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Text consolidated by Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre) with amending regulations of:

5 September 2017 [shall come into force from 7 September 2017].

If a whole or part of a paragraph has been amended, the date of the amending regulation appears in square brackets at the end of the paragraph. If a whole paragraph or sub-paragraph has been deleted, the date of the deletion appears in square brackets beside the deleted paragraph or sub-paragraph.


Republic of Latvia

Cabinet
Regulation No. 973

Adopted 24 September 2013

Regulations Regarding Testing the Fluency in the Latvian Language and Knowledge of the Basic Principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the Text of the National Anthem, the Basics of the History and Culture of Latvia

Issued pursuant to
Section 19 and Section 21, Paragraph four
of the Citizenship Law

I. General Provisions

1. This Regulation prescribes the procedures for testing fluency in the Latvian language (hereinafter - fluency in language) and knowledge of the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the text of the National Anthem, the basics of the history and culture of Latvia (hereinafter - knowledge) and the relief from such testing, as prescribed by the Citizenship Law.

2. The fluency in language and knowledge shall be tested by a commission (hereinafter - Commission) set up by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter - Office). The Commission shall be composed of officials of the Office. Persons who have received a consent from the head of the Office may also participate in the fluency in language and knowledge test in the status of observer.

3. A person who takes the fluency in language or knowledge test (hereinafter - applicant), upon arrival for the test, shall present a personal identification document.

4. During the fluency in language and knowledge test the applicant shall be forbidden to converse with other persons, use teaching aids, electronic means of communication or other aids.

5. The applicant shall take the fluency in language and knowledge test at the place and time indicated by the Office.

6. If the applicant cannot attend the fluency in language or knowledge test due to a justifiable reason, he or she shall, within two months after the relevant test, submit documents to the Office, which certify that the applicant has not attended the test due to a justifiable reason. After evaluation of these documents the Office shall determine another time for taking the fluency in language or knowledge test.

7. If the applicant does not pass the fluency in language or knowledge test or refuses to answer questions, within the scope of the process of examining an application for acquisition of Latvian citizenship he or she may take the fluency in language test for the second and third time not earlier than three months after the day of the previous test, but may take the knowledge test for the second and third time not earlier than a month after the previous day of the test.

7.1 The applicant who requests to be registered as a Latvian citizen in accordance with Section 2, Paragraph one, Clause 3 of the Citizenship Law and who does not pass the fluency in language test may take it again not earlier than three working days after the day of the previous test.

[5 September 2017]

8. Prior to the fluency in language and knowledge test the Commission shall acquaint the applicant with the test procedures.

II. Fluency in Language Test

9. An applicant shall take the fluency in language test within two months after submission of the documents necessary for the acquisition of the Latvian citizenship to the Office.

10. The fluency in language test shall consist of two sections - the written section and the oral section.

11. The Commission shall evaluate the fluency in language of the applicant in the following skills:

11.1. to listen and comprehend speech;

11.2. to read with understanding;

11.3. to complete a written exercise;

11.4. to communicate on everyday topics.

12. The skills of the applicant referred to in Sub-paragraphs 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 of this Regulation shall be tested in the written part of the fluency in language test. The applicant shall confirm the ability to listen and comprehend speech, as well as to read with understanding by providing answers to questions in writing.

13. The time provided for the written section of the fluency in language test section shall be 90 minutes.

14. After completion of the written section of the fluency in language test the applicant shall hand in the work to the Commission for evaluation.

15. The skill of the applicant referred to in Sub-paragraph 11.4 of this Regulation shall be tested in the oral part of the fluency in language test. The Commission shall interview the applicant regarding everyday topics and make an audio recording of his or her answer.

16. The time provided for the oral section of the fluency in language test shall be up to 15 minutes.

17. An applicant who has reached 65 years of age and an applicant who registers as a citizen of Latvia in accordance with Section 2, Paragraph one, Clause 3 of the Citizenship Law is entitled to take the test of the skills referred to in Sub-paragraphs 11.1 and 11.2 of this Regulation orally. The Commission shall make an audio recording of the answer of the applicant.

18. The fluency in language test shall be deemed passed, if the applicant has obtained for each skill referred to in Paragraph 11 of this Regulation at least 16 points from the maximum number of points possible to be obtained - 25 points.

III. Knowledge Test

19. After submitting the documents necessary for the acquisition of Latvian citizenship to the Office an applicant shall select the way of taking the knowledge test - in written or oral form - until the beginning of the knowledge test.

20. The applicant shall use the Latvian language to take the knowledge test.

21. The applicant shall take the knowledge test within two months after taking the fluency in language test. If the applicant does not have to take the fluency in language test, the time period of two months for the knowledge test shall be counted from the day when the documents necessary for the acquisition of Latvian citizenship are submitted to the Office.

22. If the applicant is taking the knowledge test in writing, he or she shall complete the knowledge test which includes questions regarding the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the basics of the history and culture of Latvia, but the knowledge of the text of the National Anthem shall be confirmed by choice - in writing or in oral form.

23. If the applicant chooses to confirm the knowledge of the text of the National Anthem in oral form, he or she shall do it individually at the time indicated by the Commission after all the applicants have completed the knowledge test.

24. The time provided for the written testing of the knowledge shall be 45 minutes. If the applicant takes the knowledge test in writing, but confirms the knowledge of the text of the National Anthem in oral form, the time provided for completing the test shall be 30 minutes, for testing the knowledge of the text of the National Anthem - not more than 15 minutes. The Commission shall make an audio recording of the answer of the applicant.

