Get Birth Certificates in Latvia

A birth certificate (dzimšanas apliecība) in Latvia is an essential legal document used for obtaining a personal identification number (personas kods), enrolling in school, applying for a Latvian passport, and many other official purposes. Latvia has a modern civil registration system underpinned by digital services. This guide explains how to get birth certificates in Latvia, including in Riga and Daugavpils.

How Birth Registration Works in Latvia

In Latvia, birth registration is handled by the Civil Registry Department (Dzimtsarakstu nodaļa) of the respective municipality, and records are maintained in the Population Register (Iedzīvotāju reģistrs) administered by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA — Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde). When a baby is born in a hospital, the hospital issues a birth medical certificate. Parents must then register the birth at the civil registry department within 30 days.

Upon registration, the child is assigned a personal identification number (personas kods), a unique 11-digit code used in all Latvian official documents. The first birth certificate (dzimšanas apliecība) is issued free of charge at the time of registration.

Documents Required for Birth Registration in Latvia

To register a birth and obtain a dzimšanas apliecība in Latvia, parents typically need:

Hospital birth medical certificate (medicīniskā dzimšanas apliecība)
Identity documents of both parents (Latvian identity card or passport)
Marriage certificate (laulības apliecība) if married
If unmarried: a joint application to register paternity at the civil registry

Latvia has also been expanding its e-Government services through latvija.gov.lv, which allows some civil registry requests to be submitted online for those with a digital identity.

Getting a Birth Certificate in Riga

Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. Birth registration in Riga is handled by the Riga City Civil Registry Department (Rīgas pilsētas Dzimtsarakstu nodaļa), which has multiple service points across the city. After presenting the required documents, the dzimšanas apliecība is typically issued on the same day or within a few working days.

Riga residents can also use the latvija.gov.lv e-services portal for digital access to civil registry information. The OCMA also provides services for obtaining certified copies of birth certificates and other civil documents in Riga. Riga’s central OCMA office is one of the busiest in the country and offers English-language assistance for foreign residents.

Getting a Birth Certificate in Daugavpils

Daugavpils is Latvia’s second-largest city, located in the Latgale region in eastern Latvia. It has a large Russian-speaking population. The Daugavpils City Civil Registry Department handles birth registrations in the city. The process is identical to Riga — parents bring the required documents to the civil registry office within 30 days of birth.

Daugavpils residents can also request duplicate birth certificates from the OCMA or through the latvija.gov.lv portal. Since Latvia’s civil registry is centralized nationally, any civil registry office can issue copies of records regardless of where the birth was originally registered.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Latvian personal identification number (personas kods)?

The personas kods is Latvia’s unique 11-digit national identity number assigned to every person at birth or upon first registration in Latvia. It appears in the Latvian ID card, passport, and all official records and is used throughout a person’s life.

How long does it take to get a birth certificate in Latvia?

The dzimšanas apliecība is usually issued on the same day of registration or within a few working days. Duplicate copies can be obtained from civil registry offices or OCMA service centers.

Can I get a Latvian birth certificate online?

Latvia has been expanding digital civil services through latvija.gov.lv. Some requests can be submitted online with a Latvian digital identity. Check the portal for the latest available online services.

Can a Latvian birth certificate be apostilled?

Yes. Latvia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles for Latvian civil documents are issued by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Latvia.

Conclusion

Getting a birth certificate in Latvia requires registering at the local civil registry department within 30 days and presenting the hospital birth certificate and parental identification. Whether in Riga or Daugavpils, the process is efficient and the dzimšanas apliecība is issued quickly. Latvia’s expanding digital services also make it easier to obtain copies online. The Latvian birth certificate and personas kods are the foundation of civil identity in the country.