specified requirements;

3) transferring the official to another position;

4) sending the official for the raising of a qualification;

5) extending the service period;

6) determining an amount of a monetary prize or other additional remuneration to be granted to the official.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 15 November 2012; 6 March 2014; 28 May 2015; 23 November 2016]

Section 17. Raising the Qualification and Covering the Study Expenditures of an Official

[1 December 2009]

Section 18. Official Trips of an Official

(1) An official may be sent on an official trip for a definite period, covering the expenditure related to the official trip in accordance with the procedures laid down in laws and regulations. Within the meaning of this Law, an official trip is sending to fulfil the official duties or to supplement knowledge and raise qualification outside the Republic of Latvia and, if the fulfilment of the official duties or supplementation of knowledge and raising of qualification exceed a period of 24 hours, within the Republic of Latvia.

(2) Work remuneration shall be preserved for an official during the official trip.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 11 March 2010; 15 November 2012]

Chapter V
Special Service Ranks

Section 19. Special Service Ranks of Officials

Officials shall be granted the following special service ranks:

1) private;

2) corporal;

3) sergeant;

4) first sergeant;

5) warrant officer;

6) second lieutenant;

7) first lieutenant;

8) captain;

9) major;

10) lieutenant colonel;

11) colonel;

12) general.

Section 19.¹ Instructors and Officers

According to the special service ranks officials shall be:

1) instructors - officials who have been granted the special service rank of a private, corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, and warrant officer;

2) junior officers - officials who have been granted the special service rank of a lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain;

3) senior officers - officials who have been granted the special service rank of a major, lieutenant colonel, and colonel;

4) higher officers - officials who have been granted the special service rank of a general.

[4 December 2008]

Section 20. General Provisions for Granting the Special Service Ranks

(1) The special service rank of a private, corporal, sergeant, first sergeant, and warrant officer shall be granted by the official who is entitled to appoint an official to the position.

(2) The special service rank of a lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel and colonel shall be granted by the respective minister.

(3) The special service rank of a general shall be granted by the Cabinet.

(4) An official may be granted the successive special service rank if the following conditions are present concurrently:

1) the official has served in the present special service rank for the period specified in this Law which is required for granting the successive special service rank (except for the special service rank of a corporal and lieutenant);

2) the official has acquired the education specified in the job description of the position;

3) a higher special service rank is provided for the position which the official occupies;

4) the assessment referred to in Section 16, Paragraph three, Clause 1 or 2 of this Law has been received;

5) the official has not been suspended from the fulfilment of official duties;

6) disciplinary proceedings have not been initiated against the official.

(5) If a disciplinary punishment has been imposed on an official, the successive special service rank shall be granted to such official if the conditions referred to in Paragraph four of this Section are present, and also if the enforcement of the disciplinary punishment and the period during which the official is regarded disciplinarily punished has ended.

[4 December 2008; 12 March 2009; 11 March 2010]

Section 21. Granting the Special Service Ranks when Accepting into Service

When accepting into service, an official shall be granted the following special service rank:

1) when appointing to office corresponding to the special service rank of a private, corporal, sergeant, first sergeant or warrant officer - the private;

2) when appointing to a position corresponding to the special service rank of a lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel and colonel - the lieutenant.

Section 22. Sequence for Granting the Special Service Ranks

(1) An official shall be granted a successive special service rank in the following sequence:

1) the corporal - if the vocational education (at least second vocational qualification level) specified in the job description of the position has been acquired;

2) the sergeant - after serving for three years in the special service rank of a corporal;

3) the first sergeant - after serving for four years in the special service rank of a sergeant;

4) the warrant officer - after serving for five years in the special service rank of a first sergeant;

5) the lieutenant - after appointment to the position referred to in Section 21, Clause 2 of this Law;

6) the first lieutenant - after serving for two years in the special service rank of a lieutenant;

7) the captain - after serving for three years in the special service rank of a first lieutenant;

8) the major - after serving for four years in the special service rank of a captain;

9) the lieutenant colonel - after serving for five years in the special service rank of a major;

10) the colonel - after serving for five years in the special service rank of a lieutenant colonel;

11) the general - after serving for five years in the special service rank of a colonel.

