I heard that Latvia has tightened the rules for obtaining a temporary residence permit based on marriage to a Latvian citizen, and that the Immigration authority is now inspecting everything much more strictly. Could you please explain what exactly has changed and what one should prepare for?

The new Immigration Law has significantly toughened controls on marriages with foreign nationals to eliminate sham marriages. The law now explicitly states two mandatory conditions for obtaining a residence permit — actual cohabitation and maintaining a joint household.

In practice, this will most likely mean in-depth (including separate) interviews and residential checks to verify the authenticity of the family relationship.

Ultimately, a residence permit will only be granted if there is clear evidence of genuine joint living (lease agreements, joint bank accounts, and everyday proofs – such as photos and videos of living together).