Digital Government Factsheet 2019

Percentage of individuals using the Internet for interacting with public authorities in Latvia	Percentage of individuals using the Internet for obtaining information from public authorities in Latvia

Source: Eurostat Information Society Indicators	Source: Eurostat Information Society Indicators

Percentage of individuals using the Internet for downloading official forms from public authorities in Latvia	Percentage of individuals using the Internet for sending filled forms to public authorities in Latvia

Source: Eurostat Information Society Indicators	Source: Eurostat Information Society Indicators

Digital Government State of Play

The graph below is the result of the latest eGovernment Benchmark report, which monitors the development of eGovernment in Europe, based on specific indicators. These indicators are clustered within four main top-level benchmarks:

User Centricity – indicates to what extent (information about) a service is provided online and how this is perceived.
Transparency – indicates to what extent government are transparent regarding: i) their own responsibilities and performance, ii) the process of service delivery and iii) personal data involved.
Cross-Border Mobility – indicates to what extent EU citizens and businesses can use online services in another country.
Key Enablers – indicates the extent to which five technical pre-conditions are available online. There are: Identification (eID), Electronic documents (eDocuments), Authoritative Sources, and Digital Post. Digital Post refers to the possibility that governments communicate electronically-only with citizens or entrepreneurs through e.g. personal mailboxes or other digital mail solutions.

These top-level benchmarks are measured using a life-events (e.g. mystery shopping) approach. Eight life events are included in the overall eGovernment performance score. Four of these life events were measured in 2013, 2015 and 2017 and the other four were measured in 2012, 2014, 2016, and again in 2018. The life events measured in 2017 were Regular business operations, Moving, Owning and driving a car and Starting a small claims procedure. The life events measured in 2018 are Business start-up, Losing and finding a job, Family life and Studying.

Source: eGovernment Benchmark Report 2018 Country Factsheets

Digital Government Highlights

Digital Government Political Communications

In 2018, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs launched the Modernisation of the Natural Persons Data Service project for the European Regional Development Fund. Its objective is to develop the information system for the Register of Natural Persons, which will be based on the existing Population Register, and extending the population register to foreign nationals who enter into legal relations with the state.
In 2018, the National Blockchain Working group has been developed by the Ministry of Economics. A policy planning document was written to inform the Cabinet of Ministers about the perspectives and advantages that the blockchain technology can bring to the public and private sector.

Digital Government Legislation

The eID Decision on ‘Possible financing solutions for the provision of certification services in personal certificates (eID) and how a single and priority means for ensuring the electronic identity of a person’ was approved by Cabinet of Ministers on 28 August 2018 and submitted to Parliament for enactment on 1 January 2021. It endorsed the recommendation to make a personal certificate (eID) a mandatory personal identification document for all Latvians during the transitional period.
Through Article 29 of the Personal Data Protection Act, the Data State Inspectorate is in charge of determining violations and imposing penalties against those in violation of the Act.
Latvia has six laws and acts related to base registries, the population, civil, enterprise, land, and vehicle registries Laws.

Digital Government Governance

The legal successor to Kaspars Gerhards, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, is now Juris Pūce.

Digital Government Infrastructure

In 2018, the Latvia’s eIDAS-Node was implemented. This software is a sample implementation of the eIF eIDAS Profile. The software contains the necessary modules to help Member States to communicate with other eIDAS-compliant counterparts in a centralised or distributed fashion.
In 2017, the eIDAS solution was implemented for use by Latvia’s and EU eServices, in accordance with eIDAS regulations. The CEF eID Digital Service Infrastructure (DSI) allows citizens of one European country to use their national eIDs to securely access services provided in other European countries.

Digital Government Services for Citizens and Businesses

In 2018, Latvia implemented a mobile application, Ceļo droši (Travel Safe) which provides citizens with information to prepare for cross-border trips, warns of possible risks abroad and gives directions in the event of an emergency.
In addition, the country implemented a register for the safety of travellers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided an option for travellers to register their travel data so that the foreign service could offer assistance in case of emergency.

Digital Government Political Communications

Specific political communications on digital government

Information Society Development Guidelines

The Information Society Development Guidelines for 2014 - 2020 were elaborated to ensure continuity of existing policies and to determine the priorities in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the European Union Structural Funds Programming period for 2014 - 2020.