(2) The successive special service rank prior to the period specified in Paragraph one of this Section may be granted as an award.

(3) The Cabinet shall approve the special service ranks appropriate to positions.

[4 December 2008]

Section 23. Equalization and Renewal of the Special Service Ranks

(1) For officials accepted into service to whom the special service ranks of police, border guard, fire and rescue service, justice or soldier have been previously granted, such ranks shall be equalized in accordance with the procedures specified by the Cabinet.

(2) A former official of the Institution accepted into service shall be reinstated to the service rank which had been granted thereto prior to retiring from service and the period served in the preceding service rank which gives the right to the granting of the successive special service rank.

(3) An official on whom the disciplinary punishment of demotion in the service rank by one rank has been imposed shall be reinstated to the previous special service rank after expiry of the enforcement of the disciplinary punishment.

[4 December 2008]

Chapter VI
Awards

Section 24. Awards to be Granted to Officials

(1) An official may be granted the following awards for exemplary fulfilment of service duties or good results of the fulfilment of service duties:

1) gratitude;

2) a valuable prize;

3) supplementary leave of up to 10 calendar days;

4) a certificate of honour, a certificate of gratitude or a lapel badge (insignia) of the Ministry of the Interior or the Institution;

5) the successive special service rank - prior to the term;

6) a personal firearm or non-firearm weapon.

(2) If, at the moment when the decision to award an official has been taken, such official is regarded as disciplinarily punished and at least six months have passed, but if a disciplinary punishment of a note has been imposed on the official, at least one month has passed from the day of application of the disciplinary punishment or from the day when the execution of the disciplinary punishment has ended, the official shall be recognised as disciplinarily unpunished prior to the specified term instead of the award.

(3) The supplementary leave specified in Paragraph one, Clause 3 of this Section shall be granted by disbursing average earnings of the official.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 15 November 2012; 6 March 2014]

Section 25. Procedures for the Granting of an Award

(1) An award shall be granted by the respective minister, the head of the Institution, or an official authorised by the head, issuing a written order (writ).

(2) The award referred to in Section 24, Paragraph one, Clause 3 of this Law shall be granted by adding it to the annual paid leave or upon the wish of the official at another time during the current or subsequent calendar year when conditions of service allow it.

(3) The award referred to in Section 24, Paragraph one, Clause 5 of this Law shall be granted if an official has a corresponding education and he or she has served in the respective special service rank at least half of the time specified for the granting of the successive special service rank.

(4) The award referred to in Section 24, Paragraph one, Clause 6 of this Law shall be granted by the respective minister.

(5) An official shall be notified of the granted award in person, where possible, in public and at a ceremony.

[4 December 2008]

Chapter VII
Organisation of Time for the Fulfilment of Service Duties

[4 December 2008]

Section 26. General Provisions for Organisation of Time for the Fulfilment of Service Duties

(1) Within the meaning of this Law, the time for the fulfilment of service duties is a period during which an official fulfils his or her service duties or is at the disposal of the Institution at the place of the fulfilment of service duties specified by the Institution.

(2) The time for the fulfilment of service duties of officials shall be organised by the head of the Institution.

(3) The beginning and end of the time for the fulfilment of service duties shall be determined in the regulations for the fulfilment of service duties or by an order (writ) of the head of the Institution or an official authorised by the head.

(4) Taking into account the nature of service duties, the head of the Institution or an official authorised by the head shall determine a definite type of organisation of the time for the fulfilment of service duties in the relevant structural unit or for individual officials.

[23 November 2016]

Section 27. Regular Time for the Fulfilment of Service Duties

(1) Regular time for the fulfilment of service duties of an official shall be eight hours within a period of 24 hours, seven hours on days before public holidays and 40 hours per week.

(2) Weekly rest days shall be Saturday and Sunday. Officials shall not be employed in the fulfilment of service duties on the public holidays specified in the law.

Section 28. Aggregated Time for the Fulfilment of Service Duties

(1) If the regular length of time for the fulfilment of service duties cannot be complied with, the head of the Institution or an official authorised by the head shall determine aggregated time for the fulfilment of service duties.

