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Latvian state language test: A2, B1 and other levels
Who needs the Latvian state language test, how to register, what it costs (€52), what the A2 and B1 tests involve, upcoming dates in Riga, Daugavpils, Rēzekne, Liepāja and Ventspils, and where to prepare for free. Official sources only: VIAA, PMLP, likumi.lv.
Accurate as of 10 November 2026. We update this page whenever VIAA or PMLP change their information.
Who needs the test
- Permanent residence: A2. The new Immigration Law (in force since 15 September 2026) keeps a single form of permanent residence: EU long-term resident status. It requires at least five years in Latvia on a temporary residence permit, Latvian at A2 or above and a completed course on Latvian culture and history. Applications to renew a temporary permit or for permanent residence must now be filed in Latvian only.
- Work: depends on the job. The level required (A1 to C2) for each group of professions is set out in Annex 1 of Cabinet Regulation No 157. In 2025 the most common candidates at B1 and B2 were doctors, nurses and teachers; at C1 and C2, teachers.
- Russian citizens. Under the 2022 and 2024 amendments to the Immigration Law, Russian citizens with permanent residence permits had to prove Latvian at A2 or above to obtain EU long-term resident status. Those who registered but failed could get a temporary permit of up to two years on condition that they pass (Saeima, 14 September 2023). In 2025, 2,379 Russian citizens sat the test under these amendments. The new law lets people whose application for EU long-term resident status is still pending keep living and working in Latvia. Check your own deadline with PMLP.
- From 31 December 2027: A1 for newcomers. Foreign nationals whose temporary permits add up to at least 18 months will have to complete an early integration programme: Latvian at A1 or above and a course on Latvian culture and history, at their own expense. Exemptions include people under 18 and those aged 75 and over. The Cabinet will set out the details.
- Citizenship: a separate PMLP test. Naturalisation candidates are tested by PMLP, not VIAA (see the questions below).
Upcoming test dates
| Date | Time | City | Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Nov | 11:00 | LiepājaLielā iela 14 | all (A1–C2) |
| 21 Nov | 10:00 | VentspilsInženieru iela 101 (Ventspils Augstskola, D korpuss) | all (A1–C2) |
| 23 Nov | 09:00 | RigaElijas iela 17, 5. stāvs | B1 |
| 25 Nov | 11:00 | RēzekneAtbrīvošanas aleja 121b | all (A1–C2) |
| 26 Nov | 09:00 | DaugavpilsSaules iela 38 | A2, B1, B2, C2 |
| 26 Nov | 12:00 | DaugavpilsSaules iela 38 | A1 |
| 30 Nov | 15:00 | RigaElijas iela 17, 5. stāvs | A1 |
| 2 Dec | 09:00 | RigaElijas iela 17, 5. stāvs | B1 |
| 2 Dec | 13:00 | RigaElijas iela 17, 5. stāvs | B2 |
| 7 Dec | 11:00 | RigaElijas iela 17, 5. stāvs | A2 |
| 15 Dec | 15:00 | RigaElijas iela 17, 5. stāvs | A1 |
| 16 Dec | 09:00 | RigaElijas iela 17, 5. stāvs | C1, C2 |
| 18 Dec | 11:00 | LiepājaLielā iela 14 | all (A1–C2) |
| 19 Dec | 10:00 | VentspilsInženieru iela 101 (Ventspils Augstskola, D korpuss) | all (A1–C2) |
| 21 Dec | 11:00 | RēzekneAtbrīvošanas aleja 121b | all (A1–C2) |
| 22 Dec | 09:00 | DaugavpilsSaules iela 38 | all (A1–C2) |
From the VIAA schedules. Confirm availability and times with VIAA. On 8 December VIAA holds an information day at Elijas iela 17 in Riga (book ahead on 67281232).
How to register: four steps
- Choose a city, date and level from the VIAA schedule (table above).
- Fill in the application form (PDF or DOC) on the VIAA website.
- Send it to vvpp@viaa.gov.lv with an e-signature, or by post to VIAA State Language Proficiency Testing Unit, room 711, Vaļņu iela 2, Riga, LV-1050.
- Pay the €52 state fee at least seven working days before the test (payee: Valsts kase, account LV63TREL1060150923000, reference “Nodeva par valsts valodas prasmes pārbaudi”).
