In order to ensure the conditions necessary for the existence of a system for the guarding of the territory of the Republic of Latvia and the border guarding system, as well as the border surveillance of the territory adjoining the external land border, as well as according to regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers, there is determined a borderland, not wider than two kilometers, starting from the State border.
Persons from the age of 15 years, when staying in the borderland, needs a special permit issued by the State Border Guard, except cases when:
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the person who has declared his or her place of residence in the relevant county, county parish or city in which the borderland is determined, is staying in the borderland of this parish and the adjoining parish;
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the person is traveling by a State motorway which crosses the borderland; or
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an official (employee) of a State administrative institution or local government is fulfilling the duties of service (position) in the borderland and can present a service identification document if it is provided for in the regulatory enactments regulating the activities of the relevant institution.
The following special passes shall be issued to persons by the State Border Guard:
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permanent passes; or
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term passes.
A permanent pass shall be issued to a person owning immovable property in the borderland and who has not declared his or her place of residence in the relevant county, county parish or city in which the borderland has been determined.
A term pass shall be issued to a person wishing to stay in the borderland. The term pass shall be issued for the period of time for which it is necessary to stay in the borderland, but not longer than for one year.
An official of the State Border Guard who is entitled to take a decision regarding the issuance of a special pass is also entitled to refuse the issuance of a term pass in the following cases:
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a reinforced border control has been introduced in the relevant borderland;
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an emergency situation or exceptional circumstances have been proclaimed in the relevant borderland; or
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the person requesting a special pass, by an adjudication which has come into effect, has been found guilty of committing such a criminal offense, which is connected with human trafficking, terrorism, spying, illegal movement of persons across the State border, smuggling, narcotic or psychotropic substances, weapons, radioactive substances, as well as illegal crossing of the State border.
An official of the State Border Guard who is entitled to take a decision regarding the issuance of a special pass, shall cancel a term pass if the person to whom it has been issued, by an adjudication which has come into effect, has been found guilty of committing such a criminal offense, which is connected with human trafficking, terrorism, spying, illegal movement of persons across the State border, smuggling, narcotic or psychotropic substances, weapons, radioactive substances or illegal crossing of the State border.
The procedures for the issuance and cancellation of special passes and the sample forms of these passes shall be determined by the Cabinet.