(2) The aggregated time for the fulfilment of service duties shall not exceed the number of hours of the regular time for the fulfilment of service duties during an accounting period of four months.

(3) Week's days of rest within a period of seven days shall not be shorter than 36 consecutive hours.

Section 29. Fulfilment of Service Duties Outside of the Specified Time for the Fulfilment of Service Duties

(1) Taking into account the need for service, an official may, by an order (writ) of the head of Institution or an official authorised by the head, be involved in the fulfilment of service duties outside of the time specified for the fulfilment of service duties, during week's days of rest and on the public holidays specified in the law, and also during week's time of rest without exceeding 144 hours during a period of four months.

(2) If the aggregated time for the fulfilment of service duties has been specified for an official, the accounting period of the time referred to in Paragraph one of this Section shall be four calendar months.

(3) [1 December 2009]

(4) [1 December 2009]

[12 March 2009; 1 December 2009]

Section 30. Breaks During the Fulfilment of Service Duties

(1) Within the meaning of this Law, a break is a short period of time from the beginning till the end of the fulfilment of service duties during which an official does not fulfil his or her service duties and which may be used at his or her discretion. The length of a break shall not be shorter than 30 minutes, and it shall not be included in the time for the fulfilment of service duties.

(2) An official has the right to the following:

1) one break if continuous time for the fulfilment of service duties is longer than six hours but does not exceed 12 hours;

2) two breaks if continuous time for the fulfilment of service duties is longer than 12 hours but does not exceed 18 hours;

3) three breaks if continuous time for the fulfilment of service duties is longer than 18 hours.

(3) Breaks shall be granted to officials by the head of the Institution or an official authorised by the head.

(4) If breaks cannot be granted by taking into account the need for service or the nature of service duties, the head of the Institution or an official authorised by the head need not grant breaks. In such case, the official shall be provided with a possibility to eat during fulfilment of service duties.

[23 November 2016]

Section 31. Accounting of the Time for the Fulfilment of Service Duties

(1) Accounting the time for the fulfilment of service duties shall be organised by the head of the Institution.

(2) Accounting the time for the fulfilment of service duties of officials shall be taken by filling in tables for accounting the time for the fulfilment of service duties.

(3) The time for the fulfilment of service duties of each official, including the time referred to in Section 29 of this Law, and fulfilment of service duties at night shall be accounted in hours in the tables for accounting the time for the fulfilment of service duties.

(4) The time when an official fulfils service duties during the period from 22.00 to 6.00 for more than two hours shall be accounted as the fulfilment of service duties at night.

Chapter VIII
Work Remuneration and Leave

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009]

Section 32. Remuneration of an Official

An official shall receive remuneration which is determined in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities.

[1 December 2009]

Section 33. Annual Paid Leave

(1) [1 December 2009]

(2) [1 December 2009]

(3) [12 March 2009]

(4) [1 December 2009]

(5) [1 December 2009]

(6) Annual paid leave shall be granted to an official pursuant to the schedule of leaves approved by the head of the Institution or his or her authorised official. The schedule of leaves shall be drawn up in such a way as to ensure the continuous fulfilment of functions of the Institution.

(7) The head of the Institution or his or her authorised official shall grant annual paid leave to an official, the head of the institution to which the college is subordinate shall grant it to the head of the college. The respective minister shall grant annual paid leave to the head of the Institution.

(8) [1 December 2009]

(9) In exceptional cases, with a written consent of an official, a part of the annual paid leave may be transferred to the subsequent year. Where possible, the transferred part of the leave shall be added to the leave of the subsequent year. A part of the leave may be transferred for one year only.

(10) Annual paid leave shall be postponed or extended in case of temporary incapacity for work of an official.