25. If the applicant is taking the knowledge test in oral form, he or she shall confirm the knowledge of the text of the National Anthem and answer the questions inserted in the selected envelope regarding the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the basics of the history and culture of Latvia. The Commission shall make an audio recording of the answer of the applicant.

26. The time provided for oral testing of the knowledge shall be 45 minutes (for preparation of the answer - 30 minutes, for answering - not more than 15 minutes).

27. Written knowledge test shall be deemed passed, if the applicant has obtained at least 7 points out of the maximum number of points - 10 points - in testing the knowledge of the basics of the history and culture of Latvia, has obtained at least 5 points out of the maximum number of points - 8 points - in testing the knowledge of the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, has obtained at least 1 point out of the maximum number of points - 2 points - in testing the knowledge of the text of the National Anthem.

28. Oral knowledge test shall be deemed passed, if the applicant has obtained at least 2 points out of the maximum number of points - 4 points - in testing the knowledge of the basics of the history and culture of Latvia, has obtained at least 2 points out of the maximum number of points - 4 points - in testing the knowledge of the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, has obtained at least 1 point out of the maximum number of points - 2 points - in testing the knowledge of the text of the National Anthem.

IV. Testing the Fluency in Language and the Knowledge for Applicants with Disability

29. The test of the knowledge shall not be taken by an applicant with a Group II and III visual disability.

30. The written part of the fluency in language test shall not be taken by applicants with:

30.1. Group II and III disability who do not have the right arm or the palm of the right arm (for a left-handed person - the left hand or the palm of the left hand accordingly);

30.2. Group II and III visual disability.

31. The test of the skills referred to in Sub-paragraph 11.4 of this Regulation shall not be taken by applicants with Group II and III speech disability.

32. The test of the skills referred to in Sub-paragraphs 11.1 and 11.4 of this Regulation shall not be taken by applicants with Group II and III hearing disability.

33. If the applicant has submitted a certification issued by the State Medical Commission for the Assessment of Health Condition and Working Ability to the Office regarding health disorders and the referred-to certification is deemed a justification for granting a relief, the Head of the Office or his or her authorised person has the right to determine in accordance with the laws and regulations in the field of testing the fluency in language:

33.1. relieved procedures for testing the fluency in language for an applicant who is registering as a citizen of Latvia in accordance with Section 2, Paragraph one, Clause 3 of the Citizenship Law and who has not been diagnosed with disability in Latvia;

33.2. relieved procedures for testing the fluency in language and the knowledge for an applicant who has been diagnosed with disability.

V. Decisions of the Commission

34. After evaluating the answer of the applicant the Commission shall fill in a test sheet (Annex), indicating in the box "Evaluation" whether the test has been passed or has not been passed and shall make the applicant acquainted with the results of testing the fluency in language and the knowledge. The applicant shall confirm with a signature that he or she has become acquainted with the results of the test.

35. If another person arrives to a fluency in language or knowledge test instead of the applicant, the Commission shall take a decision not to permit such person to take the relevant test.

36. If before the end of the fluency in language or knowledge test it becomes known to the Commission or the Commission determines that a person other than the applicant has taken the test, the Commission shall take a decision to declare the results of the fluency in language or knowledge test null and void.

37. If the applicant violates the conditions referred to in Paragraph 4 of this Regulation, the Commission shall take a decision to terminate the fluency in language or knowledge test of the applicant.

38. The applicant has the right, within one month, to appeal a decision by the Commission by submitting a relevant submission to the head of the Office.

VI. Closing Provisions

39. Cabinet Regulation No. 522 of 5 July 2011, Regulations Regarding Testing of Fluency in the Latvian Language and the Knowledge of the Basic Principles of the Constitution, the Text of the National Anthem and the History of Latvia as prescribed by the Citizenship Law (Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2011, No. 105), is repealed.

40. This Regulation shall come into force on 1 October 2013.

Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis

Minister for the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis

 

Annex
Cabinet Regulation No. 973
24 September 2013

Test Sheet

Photograph
(given name, surname of the applicant)
(personal identity number)
    Place for a seal  

1. Testing the Fluency in the Latvian Language

Date __________________

No. Skill to be tested Evaluation
(passed/failed)
Signature of the applicant
1.1. Listening    
1.2. Reading    
1.3. Written work    
1.4. Interview    
Total evaluation of language skills    

Official of the Office    
    (given name, surname)   (signature)
Official of the Office    
    (given name, surname)   (signature)
Official of the Office    
    (given name, surname)   (signature)

2. Testing the Knowledge of the Basic Principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the Text of the National Anthem, the Basics of the History and Culture of Latvia

Date __________________

No. Knowledge to be tested Evaluation
(passed/failed)
Signature of the applicant
2.1. Text of the National Anthem    
2.2. Basics of the history and culture of Latvia    
2.3. Knowledge of the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia    
Total evaluation of testing the knowledge of the basic principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, the text of the National Anthem, the basics of the history and culture of Latvia    

Official of the Office    
    (given name, surname)   (signature)
Official of the Office    
    (given name, surname)   (signature)
Official of the Office    
    (given name, surname)   (signature)

Minister for the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis


Translation © 2018 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)

 
Document information
Title: Noteikumi par latviešu valodas prasmes un Latvijas Republikas Satversmes pamatnoteikumu, valsts himnas .. Status:
In force
in force
Issuer: Cabinet of Ministers Type: regulation Document number: 973Adoption: 24.09.2013.Entry into force: 01.10.2013.Publication: Latvijas Vēstnesis, 191, 01.10.2013. OP number: 2013/191.21
Language:
LVEN
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