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Answer: According to the Law on the change of a given name, surname and nationality record, a person who is a citizen or non-citizen of Latvia or who has been granted the status of a stateless person in the Republic of Latvia may change the given name or surname (the given name and surname), if he or she has reached the age of 15 years and if one of the following reasons exists:  

1) the given name or surname encumbers the integration of the person in society;

2) the person wishes to add a second name to the name recorded in the Birth Register. The name that has been entered in the Register first, shall be considered the primary name;

3) the person wishes to acquire or add the surname of the spouse to his or her surname;

4) the person wishes to acquire his or her historic family name in the direct ascending line;

5) the person wishes to regain his or her family name or premarital surname if it has not been done upon dissolution of marriage, or after recognition of the marriage as annulled;

6) the gender of the person has changed; or

7) one of the parents or both parents of a minor have been convicted of committing a deliberate, serious or especially serious crime. In this case, the given name or surname (given name and surname) may also be changed by a minor who has not reached the age of 15 years.

Change of name and surname is forbidden in case:

1) a person has been convicted of committing a crime and the conviction has not been deleted or removed;

2) a person is being prosecuted for a committing a crime;

3) change of name and surname affects the interests of third persons;

4) change of name and surname contradicts the requirements of good faith or the chosen name is difficult to spell.

Application for the change of a surname shall be submitted to the Registry Office in accordance with the address of a person, who has a Latvia issued residence permit and was assigned identity number. A minor between the ages of 15 and 18 years shall submit the application with the consent of parents or guardians. Permission to change name/surname shall be issued by General Registry Department of the Ministry of Justice.

Within a month since receipt of the permission a person shall turn to Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in order to receive a new passport. State fee constitutes 20 LVL.

Law office INLAT PLUS

Brivibas 40-15, Riga, Latvia

+371 67505970

+371 26403577

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