Latvia (LV)
Latvia is a parliamentary republic and EU member state on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus.
Learning the Language in Latvia
Courses, certifications, funding, and online resources to reach fluency.
Latvian (latviešu valoda) is the sole official language of Latvia — one of only two surviving Baltic languages (along with Lithuanian), belonging to the Indo-European language family. Latvian is unlike its Slavic or Germanic neighbours and has no close relatives among major world languages, making it genuinely challenging for most adult learners. However, learning Latvian is both culturally enriching and practically beneficial — it is required for citizenship (B2 level), for many professional roles in Latvia, and it opens doors to deeper cultural integration. Latvian language instruction is increasingly emphasised as part of national integration policy. Note: Russian is widely spoken in Latvia (approximately 25% native Russian speakers) — learning Russian is also practically useful in Riga, but learning Latvian is the key to long-term integration and citizenship.
Latviešu valodas kursi migrantiem (Latvian Language Courses for Migrants)
Third-country nationals (non-EU) with residence in Latvia; EU citizens in some programmes. Often organised through NVA for unemployed persons.
Free for unemployed persons registered at NVA. Subsidised courses available through integration programmes. Full-cost commercial courses for employed persons.
Typical integration course: 80–120 hours. Covers levels A1–A2 or A2–B1.
Basic communicative competence (A2) for daily life; B1 useful for employment. Certificate from course provider.
Register through NVA if unemployed (nva.gov.lv). For other courses: contact Latviešu valodas aģentūra (lva.gov.lv) or directly with language schools in Riga.
Valsts atbalstītie latviešu valodas kursi (State-supported Latvian Language Courses)
Latvia's government, through the Latvian Language Agency (Latviešu valodas aģentūra — LVA) and the Society Integration Foundation (Sabiedrības integrācijas fonds), funds language courses specifically targeting integration of immigrants and non-Latvian-speaking residents. These are particularly targeted at long-term residents seeking to improve their civic integration.
Persons with permanent residence in Latvia or temporary residence permit. Priority for those seeking employment or citizenship. Some programmes specifically for Russian-speaking communities.
Free or heavily subsidised (€0–50 for full course)
Apply through lva.gov.lv (Latvian Language Agency) or through the Society Integration Foundation (sif.gov.lv). Online and in-person courses available.
Language Levels — What Each Means
Basic Latvian: greetings, simple phrases, numbers, survival vocabulary. "Labdien!" "Paldies!" "Es nesaprotu." Can follow very simple conversations.
Required for: No official requirement but helps in daily life. Makes a positive impression on Latvians.
Elementary Latvian: can handle everyday transactions (shopping, using transport), understands simple written signs, can talk about family and immediate environment.
Required for: Some entry-level civil servant and public sector positions. Shows meaningful integration effort.
Intermediate Latvian: can hold a conversation on familiar topics, understands main points of clear speech, can write simple connected text. Adequate for most daily and professional interactions.
Required for: Non-EU permanent residence permit (minimum level). Many professional qualification recognitions.
Upper-intermediate Latvian: can understand complex texts, express ideas fluently on a range of topics, can interact with a degree of spontaneity with native speakers.
Required for: Latvian citizenship by naturalisation (mandatory). Senior civil servant and public sector roles. Healthcare professionals. Teachers.
Advanced Latvian: fluent and effective use in complex situations. Near-native professional fluency.
Required for: Senior public sector roles. Some academic and legal positions.
Mastery. Near-native Latvian proficiency in all four skills.
Required for: Translation, interpretation, academic publishing and top-level professional roles in Latvian.
Courses & Community Learning
Riga Language Exchange meetups
FreeRegular language exchange events where learners of Latvian can practise with native speakers while helping them learn your language. Very useful for conversational practice.
Language tandem apps (Tandem, HelloTalk)
Free (basic)Find Latvian speakers for mutual language exchange. Excellent for conversational practice from home.
