Education in Latvia (izglītība)

The Ministry of Education and Science (IZM) sets the rules, while municipalities run most kindergartens and schools. Pre-school, basic and secondary education in state and municipal institutions is paid from public budgets, so there is no tuition. Under the Education Law, teaching in state and municipal schools and universities is in Latvian, the state language, with exceptions such as programmes under international agreements. Your declared place of residence decides which municipality must give your child a place.

Pre-school and compulsory schooling

• Kindergarten (pirmsskola): municipalities must give equal access to pre-school from age 1½. If your municipality has no place for a child whose residence is declared there and the child goes to a private kindergarten, the municipality pays the private provider an amount equal to its own average cost per child. Register early: queues and rules are set by each municipality.
• Compulsory education: pre-school preparation is compulsory from age 5. Basic education (pamatizglītība) starts in the calendar year the child turns 7 (one year earlier at the parents' wish, or one year later on a family doctor's opinion). It lasts 9 years and is compulsory until it is completed or the child turns 18.
• Public basic schools may not charge tuition. Lunch for pupils in grades 1–4 is paid by the state and the municipality.

Secondary and higher education

• After basic education, pupils continue at a general secondary school (vidusskola, ģimnāzija) or a vocational school, free of charge in public institutions.
• Universities and colleges: the state funds a set number of state-funded study places (budžeta vietas), allocated by competition. On other places, each institution sets its own fee. Latvian citizens, Latvian non-citizens, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and holders of an EU long-term resident permit study on equal terms. Other foreigners usually pay under a contract with the institution.
• Students on state-funded places can compete for scholarships. Full-time students under 25 can receive a social scholarship if they meet the Cabinet's criteria.

Study loans (studiju un studējošā kredīts)

Loans are granted by banks with a guarantee from the state development institution Altum, so no guarantor is needed (rules in force in 2026):

• Study loan: up to the tuition fee. The state pays the interest during your studies and for 11 months after graduation. After that you pay at most 5% a year; the state covers any higher rate.
• Student loan: for living costs, up to €350 a month.
• Repayment starts in the 12th month after you graduate (the 3rd month if you leave without a diploma).
• For Latvian citizens and non-citizens, 30% of the unpaid student loan is cancelled for each child born or adopted, for both parents if both are borrowers.

Common pitfalls for newcomers

• Declare your residence before applying for a kindergarten place. The municipality's duty is linked to the declared address.
• Teaching is in Latvian. Ask the school about language support before the school year starts.
• Get your foreign diploma assessed by the Academic Information Centre (AIC) before you apply to a university or for a regulated job.
• Only students who study on equal terms (citizens, non-citizens, EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, EU long-term residents) can get the state-guaranteed loans.

Official guidance: Education Law, General Education Law, Law on Higher Education Institutions, IZM: study loans, VIAA: loans for studies in Latvia, Cabinet Regulation No. 231 on study loans