(11) [1 December 2009]

[4 December 2008; 12 March 2009; 1 December 2009]

Section 34. Supplementary Leave

[1 December 2009]

Section 35. Study Leave

[1 December 2009]

Section 36. Leave without Retention of Service Remuneration and Compensation for Food Rations

[1 December 2009]

Chapter IX
Social Guarantees

Section 37. Allowances to be Granted to an Official

[1 December 2009]

Section 38. Allowance in Case of Death of an Official

[1 December 2009]

Section 39. Compensations to be Granted to an Official

[1 December 2009]

Section 40. Compensation of Losses Caused to an Official

[1 December 2009]

Section 41. Pension of an Official

An official has the right to service pension in accordance with the procedures and in the amount specified by law.

Section 42. Health Care of an Official

[1 December 2009]

Section 43. Allowances and Compensations to be Granted to Officials who Fulfil Their Service Duties in Foreign Countries

[1 December 2009]

Section 43.¹ Other Social Guarantees

An official who in the interests of the service (except for transfer to or from an educational institution due to acquisition of education) is transferred to another administrative territory and changes his or her place of residence has the right to exceptionally arrange for his or her child to have a place in a pre-school education institution.

[8 May 2008]

Chapter X
Uniform and a Service Identification Document

Section 44. Uniform of an Official

(1) An official shall, while fulfilling service duties, wear a uniform which is issued thereto for the funds from the State budget.

(2) The Cabinet shall determine the description of the official's uniform and identifying insignia.

(2¹) Only an official shall be entitled to wear the official's uniform and identifying insignia. In the cases and in accordance with the procedures specified in this Law, also a retired official shall be entitled to wear a dress (parade) uniform.

(2²) The Institution shall order and purchase the official's uniform and identifying insignia. A retired official who has the right to wear a dress (parade) uniform is entitled to purchase this uniform using personal funds only through the Institution.

(3) The head of the Institution shall determine the positions of officials in which service duties shall be fulfilled without permanently wearing a uniform, the norms for the issuing and the procedures for wearing and the duration of wearing an official's uniform and identifying insignia, the components of the uniform not to be transferred and the procedures for transferring the uniform, and also the types of special clothing, personal protective equipment, means and inventory, and norms of issuance and transfer thereof.

(4) [16 June 2022]

(5) Upon receipt of a new uniform or components thereof, an official shall transfer the previously issued uniform or the relevant components thereof in accordance with the procedures specified by the head of the Institution.

(6) An official who is being retired from the service shall transfer the issued uniform in accordance with the procedures specified by the head of the Institution. A retired official who has the right to wear a dress (parade) uniform is entitled not to transfer this uniform.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 16 May 2019; 16 June 2022]

Section 44.¹ Right of a Retired Official to Wear Dress (Parade) Uniform

(1) A retired official who is an officer (except for a retired official who has been retired from service in the cases referred to in Section 47, Paragraph one, Clauses 2, 4, 5, and 7 and Paragraph two, Clause 3 of this Law) has the right to wear a dress (parade) uniform according to the special service rank of the retired official in events of public holidays and days of commemoration and celebration, an event of the Institution or a structural unit thereof, and also any other event in the Republic of Latvia or abroad which is supported by the Institution and where officials of the relevant Institution participate.

(2) [16 June 2022]

(3) When wearing a dress (parade) uniform, a retired official shall comply with the conditions for wearing a dress (parade) uniform, general norms of propriety and ethical principles, and also refrain from carrying out any activities which discredit the Institution.

(4) If a retired official fails to comply with the conditions for wearing a dress (parade) uniform, general norms of propriety and ethical principles or discredits the Institution through his or her activities when wearing a dress (parade) uniform, the respective minister or the head of the Institution may revoke such person of the right to wear a dress (parade) uniform.

[8 September 2011; 16 June 2022]

Section 45. Certification of the Authority of an Official

An official shall be issued a service identification document for the certification of his or her authority. The official may also be issued a special badge for the certification of his or her authority. The Cabinet shall determine the samples of the service identification document and special badge, the procedures for the issuance and returning thereof.

Chapter XI
Expiration of Service Identification Documents

Section 46. Service Period of an Official

(1) An official may serve until reaching 50 years of age.