Latvian cultural organisations
Free to €30/month membershipLatvian folk dance groups (deju kopas), choirs (kori), and cultural societies welcome language learners. Immersive cultural participation accelerates language acquisition.
Evening courses at Riga language schools
€150–400 per moduleMost Riga language schools offer evening Latvian courses for working adults. Schools: Biznesa augstskola Turība, Riga language school, various private providers.
www.lva.gov.lv ↗Official Certifications
| Certificate | Provider | Levels | When Needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latvian Language Proficiency Exam (Latviešu valodas prasmes pārbaude) | Latvian Language Agency (LVA) / VISC (National Centre for Education) | A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 | B1 for permanent residence permit (non-EU); B2 for Latvian citizenship (naturalisation); various levels for professional qualifications in healthcare, education, and public sector | Approximately €28–56 per exam level |
| Latvian language state exam for citizenship | Naturalisation Board — conducted by VISC | B2 (required for naturalisation) | Mandatory for applying for Latvian citizenship by naturalisation | €28 exam fee |
| Latvian language test for public sector employment | Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre — VVC) | A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 — required level depends on specific role | Required for civil servants, teachers, healthcare workers, and all public sector employees | €25–50 depending on level |
Online Resources
eMācies.lv
PaidLatvian online learning platform with structured Latvian language courses for beginners and intermediate learners. Includes grammar, vocabulary, and listening exercises.
www.emacies.lv ↗Latviešu valoda.lv
FreeOfficial Latvian Language Agency portal with free Latvian language learning resources, grammar guides, and exercises.
www.latviesuvalodaresursi.lv ↗Mācies latviski (Learn Latvian)
FreeFree online Latvian learning course developed by the University of Latvia. Covers beginners through intermediate levels with audio and written exercises.
Duolingo
FreeDuolingo does not currently offer Latvian. This is a gap in major language platforms — use dedicated Latvian resources instead.
Clozemaster
FreeIncludes Latvian vocabulary in context — useful for intermediate learners wanting to expand vocabulary.
YouTube — Latvian language channels
FreeVarious Latvian teachers and native speakers have YouTube channels for learning Latvian. Search "latviešu valoda ārzemniekiem" (Latvian for foreigners).
LTV (Latvian public television) content
FreeWatching Latvian TV (ltv.lsm.lv) with subtitles is excellent for developing listening comprehension.
www.ltv.lsm.lv ↗Funding Your Language Courses
State-funded Latvian language courses are available through the NVA (for unemployed), LVA (Latvian Language Agency), and the Society Integration Foundation (SIF). EU integration funds partly finance language training for immigrants. Many municipalities offer subsidised or free courses for local residents. Employees may request language course funding from their employer, especially if Latvian language is needed for the role.
Practical Tips
-
Latvian is a highly synthetic language with a complex inflection system (7 grammatical cases) — focus first on mastering the noun and verb systems.
-
Latvian spelling is very phonetic — once you know the alphabet (33 letters, with diacritical marks: ā, č, ē, ģ, ī, ķ, ļ, ņ, š, ū, ž), reading aloud is predictable.
-
Start with present-tense verbs and the nominative/accusative cases — these cover the majority of everyday communication.
-
Immerse yourself: radio on Latvian Radio 1 (lr1.lv), listen to Latvian pop music (Raimonds Pauls compositions, modern Latvian bands), and watch LTV Latvian TV news.
-
Name days (vārda dienas): learning a few Latvian names and their corresponding calendar days earns immediate goodwill with Latvian colleagues.
-
Practice with Latvian colleagues — most Latvians are encouraging and patient with foreigners attempting their language.
-
Russian-language fluency will help you in Riga for practical purposes but will NOT help you learn Latvian — they are entirely different language families (Baltic vs. Slavic).
-
Find a language exchange partner through social groups or online — regular conversation practice is the fastest path to fluency.
Language Learning
Unlock the complete Language Learning guide for Latvia — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.
Become a SupporterSupport the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere