G: Renewing my pension eligibility status in the U.S.
Applying for a pension from Latvia
Under the current agreement between Latvia and the United States Latvian citizens who reside in the United States can only receive a pension if they became of pensionable age whilst still living in Latvia. For those Latvian pensioners who left Latvia after January 1, 2002, you can receive a pension if you now live in the United States. For information about pensions, please visit the website of the State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA) for further details (see pages in English, Latvian and Russian). You can also email the Riga office branch: zemgale@vsaa.lv (which handles all U.S. related pension enquries). The Consulate in New York nor the Embassy in Washington can handle any of these matters. You must contact Riga with your specific pension questions and needs.
how do i get my pension status renewal done each year so my pension can be paid to me if i am now permanently living outside latvia?
If you are receiving a pension in Latvia and then travel to live permanently abroad, then each year, during the last calendar quarter (October 1-December 15), you will need to submit a request to the Latvian State Pension Agency (VSAA) for the pension payment to continue to be paid to you outside Latvia during the next calendar year. You can do this by mail, or in person in Riga, or someone who has your power of attorney can submit this on your behalf.
If you are doing this via post, or with the assistance of someone who has your power of attorney to do this on your behalf, you will also need to submit a confirmation that you, the recipient are still alive. This certification needs to be signed in front of a Notary and then this document needs to legalized with an Apostille stamp (issued by the U.S. Department of State offices in your State – 123 William Street, in Lower Manhattan, in the case of NY State). This document needs to submitted to the VSAA in Riga within 30 days of it being Notarized.
Click here to download a PDF copy of the form that needs to be submitted to VSAA.
If this certification is not received by VSAA in Riga by December 15, then the pension payment will be stopped as of January 1st.
For more information about Latvian pensions, please visit the department’s website www.vsaa.gov.lv or contact their International Service Desk - click here to email them at konsultacijas@vsaa.gov.lv
Updated travel information and alerts from the Consular Department in Riga - click on the image above
Mobile Passport Station visits
The mobile passport station visits selected major U.S. cities once a year, including New York and Boston.
More information on upcoming visits and cities can be found here.
Did you know you can apply for a Schengen Visa via VFS Global? They are processing applications on behalf of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C..
For more information, click here.