(1¹) [Paragraph shall come into force on 1 January 2027 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2027 / See Paragraph 22 of Transitional Provisions]

(2) Taking into account the need for service, physical and professional abilities of an official and also his or her health condition, the head of the Institution may extend the service period of the official for not longer than until reaching 60 years of age, but the service period of the head and academic staff of an educational institution in the system of the Ministry of the Interior - for not longer than until reaching 70 years of age. The service period of the head of the Institution may be extended by the respective minister. The service period of the head of the college may be extended by the head of the Institution to which the college is subordinate.

[17 July 2008; 4 December 2008 / Amendment to Paragraph two regarding the increasing of the age of service and also the new wording of Paragraph one shall come into force on 1 January 2027 and shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2027. See Paragraphs 22, 23 and 24 of Transitional Provisions]

Section 47. Retirement of an Official from Service

(1) An official shall be retired from service:

1) of his or her own free will;

2) due to the failure to pass probation;

3) due to health condition being unsuitable for the specified requirements;

4) due to unsuitability for the service;

5) due to unsuitability for the position if the official does not agree to a transfer to another position or there is no other position in the relevant Institution which may be offered to the official and the requirements of which the official meets;

5¹) if the official has not been re-elected to a position of academic staff, does not agree to a transfer to another position, or there is no other position in the relevant Institution which may be offered to the official and the requirements of which the official meets;

6) due to liquidation of the Institution or the position of the official or reduction of the number of officials;

7) due to imposition of the disciplinary sanction of retirement from service;

8) due to appointment, approval or election to another position if the combination of positions is not permitted;

9) when reaching the age specified in Section 46 of this Law if the need for service is not established or the need for service is established but the official does not agree to hold the offered position;

10) due to the death of the official.

(2) An official may be retired from service:

1) when he or she has reached the length of service which gives the rights to service pension in accordance with the procedures specified by the law;

2) due to the fact that he or she, due to continuous work disability, has not fulfilled the official duties for more than four consecutive months or for more than six months per year with interruptions and health problems are not obtained in an accident while fulfilling the service duties;

3) due to expulsion from the number of students (learners) in an educational institution in the system of the Ministry of the Interior (by agreeing thereupon with the head of the Institution from which the official was transferred to an educational institution in the system of the Ministry of the Interior);

4) if he or she has not undergone the health condition referred to in Section 16, Paragraph four of this Law without any justifiable reason during the period of suspension referred to in Section 14, Paragraph 5.¹ of this Law.

(3) An official who wants to retire from service of his or her own free will shall warn the official who is entitled to appoint an official to a position thereof at least 30 days in advance in writing. The official may be retired from service prior to expiry of the notice period by mutual agreement between the abovementioned officials.

(4) The official who is entitled to appoint an official to a position has the rights to retire the official from service.

(5) An official may not be retired from service during the period of his or her temporary incapacity for work (except for the case referred to in Paragraph one, Clauses 1 and 7 and Paragraph two, Clause 2 of this Section, and also the case when the official is being retired from service due to the liquidation of the Institution, and the case when an official is being retired from service due to non-conformity of the official with the mandatory requirements specified in Section 4, Clauses 4, 4.¹ and 4.² of this Law), and also during the period when the official is on leave or does not fulfil the duties due to other justifiable reasons.

(5¹) An official may be retired from service due to the liquidation of the position of the official or reduction of the number of officials in the following cases:

1) there is no other position in the relevant Institution which can be offered to the official and the requirements of which the official meets;

2) there is another position in the relevant Institution which can be offered to the official and the requirements of which the official meets, but the official does not agree to hold the offered position in the relevant Institution.

(6) If an official is being retired from service due to the liquidation of the Institution or the position of the official or due to the reduction of the number of officials, the official shall be warned about it 30 days in advance.

(7) An official who is being retired from service shall be disbursed a money compensation for the unused annual leave and for supplementary leave which is granted as an award, and also a remuneration for the fulfilment of the service duties outside of the time specified for the fulfilment of service duties if the official has not been granted the rest time the length of which conforms to the fulfilment of service duties outside of the time specified for the fulfilment of service duties.

