President announces amendments to the law on language skills for obtaining LIZ

President Raimonds Vējonis has announced amendments to the Law "On Land Privatization in Rural Areas", which were previously returned to the Saeima and later revised, which establish stricter requirements for knowledge of the state language for foreigners who buy agricultural land in Latvia.

Vējonis previously submitted the bill to the Saeima for a second reading, citing contradictory provisions. The parliament revised and re-adopted the bill on May 18.

The amendments to the law announced today in the official publication "Latvijas Vēstnesis" stipulate that foreigners will have to know the state language at least at level B level 2. In contrast, the version previously supported in the Saeima required both individuals and legal entities to know the Latvian language at least at level A level 1 and to present the future use of land in agriculture in the state language, as well as answer questions from the municipal commission.

The deputies have also clarified the requirements for presenting a land plan to municipal commissions. Previously, the parliament decided that this would apply to all transactions, but now municipal commissions will be able to request it only if necessary. The amendments stipulate that municipal commissions will be able to invite persons to present the future use of land in agricultural activities in the official language, if necessary.

The transitional provisions are intended to address other issues. They stipulate that a land purchase transaction deed concluded by October 31, 2014 and not registered in the Land Register by June 30, 2017, will have to be registered with the municipal commission by December 31, 2017. The transaction deed will be valid for entry in the Land Register if it is accompanied by a certificate from the municipal commission on the registration of the transaction in the municipality by December 31, 2017.

From 1 January 2018, a land purchase transaction deed that was concluded by 31 October 2014 and has not been registered in the Land Register or in the municipal commission by 31 December 2017 will be valid for entry in the Land Register if it is accompanied by a decision of the municipal commission on consent to the acquisition of agricultural land. The law is expected to enter into force on 1 July 2017.