Latvian Law

Republic of Latvia

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

21 February 1997

Status of the Foreign Armed Forces in the Republic of Latvia

Chapter I
General Provisions

Section 1. Scope of Application of this Law

(1) This Law prescribes the status of the foreign armed forces in the Republic of Latvia during the time period while they are fulfilling service duties within the scope of international co-operation, as well as the procedures for transit by land of the foreign armed forces through the Republic of Latvia.

(2) The following persons shall be persons contained in the foreign armed forces:

1) military personnel who is in the composition of the armed forces of the relevant foreign country;

2) civilians who are employed in the armed forces of the relevant foreign country.

(3) A person who is a stateless person or a citizen of such country, which has not signed the Agreement among the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the other States Participating in the Partnership for Peace regarding the Status of their Forces, may not be considered a civilian contained in the foreign armed forces. A citizen or non-citizen of Latvia, as well as foreigner or a stateless person who has received a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Latvia may not be considered a civilian contained in the foreign armed forces.

(4) This Law shall not apply to persons who enjoy privileges and immunity in the territory of Latvia in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

[20 June 2002; 25 November 2004]

Section 2. Legal Basis for Residence of the Foreign Armed Forces

[20 June 2002]

Section 2.¹ Legal Basis for Residence of the Foreign Armed Forces

Units of the foreign armed forces shall reside in the Republic of Latvia upon implementing co-operation provided for in international agreements.

[14 July 2011]

Section 2.² Provision of Support to the National Armed Forces

(1) Armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Union Member States may be involved in the provision of support to the National Armed Forces in executing tasks assigned to them in accordance with the National Armed Forces Law. In providing support to the National Armed Forces in executing tasks assigned to them, the units of armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Union Member States and officials thereof have the relevant rights of the National Armed Forces and officials thereof.

(2) The tasks to be performed by the units of armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Union Member States involved in provision of support to the National Armed Forces, the time and place of and restrictions on performance thereof shall be determined by the Commander of the National Armed Forces or the responsible official appointed by him or her.

[18 May 2017]

Section 3. Crossing of the State Border of the Republic of Latvia and Residence in the Republic of Latvia

(1) The persons contained in the foreign armed forces are entitled to cross the State border of the Republic of Latvia and reside in the territory thereof in accordance with the procedures specified in this Law.

(2) The persons contained in the foreign armed forces shall present the following documents when crossing the State border of the Republic of Latvia:

1) the military personnel – passport or other travel document recognised by the Republic of Latvia and issued by the country sending the relevant person;

2) civilians – passport.

(3) When crossing the State border of the Republic of Latvia, the unit commander (responsible person) shall present a list of the unit staff, which has been approved by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia. Notes regarding crossing the State border of the Republic of Latvia shall be made on the list.

(4) Bringing in and control of road transport vehicles, aircraft and sea-going vessels, as well as cargoes and armaments shall take place in accordance with the procedures determined in laws and other regulatory enactments of the Republic of Latvia.

(5) The persons contained in the foreign armed forces who reside in the Republic of Latvia, fulfilling service duties within the scope of international co-operation, need not register with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of the Ministry of the Interior.

[20 June 2002; 25 November 2004]

Section 3.¹ Transit by Land of the Foreign Armed Forces through the Territory of the Republic of Latvia

(1) A decision on transit by land through the Republic of Latvia of units of the armed forces of the countries other than Member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or the European Union (hereinafter – third countries), if the territory is concurrently to be crossed by military personnel consisting of more than 500 persons, shall be taken by the Minister for Defence after co-ordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior. If the territory of the Republic of Latvia is to be concurrently crossed in transit by land by military personnel of the third countries consisting of more than 500 persons, the decision shall be taken by the Cabinet.

(2) Units of the armed forces of the third countries shall cross the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit by land in escort of the National Armed Forces.

[14 July 2011]

Section 4. Armament and Material and Technical Provision

(1) Foreign armed forces shall co-ordinate with the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia the type and amount of the armament and material and technical provision thereof to be brought in by the foreign armed forces in the Republic of Latvia.

(2) The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia shall issue a permit to the foreign armed forces for bringing in and bringing out the armament and perform accounting and control of the armament brought in according to the co-ordinated lists.

(3) Military equipment shall be transported across the State border of the Republic of Latvia and in the territory of the Republic of Latvia unloaded and separately from the ammunition thereof. If it is provided for in the instructions for use of military equipment, such equipment shall be transported in packaging. Armament systems of military equipment shall be ensured against moving.

(3¹) Armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Union Member States may transport primed military equipment across the internal border of the Republic of Latvia and in the territory of the Republic of Latvia in order to ensure measures for the suppression of danger to the State and if it is provided for in the instructions for use of military equipment.

(4) Weapons shall be transported across the State border of the Republic of Latvia and in the territory of the Republic of Latvia unloaded, in packaging and separately from the ammunition thereof, if it is not otherwise provided for in the instructions for use of weapons.

(4¹) Armed forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European Union Member States may transport primed weapons across the internal border of the Republic of Latvia and in the territory of the Republic of Latvia in order to ensure measures for the suppression of danger to the State and if it is provided for in the instructions for use of weapons.

(5) Tracked vehicles shall be moved in the territory of the Republic of Latvia with special vehicles intended for the transportation thereof, if such vehicles are not suitable or tracks are not equipped for driving a road covered with asphalt.

[20 June 2002; 25 November 2004; 18 May 2017]

Section 5. Provisions for Carrying and Use of Firearms

Persons contained in the foreign armed forces, during residence thereof in the Republic of Latvia, are entitled to carry and use firearms solely for fulfilment of service duties.

