Facilities for Acquiring Citizenship in Latvia: Concession Made by Government on Intervention of Jew

Notwithstanding certain facilities recently granted in the matter of acquiring citizenship in Latvia, it has continued to be bound up with a great many difficulties, says the Yiddish daily “Frimorgen” here, because the authorities have been demanding that the applicants should produce a great number of documents and certificates, which could not be obtained except at a considerable outlay, which could not be obtained except at a considerable outlay, which many people could not afford. Applicants had to supply a certificate of good behaviour from the police authorities, another testifying that he belonged to the particular district in which he lived and another recording how long he was resident in Latvia. Older people, men and women alike, also had to produce the birth certificates of their parents, in many cases an impossibility. A medical certificate of health also had to be supplied, as well as a certificate from the tax inspector that he was not in arrears with his taxes.

It is established, the paper says, that thousands of Jews did not apply for citizenship because they did not have the money to pay for all these documents. The doctor’s certificate would cost 6 Lat, and the tax-inspector’s 10 Lat. Each document also had to have a stamp of 2 Lat in value. Poor people were thus prevented from acquiring citizenship.

Deputy M. Dubin, the leader of the Agudath Israel in Latvia, now informs us, the paper proceeds, that he has submitted a memorandum on this question to the Minister of the Interior, M. Petrevitz, pointing out that owing to the economic crisis in the country it has become impossible for people with out means to acquire citizenship.

It is understood, Deputy Dubin said, that certain documents should be demanded, in accordance with the law, but the regulations of the Ministry of the Interior have been requiring other documents in addition to those provided in the law, and these documents, such as the health certificate from a doctor, the certificate from the tax inspector, and the birth certificate, or the medical certificate stating the age of the applicants, men or women, over the age of 50, impose a heavy burden upon people with small means. Deputy Dubin, therefore, asked that the regulations should be changed, to make these last three documents unnecessary.

Deputy Dubin informs us, the paper states, that he has succeeded in prevailing on the Minister of the Interior to make these concessions, and under the new regulations applicants for Latvian citizenship will have to supply only a certificate of good conduct, a certificate showing that they belong to the particular area where they live, and a certificate showing how long they have been resident in Latvia. In addition, men under the age of 50 must supply a birth certificate or a doctor’s certificate giving their age. This is necessary for military service purposes. The new regulations provide that men and women over the age of 50 need no longer supply birth certificates or medical certificates giving their age, nor need they supply medical certificates giving their state of health. They need also no longer supply certificates from the tax inspector.

The new regulations, the paper says, will save a good deal of expense to applicants for Latvian citizenship, estimated at about 30 Lat per person, and in the case of a family at a very considerable sum.