The goal of the Guidelines is to provide the opportunity for anyone to use ICT, to create a knowledge-based economy and to improve the overall quality of life by contributing to the national competitiveness and increasing economic growth and job creation.

Special attention in the Guidelines is devoted to the implementation of the open data principle in the public administration. This principle unleashes the growth potential of the digital economy, by making data and information resources created by the public administration easily available to society, thereby establishing a precondition for the spur of new innovative, data-driven business ideas, services, and products. The other cornerstone of the Guidelines is optimising operating processes in the public administration and increasing its efficiency as well as simplifying delivery of public services, by means of efficient and effective eServices and interoperable information systems. It is expected to have an indirect, but very clear positive impact on economic growth, since eGovernment will lead to reduced administrative burden and costs for entrepreneurs, streamlining their interactions with public administration, and allowing them to spare more resources for their entrepreneurship.

Considering the national priorities in the area of Information Society, and objectives of the European Digital Agenda, Guidelines define seven action lines.

The main priorities and action plans of the guidelines are presented below:

1. ICT education and eSkills.

Activities in the field of eSkills will focus on the areas that will facilitate small and medium sized enterprises as well as citizens' motivation for acquiring eSkills. Planned actions include: public information campaigns, development of eSkills for both citizens and entrepreneurs, increasing the ICT competences of public administration, fostering skills of ICT practitioners and professionals to be in line with the requirements of the labour market, as well as increasing focus on algorithmic thinking (the learning of the programmers’ way of thinking by studying mathematics and computer sciences) and information literacy in educational programmes.

2. Widely available access to the Internet.

3. Modern and efficient public administration.

The main benefits of this action will be reflected in the improved efficiency of the public administration (decision-making process, accuracy, conformity to the real situation, the possibility of involving wide public groups in policy planning, evaluation and reduction of administrative costs) as well as delivery of clear, timely and consistent information to citizens about their rights and services of the public administration. Actions will create opportunities for citizens to be widely involved in decision-making and law-making processes using modern technologies. Cooperation and synergies between public and private sector services has a significant administrative burden reduction potential.

Actions for the modernisation of the public administration will be focused on the modernisation of public administration processes, public eParticipation and eDemocracy and ICT infrastructure optimisation. One of the focal points for eGovernment infrastructure modernisation will be the establishment of central building blocks and integration infrastructure to be used by all institutions of public administration for the modernisation of public service delivery and for connecting national eGovernment infrastructure to cross-border platforms. Another focus is on open interfaces (API’s) allowing also for third party developers to develop end-user applications for government services and develop their own products and services using government data.

4. eServices and digital content for the public.

Digital content has an increasingly crucial role in the country’s economic and social development. Digital content plays a key role in research and education as well as in cultural and the public administration sector services. eGovernment solutions enable opportunities for institutions to offer the citizens more accessible and convenient public services, including education and health services, cultural and educational content, and create conditions for a better business environment and social processes.

A series of actions are planned within this stream of activity:

Opening public administration data and transaction services to other users;
Developing shared platform and re-usable software components and modules for providing public services;
Implementing an official electronic address for citizens and entrepreneurs;
Delivering and accepting automated electronic invoices;
Digitisation and accessibility of the cultural heritage and digitisation of public services;
Encouraging the use of Latvian language in the digital environment;
Efficient implementation of eHealth solutions for safe and patient-centred health care.

5. Cross-border cooperation for Digital Single Market.

6. ICT research and innovation.

Investments in innovation, research and development are crucial also for the companies whose products and provided services in the digital age are subject to even faster technological and process rate changes. Development of ICT research in computer science, information technology, electronics, telecommunications, communication studies as well as innovative support for companies developing new ICT products and technologies, support for development and establishment of new innovative companies. The development of technology transfer systems must be seen in connection with overall objectives of the Information Society.

7. Trust and security.

A secure and reliable electronic information space, where the continuity of essential services for the public administration and the public is ensured, is an essential component for the successful development of the Information Society. An important aspect for the development of Information Society is public trust in the electronic environment. ICT security, human safety and trust in electronic environment are areas where further action is planned.

The implementation of the Guidelines will build upon the technological potential and experience obtained from the previous period (2007 - 2013).