[20 June 2002]

Section 6. Jurisdiction

(1) Persons contained in the foreign armed forces, during residence thereof in the Republic of Latvia, shall comply with the regulatory enactments of the Republic of Latvia and the international agreements binding on the Republic of Latvia.

(2) If a person contained in the foreign armed forces commits an administrative violation in the Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia may request that the management of the armed forces of the relevant foreign country brings the person out from the territory of Latvia before the specified term.

(3) If a law enforcement institution of Latvia has detained a person contained in the foreign armed forces, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia shall be notified thereof.

[20 June 2002]

Chapter II
Organisation of Military Training and Manoeuvres

[20 June 2002]

Chapter III
Special Provisions

Section 10. Electronic Communications

(1) Services of the public electronic communications network shall be provided in accordance with the Electronic Communications Law.

(2) For the purpose of achieving the objective put forward the foreign armed forces may install and use means of electronic communications (also radio communications systems) after receipt of a permit, observing the radio frequency spectrum band allocation by radio communications types and classification by radio communications systems specified in the national radio frequency plan, as well as the utilisation of the radio frequency bands by general authorisations.

(3) Permits for the installation and use of radio communications systems of the foreign armed forces shall be issued by the State joint stock company “Electronic Communications Office” (hereinafter – Electronic Communications Office) upon a relevant request of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia. Such permits in relation to individual radio communications equipment or systems or also individual types of radio communications shall be issued by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, if the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia has entered into a relevant agreement thereof with the Electronic Communications Office.

(4) Permits for the installation and use of radio communications systems of the foreign armed forces in radio frequency bands, which in the national radio frequency plan are designated solely for the operation of the radio communication systems intended for the needs of State defence in conformity with the radio communication types specified in the national radio frequency plan, shall be issued by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia, taking into account the results of international radio frequency co-ordination notified by the Electronic Communications Office, if international co-ordination is necessary, and the conditions of an international agreement binding on Latvia, if such agreement has been entered into.

(5) If it is necessary to perform additional measures in order to avoid interference in the electronic communications network of Latvia, which might be caused by a specific radio communications equipment or system of the foreign armed forces, or also other specific electrical devices, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia shall supervise the operation of such equipment of the foreign armed forces, including determine the provisions, restrictions or prohibitions for the use of a specific radio communications equipment or system, or also the type of radio communications.

[14 July 2011]

Section 11. Driver‘s Licences of Persons Contained in the Foreign Armed Forces

A driver’s licence or a permit issued in the country which sends the person contained in the foreign armed forces shall be recognised as valid for driving the relevant vehicles in the Republic of Latvia.

[20 June 2002]

Section 12. Movement of Vehicles of the Foreign Armed Forces in the Territory of Latvia

(1) Vehicles and their trailers shall be registered in the relevant foreign country. These vehicles shall bear registration number plates of the relevant foreign country, which conform to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, and the identification sign of the relevant country or also a temporary identification sign issued by the Road Traffic Safety Directorate of the Republic of Latvia.

(2) The recording and registration of vehicles and their trailers brought in the territory of Latvia from abroad for a time period up to one month shall be performed by the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia.

(3) The persons contained in the foreign armed forces shall abide by the road traffic provisions.

(4) In cases where dangerous goods are transported, for which a special permit is necessary, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia shall be responsible for the receipt of such permit in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Latvia and other regulatory enactments.

Section 12.¹ Military Training or Manoeuvres

Military training and manoeuvres shall take place in training centres, training areas and other territories of the Latvian National Armed Forces. If training takes place outside the training centres and training areas of the Latvian National Armed Forces, they shall be co-ordinated with the owner of the territory.

[14 July 2011]

Section 13. Settlement of Disputes and Claims

Disputes and claims between the Republic of Latvia and the relevant foreign country, units of the armed forces of which are located in the territory of the Republic of Latvia, shall be solved through negotiation.

[20 June 2002]

Section 14. Exemption from Taxes

Upon being located in the territory of Latvia, foreign armed forces and the persons contained therein shall be exempted from:

1) customs duty, value added tax and excise duty for the armament and material and technical provision brought in the Republic of Latvia;

2) any income taxes specified in the Republic of Latvia in relation to income obtained from fulfilling service duties. Income obtained from other activities in the Republic of Latvia shall not be exempted by this Law from the taxes provided for in laws of the Republic of Latvia.

[20 June 2002]

Section 15. Health Protection

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia shall take measures in order to ensure the necessary sanitary hygienic conditions at the locations of units of the foreign armed forces.

Section 16. Environmental Protection

Units of the foreign armed forces shall take measures so that they would not allow environmental pollution when they are in the territory of Latvia, but in cases when harmful impact had been unavoidable and damaging of the topsoil, soil transformation, pollution, damaging of the flora etc. has occurred, the environment shall be restored. If restoration is not possible in accordance with the Environmental Protection Law of the Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia and the foreign armed forces shall reach an agreement regarding compensation for the harm caused to the environment.

Section 17. Right to Wear the Uniform

The military personnel of the foreign armed forces have the right to wear the uniform during their residence in the Republic of Latvia.

[11 May 2006]

Section 18. International Agreements

If international agreements entered into by the Republic of Latvia and approved by the Saeima provide for different provisions than this Law, the provisions of the international agreement shall be applied.

This Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 6 February 1997.

Acting for the President,
Chairperson of the Saeima A. Čepānis

Rīga, 21 February 1997

¹ The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia