On 11 October 2022, the Minister of the Interior Kristaps Eklons and the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuumi Yoshikawa signed an agreement in Riga between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of Japan to simplify the rules of residence for young people from both countries in the territory of the other country. The agreement will give young people aged 18 to 30 more opportunities to appreciate the other country’s culture and way of life.
The aim of the agreement is to promote youth mobility, cooperation and partnership between Latvia and Japan. It will give young people from both countries more opportunities to study, work or gain practical experience and improve their knowledge of each other's language, culture and society, thus fostering mutual understanding.
The agreement also simplifies the procedures for young people from Latvia and Japan to obtain documents allowing them to stay in each country's territory. In Latvia's case, this is a long-stay visa issued by the Citizenship and Migration Office, while in Japan it is a work and holiday visa. These documents entitle young people to work to earn extra money to travel. The number of long-stay visas is determined by the two governments on the basis of reciprocity.
The agreement still needs to be approved by the Parliament by passing a relevant law.
Latvia already has similar agreements with Canada and New Zealand, signed in 2006 and 2008 respectively.
Zane Plone
Advisor to the Minister on Communication Issues
Telephone: 28627003
E-mail: zane.plone@iem.gov.lv