Is the identity card compulsory?
Yes — and it turns the familiar order on its head. Since 2023, the identity card (eID) has been the compulsory identity document for all Latvian citizens and non-citizens aged 15 and over. The passport is no longer compulsory: it has become an optional identity or travel document, issued for countries that do not recognise the eID. The reason is electronic identification: the eID gives access to state and municipal e-services and is a state-guaranteed identification tool. There are transitional exceptions: for certain groups the duty to obtain an eID runs until 31 December 2030.
📋 The rules
- The eID is compulsory from age 15
- It applies to citizens and non-citizens
- The passport is now an optional document
- The eID is the e-services identification tool
- Transitional exceptions run to the end of 2030
🔓 Exceptions
- For certain groups the duty to obtain an eID runs until 31 December 2030
- A passport is issued if a person wants one — for travel, or where the eID is not recognised
- Temporary identity cards are also issued for use in the electronic environment
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The commonest error is thinking the passport replaces it. The passport is no longer the compulsory document — the eID is. If you hold only a passport and it expires, you must obtain an eID card, not simply renew the passport. And this is not mere bureaucracy. Without an eID you have no full access to state and municipal e-services: declaring residence, the tax portal, e-health, signing documents. The practical advice: if you travel only within the EU, the eID alone suffices — and it is both compulsory and cheaper. Take a passport only if you need a travel document for countries outside the EU.
📎 Official sources
- PMLP · The eID as a compulsory document →
- LV portāls · The eID card as compulsory →
- likumi.lv · Identity Documents Law →
❓ Frequently asked
From what age is the eID compulsory?
From the age of 15. The identity card is the compulsory identity document for all Latvian citizens and non-citizens who have reached that age.
Does a passport replace it?
It does not. The passport is now an optional identity or travel document. The compulsory document is the eID card — something a great many people still do not realise.
What happens when my passport expires?
You must obtain an eID card, not simply renew the passport. The passport remains an optional document, issued if you want one for travel outside the EU.
Why is the eID compulsory?
To ensure access to state and municipal electronic services. The eID is a state-guaranteed electronic identification tool, without which e-services are not fully available to you.
Are there exceptions?
There are. Transitional provisions give certain groups of people until 31 December 2030 to comply with the duty to obtain an identity card.
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