(7¹) If an official who has used the annual leave or its part in the year of retirement is retired from service in accordance with Paragraph one, Clauses 3, 6, 9, and 10 and Paragraph two of this Section, the disbursed average earnings shall not be deducted from the work remuneration of the official.

(8) [4 December 2008]

(9) Appeal of the decision to retire an official from service shall not suspend its enforcement.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 11 March 2010; 8 September 2011; 6 March 2014; 4 March 2021; 3 December 2025]

Section 48. Disbursement of Outstanding Claims of an Official

(1) When retiring an official from service, work remuneration and costs related to the retirement from service shall be calculated on the day of retirement and transferred to the account of the official with a credit institution within three working days.

(2) If, when retiring an official from service, a dispute regarding the amount of money pertaining to the official has arisen, the Institution has the obligation, in accordance with the procedures specified in Paragraph one of this Section, to disburse the amount of money which is not disputed.

[4 December 2008; 1 December 2009; 15 November 2012]

Section 49. Statement on Service

(1) The Institution has the obligation, upon request of the retired official or request of a State or local government institution for the performance of its functions, to issue a written statement on the length of service of the retired official, fulfilled official duties, deducted taxes and making of the mandatory State social insurance contributions.

(2) The statement shall include the requested information which the Institution may justify with documents in its record-keeping or archives.

Section 50. Transfer of Matters

An official who is being retired from service or transferred to another position shall hand over the service identification certificate, documents related to the fulfilment of the position, files, material values to an official assigned by the head of the Institution or an official authorised by the head, signing the deed of delivery and acceptance, and shall settle accounts with the Institution.

[4 December 2008]

Chapter XII
Administrative Offences in the Field of the Circulation of the Official's Uniform and Identifying Insignia and Competence in Administrative Offence Proceedings

[16 June 2022]

Section 51. Illegal Ordering, Manufacture, Purchase, and Marketing of Official's Uniform and Identifying Insignia

For the illegal ordering or illegal manufacture, purchase or marketing of an official's uniform or identifying insignia, a fine of up to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed on a natural person and a fine of up to four thousand units of fine shall be imposed on a legal person.

[16 June 2022]

Section 52. Illegal Wearing of an Official's Uniform and Identifying Insignia

For illegal wearing of an official's uniform and identifying insignia, a fine of up to four hundred units of fine shall be imposed.

[16 June 2022]

Section 53. Competence in Administrative Offence Proceedings

The administrative offence proceedings for the offences referred to in Sections 51 and 52 of this Law shall, until the examination of an administrative offence case, be conducted by the State Police or the relevant Institution in the field of the circulation of an official's uniform and identifying insignia - the State Border Guard, the State Fire and Rescue Service or the Prison Administration. Administrative offence cases shall be examined by the State Police.

[16 June 2022 / Provisions as regards the right of the Prison Administration to conduct administrative offence proceedings until the examination of an administrative offence case shall enter into force concurrently with the amendments to the Law on Administrative Liability which provide competence for the Prison Administration to conduct administrative offence proceedings. See Paragraph 21 of Transitional Provisions]

Transitional Provisions

1. Persons who have been granted the special service rank and who hold a position in the Ministry of the Interior shall continue service in the status of the official specified in this Law until retirement from service.

2. The condition provided for in Section 4, Clause 1 of this Law regarding the citizenship of Latvia shall not be the grounds for releasing from a position and retirement from service of such officials who have entered into service until 31 December 2002 and hold a position in the State Fire and Rescue Service.

3. A person who is hired by the Institution in the status of a trainee shall continue work in accordance with the concluded employment contract. If the person is accepted into service after the end of the term of the traineeship, a probation period shall not be determined to him or her.

4. For officials who hold a position in the State Border Guard, the length of service calculated until 1 October 2006 shall be included in the term of service which gives the right to service pension in accordance with the procedures specified by the law.

[12 June 2009]

5. For officials who hold a position in the system of the Ministry of the Interior or the Prison Administration, the term of service calculated until 1 October 2006 shall be included in the term of service.

6. [12 June 2009]

7. [12 June 2009]

8. Until 1 July 2016, the position of an official may also be held by a person who does not have higher education corresponding to the requirements for the position.