If you cannot attend, tell VIAA. Without documents showing a valid reason (illness, for example) within a month, the fee is not refunded.
Test format: four parts
Listening and reading are done on a computer, writing on paper and speaking one-to-one, in person or by video link. You pass with at least 60% in every part, and the test is only marked if you sit all of them. A2: 4 × 15 points (9 needed in each). B1: 4 × 20 points (12 needed in each). Duration in minutes:
| Level | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking | Passed in 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | 20 | 20 | 20 | ~10 | 65% |
| A2 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 10–15 | 41% |
| B1 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 10–15 | 53% |
| B2 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 15–20 | 41% |
| C1 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 15–20 | 25% |
| C2 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 15–20 | 25% |
VIAA data: the test was sat 9,274 times in 2025, 5,952 of them at A2; another 2,130 registered candidates did not turn up.
Free ways to prepare
- VIAA sample papers 2026 — every level, with listening recordings and marking criteria; A2 (PDF), B1 (PDF).
- Laipa A1 / A2, e-Laipa (A1–B2) — self-study tools from the Latvian Language Agency (LVA); Sāksim runāt latviski! (Let’s start speaking Latvian!).
- LVA diagnostic tests — check your level (A1–C2) before you register.
- State-funded courses for Ukrainian civilians (A1–C1, via the stars.gov.lv platform). Autumn 2026 registration opened on 9 November and closed the same day because all places were taken.
- Free State Employment Agency (NVA) courses for workers — applications open on 16 November 2026 for employed and self-employed people aged 50 and over, with a disability or with insufficient education or skills (A1–C2, voucher-based). Participants then sit the VIAA test; NVA can refund the €52 fee.
- PMLP citizenship self-test — a free language and knowledge self-check for naturalisation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register for the Latvian language test (A2, B1)?
Pick a city and date from the VIAA schedule, fill in the application form on the VIAA website and send it to vvpp@viaa.gov.lv with an e-signature, or by post to Vaļņu iela 2, Riga, LV-1050, room 711. The €52 state fee must be paid at least seven working days before the test.
How much does the Latvian language test cost?
The state fee is €52 per attempt. It is waived for Latvian citizens and non-citizens, citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, people with low-income or needy status (with a certificate) and Ukrainian civilians. A paper copy of the decision sent by post costs extra.
What does the A2 Latvian test involve?
Four parts: listening (25 minutes) and reading (30 minutes) on a computer, writing on paper (35 minutes) and a one-to-one speaking test (10–15 minutes), in person or by video link. Bring a valid identity document and a blue or black pen; phones and smartwatches stay in your bag.
What score do I need to pass?
At least 60% in each of the four parts. At A2 each part is worth 15 points (you need 9), at B1 20 points (you need 12). The test is only marked if you sit every part.
When and where are the results published?
The decision is available on the seventh working day after the test on the latvija.gov.lv portal (the e-service for state language test results) or in your official e-address. A registered letter by post takes about two weeks.
What if I fail the test?
You can register for a later session and pay the fee again. A six-month wait applies only to people removed from the test for breaking the rules. You can also contest the result using the form on the VIAA website. In 2025, 41% of candidates passed at A2 and 53% at B1.
Who is exempt from the test?
People under 15 or aged 75 and over; those who completed basic, secondary or higher education in Latvian; those who finished a minority-language programme and passed the Grade 9 Latvian exam before 1 September 2025; and people with the health conditions listed in Annex 2 of Cabinet Regulation No 157 (with a doctor’s statement). Some people with functional limitations sit the test with adjustments.
Is it the same test for Latvian citizenship?
No. For naturalisation, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) tests Latvian and knowledge of the constitution, the anthem, history and culture after you apply. The basic fee is €28.46 (reduced €4.27). A failed language test can be retaken after three months at the earliest, up to three times per application; people aged 65 and over skip the written part.
Where can I find sample papers and free materials?
VIAA publishes 2026 sample papers and listening recordings for every level (A1–C2), plus online exercises. The Latvian Language Agency (LVA) offers the interactive Laipa A1 and A2 courses, e-Laipa (A1–B2) and diagnostic tests for every level.