The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is launching a new project, which will continue the long-term practice of organizing regional training once a year for consular officials and clerks who process and examine visa applications in diplomatic and consular missions of Latvia abroad.
The aim of the training course is to improve the professional qualifications of officials in order to ensure a uniform practice of issuing Schengen visas in all diplomatic and consular missions of Latvia strictly applying the requirements of the Schengen acquis, to prevent the entry into Latvia of persons who could endanger national security or violate the rules of residence, while facilitating the receipt of visas by honest immigrants. As a result of the implementation of the project, national security will be promoted and the risks caused by illegal migration will be prevented.
The project No. MOFA/RPVP/2024/3 “Provision of regional training for consular officials of the Republic of Latvia on the EU uniform visa issuance policy in accordance with the requirements of the European Visa Code (Stage 1)” will be carried out from 01.04.2024 to 31.12.2026. It is planned that a total of 121 officials or clerks will be trained during the project.
In the past, training was co-financed by the European Union’s Internal Security Fund. In the new programming period, financing has been earmarked for this purpose from a European Union fund, Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy.
Funding allocated to the project is EUR 314 00, of which, contribution from the EU fund is EUR 235 500 and co-financing from the State budget – EUR 78 500. The project is being implemented in the 2021-2027 programming period of the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy. Its managing authority in Latvia is the Ministry of the Interior.