9. Until the transfer of the Fire Safety and Civil Protection College and the State Border Guard College in subordination to the State Fire and Rescue Service and the State Border Guard accordingly, the Minister for the Interior shall perform the functions specified in Section 8, Paragraph two, Section 9, Paragraph three, Section 12, Paragraph four, Section 14, Paragraph six, Section 15, Paragraph two, Section 16, Paragraph two, Section 33, Paragraph seven, and Section 46, Paragraph two of this Law as regards the colleges.

10. Until the issuance of new Cabinet Regulations, but not later than until 31 December 2006, Cabinet Regulation No. 567 of 14 October 2003, Regulations Regarding Work Remuneration of Employees with Special Service Ranks of Institutions of the System of the Ministry of the Interior, shall be applicable.

10.¹ The remuneration determined according to this Law (service remuneration, benefits, etc.) in 2009 shall be determined in accordance with the Law on Remuneration of Officials and Employees of State and Local Government Authorities in 2009.

[12 December 2008; 12 March 2009]

10.² In 2009 and 2010, an official may also be granted a leave without the retention of work remuneration and compensation for food rations for a period of up to 30 calendar days per year based on initiative of the head of the Institution.

[12 June 2009; 1 December 2009]

11. An official who has been, in the interests of service, transferred to a position in another administrative territory (except for the transfer to or from an educational institution) for an indefinite period and who has been granted a compensation for the rental of a new living quarter and public utility services in accordance with the procedures laid down in this Law shall continue to receive the abovementioned compensation until 1 January 2011.

[4 December 2008]

12. Until the date of the coming into force of the new Cabinet regulations, but no longer than until 1 September 2009, the following Cabinet regulations shall be applicable:

1) Cabinet Regulation No. 803 of 26 September 2006, Regulations Regarding Procedures for and Amount of the Payment of Overtime Work for Officials with Special Service Rank of Institutions in the System of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prison Administration;

2) Cabinet Regulation No. 878 of 24 October 2006, Procedures by which the Study Related Costs for an Official of the Institutions of the Ministry of the Interior System and Prison Administration with a Special Service Rank shall be Covered, and the Procedures for Repayment of these Costs;

3) Cabinet Regulation No. 900 of 31 October 2006, Regulations Regarding Benefits and Compensations for Officials with Special Service Ranks of Institutions in the System of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prison Administration, insofar as they are not in contradiction with this Law;

4) Cabinet Regulation No. 904 of 31 October 2006, Regulations Regarding the System of Work Remuneration for Officials with Special Service Ranks of Institutions of the System of the Ministry of the Interior and the Prison Administration and the Highest Special Service Ranks Corresponding to Offices.

[4 December 2008]

13. An official who, without discontinuing the fulfilment of service duties, successfully studies at a State accredited higher education institution for a fee in order to acquire the knowledge required for the fulfilment of the service (official) duties or the education specified in the job description of the position and who has been granted a compensation covering half of the annual tuition fee until 1 July 2009 shall continue to receive the abovementioned compensation until graduation from this educational institution. An official who is being retired from service (except for the cases referred to in Section 47, Paragraph one, Clauses 3, 6, 9, and 10 and Paragraph two, Clause 1 of this Law) and who has served, after receipt of compensation for the tuition fee, in the system of the Ministry of the Interior or the Prison Administration for less than five years shall reimburse the abovementioned compensation in accordance with the procedures specified in the agreement for compensating the tuition fee.

[12 March 2009]

14. If an official who has not used the leave of 40 calendar days determined in Section 33, Paragraph three of this Law until making of the respective amendments is retired from service, the number of the unused days of the leave shall be calculated in proportion to the length of the leave specified in the Law in the relevant period.

[12 March 2009]

15. Until 1 July 2016, officials may also hold a position in the Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior.

[11 March 2010]

16. For the head of the Security Police, the State Police, the State Border Guard, the State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Prison Administration who has been appointed to the position before the day when the amendments to this Law which state that the heads of the abovementioned Institutions are appointed to the position for five years come into force, the term of five years referred to in Section 9, Paragraph two of this Law for appointment to the position shall be counted from the day the respective amendments come into force.

[8 September 2011]

17. If the court acquits the official referred to in Section 14, Paragraph three of this Law or criminal proceedings against such official are terminated on the grounds of exoneration, the official shall be disbursed the compensation for food rations not paid for the period of suspension until 31 December 2012.

[15 November 2012]

18. Until 31 December 2019, the Internal Security Bureau may, if necessary, also accept into service a person who is older than 40 years of age and who has work experience of at least two years in the position the duties of which include the implementation of operational activities measures, the investigation of criminal offences, or the management and supervision of such activities (hereinafter - experience in the investigation of criminal offences or the implementation of operational activities measures). Without exceeding the higher special service rank corresponding to the relevant position, the official who has been accepted into service shall be granted the following special service rank:

1) the first lieutenant - if the person has at least two-year experience in the investigation of criminal offences or the implementation of operational activities measures;

2) the captain - if the person has at least five-year experience in the investigation of criminal offences or the implementation of operational activities measures;

3) the major - if the person has at least nine-year experience in the investigation of criminal offences or the implementation of operational activities measures;

4) the lieutenant colonel - if the person has at least fourteen-year experience in the investigation of criminal offences or the implementation of operational activities measures.

[28 May 2015]

19. A former official of the Institution accepted into service of the Internal Security Bureau shall, in accordance with Section 23, Paragraph two of this Law, be reinstated to the previous special service rank if it is higher than the special service rank specified in Paragraph 18 of these Transitional Provisions.

[28 May 2015]

20. Previous experience in the investigation of criminal offences or the implementation of operational activities measures shall be included in the term of service of the persons who have been accepted into service of the Internal Security Bureau in accordance with Paragraph 18 of these Transitional Provisions.

[28 May 2015]

21. Section 53 of this Law in respect of the rights of the Prison Administration to conduct administrative offence proceedings until the examination of an administrative offence case shall enter into effect concurrently with the amendments to the Law on Administrative Liability which provide competence for the Prison Administration to conduct administrative offence proceedings. Until then, the administrative offence proceedings for the offence referred to in Sections 51 and 52 of this Law shall be conducted by the State Police.

[16 June 2022]

22. Amendments to Section 46, Paragraphs one and two of this Law regarding the increasing of the age of service, and also Section 46, Paragraph 1.¹ of this Law shall come into force on 1 January 2027.

[3 December 2025 / The abovementioned amendments shall be included in the wording of the Law as of 1 January 2027]

23. For officials who have reached 50 years of age until 31 December 2026 and for whom the service period has been extended and also for officials whose length of service calculated in accordance with the law On the Service Pensions of Employees with Special Service Ranks Working in the System of the Ministry of the Interior exceeds 15 years as at 31 December 2026 or whose total length of the period of insurance and the term of service equalized to this period for granting service pension exceeds 20 years as at 31 December 2026, the age of service specified in Section 46, Paragraph one of this Law shall be 50 years.

[3 December 2025]

24. For officials whose length of service calculated in accordance with the law On the Service Pensions of Employees with Special Service Ranks Working in the System of the Ministry of the Interior is less than 15 years as at 31 December 2026 and also for officials whose total length of the period of insurance and the term of service equalized to this period for granting service pension is less than 20 years as at 31 December 2026, the age of service specified in Section 46, Paragraph one of this Law shall increase gradually from 50 to 55 years of age and from 1 January 2027 it shall be 50 years and six months, from 1 January 2028 it shall be 51 years, from 1 January 2029 it shall be 51 years and six months, from 1 January 2030 it shall be 52 years, from 1 January 2031 it shall be 52 years and six months, from 1 January 2032 it shall be 53 years, from 1 January 2033 it shall be 53 years and six months, from 1 January 2034 it shall be 54 years, from 1 January 2035 it shall be 54 years and six months, from 1 January 2036 it shall be 55 years.

[3 December 2025]

The Law shall come into force on 1 October 2006.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 15 June 2006.

Acting for the President, Chairperson of the Saeima I. Ūdre

Rīga, 30 June 2006

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2026 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)