Implementation of the Guidelines is planned from the state budget as well as with attracting the EU Structural Funds and private funding. In the long-term, implementation of the Guidelines will facilitate effective and efficient use of budgetary resources for ICT, improving the efficiency of business processes, the quality and availability of the public services.

Concept of the organisational model of public ICT management

On 15 January 2013, the Cabinet of Ministers approved concept of the organisational model of public ICT management. The implementation of this model will frame public ICT strategies, principles and scenarios that will ensure strategic coordination of public ICT development and maintenance through partly centralised management: competence and responsibility in ICT management will be shared between the national and sector levels. This optimal ICT management model identifies the main parties involved: the public ICT organisation, sector ICT organisations, hybrid ICT organisations, public administration senior ICT managers forum, and sector ICT management councils. To achieve the aim of optimal ICT management, both public- and private-sector resources will be used, providing effective cooperation focusing on benefits for the public and the creation and maintenance of convenient and user-friendly eGovernment solutions.

Regular monthly meetings of public administration senior ICT managers have significantly improved cross-sectoral communication at ICT management level, providing one of the cornerstones for successful implementation of reuse and efficient collaboration principles defined in the Conceptual Architecture of Public Administration information Systems.

Key enablers

Access to public information

Third National Action Plan for Open Government Partnership

On 4 July 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the report for improving the public services environment. It included proposals for public service provision modernisations, to ensure the efficiency and comprehensive availability of public services including electronically. Within the Open Government Partnership the Third National Action Plan was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The improvement and implementation of various services in the internet environment, including the development of an open-source public data portal, a research and publication database, as well as a database of state-owned capital companies play a fundamental role in the plan. In addition, the plan foresees the development of a uniform portal for circulation of draft legal acts and a modern statistics portal, as well as reduce the administrative burden for entrepreneurs and residents through the website.

The plan envisages providing the public with transparent and easily comprehensible information about the state budget, showing the spending of taxpayers' money and the results to be achieved in an interactive way.

eID and Trust Services

No political communication was adopted in this field to date.

Security aspects related to digital government

The national Cyber Security Strategy 2014 - 2018 defined key areas of work, where education, governance of ICT resources, rule of law in the cyber space, crisis management and international cooperation are the top priorities. In order to achieve the main goals and aims, strong cooperation with the private sector was recognised as being crucial, therefore, strengthening of the partnership between private and public sector will be among the top priorities in the future as well. It was adopted on 17 February 2014.

Interconnection of base registries

Modernisation of the Natural Persons Data Service

In 2018, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs launched the realisation of project Modernisation of the Natural Persons Data Service No 2.2.1.1/17/I/006 of the European Regional Development Fund. The project has several objectives:

to ensure uniform and centralised registration and recording of foreigners in public administration;
to open Latvia’s electronic environment for foreigners, providing the possibility for foreigners to use e-services of public administration;
to facilitate the management and certification of personal status;
to ensure the availability of information on the status of the e-address to a natural person, i.e. ensuring integration with the e-address system and ensuring the inclusion of information in the Population Register information system on the official e-address account, as well as the development of the Population Register information system with a view to ensure the quality of information required for acquiring information for the 2021 population census programme, and carrying out annual population assessments to support the preparation, organisation and performance of the 2021 census.

One of the activities of the Project is the development of the information system for the Register of Natural Persons, which will be based on the existing Population Register, extending the population register to foreign nationals who enter into legal relations with the state. The development of the information system of the Register of Natural Persons shall take place in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the Register of Natural Persons.

eProcurement

No political communication was adopted in this field to date.

Domain-specific political communications

No political communication was adopted in this field to date.

Interoperability

Conceptual architecture of public administration information systems

On 10 March 2015, the Cabinet of Ministers approved conceptual architecture for public administration information systems. Conceptual architecture is developed in accordance with enterprise architecture modelling approach, covering processes (organisation), information (data), applications (systems) and technology (ICT infrastructure) aspects of public information systems. Conceptual architecture defines the long-term vision for the development of public administration and public services infrastructure, and consists of 40 recommendations, including references to more particular reusable platforms, services and reference models.

Emerging technologies

National Blockchain Working group

Blockchain hackathon

National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy

Improving opportunities for skills development;
Enhancing access to data;
Developing ethical and transparent guidelines, standards, principles, and values;
Developing standards for hardware and software that enable privacy, security, and trust;
Ensuring AI gets a prominent role in European discussions of the Digital Single Market;
Avoiding unnecessary regulations; and
Using the Nordic Council of Ministries to facilitate policy cooperation.

Digital Government Legislation

Specific legislation on digital government

Regulation for the public administration services portal

On 4 July 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a Regulation which governed public services and the implementation of the one-stop-shop principle. The Regulation determined the manager of the public administration services portal, his duties, and responsibilities, the duties and responsibilities of the institution, the procedure for the use and management of the public administration service portal, the procedure for the service catalogue and the information included therein.

This Regulation prescribed:

The public administration services portal (hereinafter – the portal); its use and management arrangements;
The duties and responsibilities for the portal keeper, as well as the national governing body (hereinafter – the Authority) duties and responsibilities; and
Procedures for exchange of information between portal manager and the Authority.

Several regulations were established on the procedures for updating information in the portal to improve availability and use of eServices.

Registration, quality control and procedures for the provision of public administration services

To improve the availability and use of eServices, several changes were made in three Regulations.

Cabinet Regulation No.399 on the registration, quality control and procedures for the provision of public administration services. This Regulation prescribed the registration of public administration services, quality control and procedures for the provision of public administration services.
Cabinet Regulation No.401 for State and Municipal Customer Service Centre types, range and procedures for the provision of public administration services. This Regulation prescribed the State Administration of the State and Municipal Customer Service Centre, the range, types and the procedures for the provision of public services.
Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No.402 of public administration services digitalisation. This Regulation prescribed the procedures of digitalisation of public services and to ensure availability of public services.

Key enablers

Access to public information

Law on State Information Systems

Adopted in May 2002 and with amendments up to 2014, this Law aimed at ensuring the availability and quality of information services provided by state and local government institutions in State Information Systems. The Law determined unified procedures, by which State Information Systems are created, registered, maintained, used, reorganised or closed. It regulated cooperation of the State Information System managers, determined the functions of the keeper of the State Information System and the rights and duties of the State Information System data subject. Finally, it regulated the security management of State Information System and specified the requirements for the protection of critical State Information Systems and State Information System management integrators.

Freedom of Information Law

The Freedom of Information Law, las amended on 12 June 2009, transposed the Directive on the re-use of Public Sector Information (2003/98/EC) into national law. According to the amendment, an application for the re-use of existing information at the disposal of an institution shall be drawn up in writing, in accordance with documentation requirements specified for the relevant information group. In addition, the application shall indicate that the information is requested for the purpose of re-use and the goods or services for which the requested information is necessary. The Law also stated that information re-use conditions shall not be imposed. Since 6 October 2015 new amendments to the Freedom of Information Law are in force. The amendments transpose the 2013 EU Directive on the re-use of Public Sector Information (2013/37/EU).

eID and Trust Services

eID Decision

Decision No. 60 §62 of the Cabinet of Ministers of 8 November 2016 approved the information report entitled ‘On possible financing solutions for the provision of certification services in personal certificates (eID) and how a single and priority means for ensuring the electronic identity of a person.’ It endorsed the recommendation in the report to make a personal certificate (eID) as a mandatory personal identification document for all for the population according to the transitional period, which will be indicated by changes to the relevant laws and regulations. It also supported the proposal that identity cards be signed, and authentication certificates activated at the time of issue, as well as an unlimited number of authenticating and signing times.

Natural Person Electronic Identification Law

The Natural Person Electronic Identification Law came into force on 8 December 2015. The law defined requirements for the identification process of natural persons by public institutions for public services in the electronic environment. The new regulation defined the duties and responsibilities for identification service providers, electronic public services providers and persons who are receiving public services.

Personal Identification Documents Law

The Personal Identification Documents Law was adopted in May 2002. It stated that identification documents shall be published in machine readable format where applicable. Moreover, in 2004, the Cabinet of Ministers adopted the Regulation ‘On the citizen’s identity cards, non-citizens identity cards, citizens’ passports, non-citizens passports and stateless persons’ travel documents’, which provided for the inclusion of electronic chips in future identity cards.

A new Personal Identification Documents Law was submitted to Parliament in June 2011. The law defines the eID card types (citizen, non-citizen, EU-citizen, third-country citizen residence permit and accredited persons eID). The eID card would contain biometric data and information in electronic form, which enables electronic verification of the holder's identity and creation of a secure electronic signature. As such, the eID card can serve as an identity and travel document within the EU, a personal identification tool for eServices, and a way to provide a secure electronic signature. The law came into force in January 2012. The eID cards have been issued since March 2012.

Security aspects related to digital government

Personal Data Protection Law (2000)

The National Personal Data Protection Law was adopted by Parliament on 21 June 2018; and became law on 5 July 2018. Its purpose was to create legal preconditions for setting up a system to protect personal data (hereinafter - the data) at the national level. It will do this by providing data to relevant institutions, as well as regulating the operation of data protection officers and the provisions for data processing and free movement of information.

Information Technologies Security Law (2011)

The Information Technologies Security Law came into force on 1 February 2011. It aimed to improve information technologies security by defining the key requirements for organisations to guarantee the security of essential electronic services. The law provided for the identification and protection of critical infrastructure, the establishment and organisation of an IT Security Incident Response Institution (national CERT), the determination of conduct in information technology security incidents, the setup of minimum security requirements for state and municipal institutions and the implementation of Directive 2009/140/EC by electronic communications service providers.

Interconnection of base registries

Population Register Law

The purpose of this Law is to prescribe how the unified system of population registration shall function – the Population Register (hereinafter – the Register) and how the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter – the Office) will be provided with the information to be included in the Register and how the information which is in the Register shall be used.

As of 1 July 2017, when legislative changes were made to the Population Register Law, a new personal identity number format was introduced which does not contain the date of birth. In this context, a new free eService called Conformity of Personal Identity Number to One Person was created. In 2018, the Current and Previous Personal Identity Number paid e-service was established. Individual personal identity numbers starting with the digits 32 were allocated to all persons whose information was included in the Population Register.

Civil Registration Law

According to the Civil Registration Law, the General Registry of the civil registry office is in charge of preparing, updating and renewing of marriage, birth or death registry entries. These are based on civil status act registration documents. Additional pieces of legislation are the Civil Status Registry Act and Regulations regarding State fees for acts of civil status registration State fee.

The Civil Registry does not provide any open data at the moment. However, other institutions can recover data from the registry via APIs. The Civil Registry is connected with the Enterprise Registry, the Social Information Systems, the Address Registry and Tax Registry, among others.

Enterprise Register Act

The Enterprise Register Act and the Enterprise Registry implement the registration of those entities as determined by law. This is done establish their legal status and ensure the public reliability of information laid down in national laws and regulations (regarding the entities to be registered and legal facts), as well as to ensure the accessibility of information provided by law and regulation. An amendment to the law, announced in April 2017, decided that the Enterprise Registry should no longer be tied to any specific geographical location, because it could be performed in any Enterprise Registry branch. The amendment improved and simplified the document circulation Enterprise Register, as well facilitate the formalities for public users.

Additionally, legislation pertaining to the Enterprise Registry can now be retrieved from the legal pages of the Enterprise Registry website.

Regulations on the Register of Enterprises, as well as documents submitted for registration state duty;
Rules on application forms for entries in the register of companies and registration certificates;
Rules for applications to make the records of the Register of Enterprises in the journal European cooperative societies;
Regulations on the Register of Enterprises of fee-based services (signature confirmation); and
Rules on the application forms for entries in the Commercial Register.

Land Registry Law

In alignment with the Land Registry Law of Latvia, the Land Registry is open to all, and its records have public credibility. The recording of real estate property rights is mandatory.

Law on Vehicle registration

The Law on Vehicle registration states that the Vehicle Registry contain the national inventory and ensure it is updated. State records include each vehicle, or the numerical identification records technical data and information about its owner, holder and possessor. Additional pieces of legislation are:

Road Traffic Law;
Road traffic regulations (effective from 01.01.2016.);
Violation of accounting rules for applying the points system; and
Latvian Administrative Violations Code.

eProcurement

Public Procurement Bill (2016)

On 21 June 2016, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Public Procurement Bill, which provided that electronic submission of tenders will be mandatory. This transition occurred in the period 18 April 2017 to 1 October 2018, when electronic submission of procurement procedures was successfully centralised. From 1 January 2019, electronic submission of tenders became mandatory for all public procurement submissions above EUR 10 000. Public procurement procedure eCertificates were established to provide access to reliable information, as regards both public and private suppliers, by using connections to 123 data bases or notification from State and local government institutions, to improve public procurement procedure.

Some changes were made in the eProcurement system Regulation in 2017. These changes consisted of specifying the participants in the application for registration and the administrator's initial authorisation forms. Indeed, this was done with the aim of simplifying procedures in order to reduce the administrative burden, facilitate the ability of Latvian entrepreneurs to participate in the foreign public procurement process and increase competition. For society and institutions, the legal framework was improved to ensure better information on procurement procedures, facilitate the procurement procedures and promote their transparency.

There was a gradual transition to the electronic submission of applications and tenders. With the latest amendments to the Public Procurement Law, from 1 July 2020, the electronic submission of procurement procedures (tenders and requests to participate) will in all cases be centralised. The contracting authority accepted an electronic invoice that complied with legislation on the applicable standards for electronic invoicing, and specification of use of its essential elements. If the public contract so provides, it includes additional essential elements in accordance with legislation. The Cabinet of Ministers determined the specifications of the applicable standards for electronic invoicing, use of their essential elements and dissemination procedures.

Law on Procurement for the Needs of Public Services Providers (2010)

The Law on Procurement for the Needs of Public Services Providers of August 2010 implemented Directive 2004/17/EC, regulating the use of electronic communication means in the public procurement process for the utility sector.

eInvoicing Legislation

The competent authority regarding eInvoicing is the State Regional Development Agency of the Republic of Latvia. At the moment, there is no legislation on electronic Invoicing. However, there is some mention of eInvoicing in the Law on Value Added Tax (VAT). VAT invoicing is regulated by Section 8 of the Law, which permits the use of electronic invoicing in Latvia if authenticity of origin is guaranteed by an electronic signature.

In Latvia, economic operators can submit their eInvoices to central authorities or municipalities through the central eGovernment platform, ePakalpojumi.lv. This platform is maintained by a third-party service provider ZZ Dats. Economic operators can also submit eInvoices through individual municipality websites. The authorisation and submission process are the same whether one uses the central eGovernment platform or the websites of municipalities.

Domain-specific legislation

eDemocracy Legislation

On 15 December 2015, the Cabinet of Ministers approved amendments to a Cabinet regulation that introduced the possibility of initiating official referendums on the dissolution of Parliament, or initiating a bill, by electronic means. From 1 March 2015, became possible to initiate a referendum by using other authentication means, including internet bank authentication (currently the most common mean of digital identification).

Law Rules of Procedure of the Saeima Article 131 provided that ‘at least 10 000 citizens of Latvia who shall have reached the age of 16 on the day of filing a submission have a right to file a collective submission with the Saeima’. The collective submission might be submitted electronically (‘a collective submission that is filed electronically shall be supplemented with technical information confirming the signing of the collective submission and ensuring the possibility to verify the number of signatories, their names, surnames and ID numbers’). In this way the social ePetition platform was deemed legally binding to Parliament.

Electronic Documents Law (2003)

The Electronic Documents Law came into force on 1 January 2003. The Law transposed the EU Directive on a Community framework for electronic signatures (1999/93/EC), and defined the legal status of electronic documents and digital signatures. According to the Law, electronic documents must be accepted by every public institution (state and municipal). In addition, citizens and businesses can request an electronic reply from the Public Administration.

Amendments of Electronic Document Law (EDL) (2015)

This legislation was intended to ensure the widest possible use of secure electronic signatures. Legislation extended the use of secure electronic signatures which excluded previous limits on their use (such as a private business or expedited family law). At the same time, the EDL regulation was applied where sectoral laws and regulations did not. If the normative act can be tolerated in an electronic form of use, then it must be applicable to the EDL.

This legislative act simplified the procedure for re-securing electronic signatures for receipt and clarified the information to be included in the qualified certificate.

Law on Information Society Services (2004)

The Law on Information Society Services, which transposes the EU Directive on certain legal aspects of information society services (2000/31/EC), with particular emphasis on electronic commerce, was approved by the Parliament on 4 November 2004. This Law governs the procedure for the provision of electronic services, the conditions to be respected by eService providers and their responsibility, and the requirements for the protection of consumer rights.

Electronic Address Act

The Official Electronic Address Act became law in March 2018 with the purpose of ensuring secure, efficient and high-quality electronic communications, while handling electronic documents between public entities and private individuals.

It stipulated that public institutions must use their official electronic address (eAddress) from 1 June 2018, at which time citizens became eligible to activate their own individual eAddress. Businesses can receive mail from the public authorities within the eAddress system from 2020, or voluntarily one year earlier. Latvia’s eAddress will allow citizens and businesses to correspond electronically with public authorities. eAddress will be the national electronic mailbox for messages and communications under the responsibility of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development and State Regional Development Agency. As one of the initiatives of digital communication in Latvia, eAddress aims for a transition to digital exchange from all public entities to legal persons and individuals.

Amongst other things, a core task of the solution is to make it possible for the authorities to deliver important information, possibly including sensitive data, securely and digitally to citizens and businesses.

Electronic Communications Law (2004)

The Electronic Communications Law entered into force on 1 December 2004. It aides to promote and regulate the provision of electronic communications services, transposing the EU regulatory framework for electronic communications. The law detailed forms of various electronic networks, including public and private electronic networks. In addition, it stipulated the duties and rights of providers, subscribers and users of electronic networks.

Interoperability

No legislation was adopted in this field to date.

Emerging technologies

Initial Coin Offering legislation

The Financial and Capital Market Commission is actively looking into Initial Coin Offering (ICO) legislation. Capital Market Commission published an explanation of the feasibility and applicable regulation of virtual assets and ICO.

Digital Government Governance

National

Policy

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development is the leading state regulatory authority for eGovernment and the information society.

Juris Pūce

Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

Contact details:

25 Peldu Street

Riga, LV-1494

Tel.: +371 67026400

Fax: +371 67820442

E-mail: juris.puce@varam.gov.lv

Source: http://www.varam.gov.lv

Electronic Government Department

Within the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the Electronic Government Department draws up national policies in the domains of eGovernment, information society development and public information systems development.

Three divisions under the Electronic Government Department deal with policy issues:

The State Information Systems Division drafts national policy on information systems development, including the national information system architecture and interoperability policies, the national information system maintenance and security policy, and in addition the policy on government information technology development and management.
The Information Society Policy Division drafts the information society development policy and participates in the elaboration of eGovernment and public information systems' development policies.
The State Information and Communications Technology Division focuses on technical aspects of government ICT development and management.

Foto_Belskis_2016

Edmunds Belskis

Deputy Secretary of State for information and communication technology issues

Contact details:

25 Peldu Street

Riga, LV-1494

Tel.: +371 67026535

Fax: +371 67820442

E-mail: edmunds.belskis@varam.gov.lv

Source: http://www.varam.gov.lv

Public Services Department

The Public Services Department deals with the planning of electronic services and electronic services infrastructure (Electronic Services Division) implementation, like the one-stop-shop-principle (One-Stop-Shop Division).

Coordination

Electronic Government Department

The Electronic Government Department coordinates the implementation of national policies in information society development, eGovernment and public information systems' development.

Public Services Department

The Public Services Department coordinates the implementation of the Public Administration electronic one-stop-shop principle and the implementation of eServices.

Implementation

Electronic Government Department

The Electronic Government Department implements national policies in information society development, eGovernment and public information systems development.

Public Services Department

The Public Services Department coordinates the implementation of electronic services and electronic services infrastructure (Electronic Services Division) and the implementation of the one-stop-shop-principle (One–Stop-Shop Division).

State Regional Development Agency (SRDA)

The SRDA operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. Its aim is to put into practice a well-balanced support policy for state development by implementing national and EU financial instruments that require research work, high-calibre eServices and IT infrastructure for regional development.

Central Government and bodies

The various ministries and subordinate institutions hold responsibility for the implementation of respective ICT projects.

Support

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development provides ongoing support for eGovernment-related activities to such bodies as the State Regional Development Agency (SRDA).

Base registry coordination

Ministry of Justice

The civil, enterprise and land registries belong to the Ministry of Justice and handle personal, businesses and lands data.

Ministry of Interior

The Vehicle registry belongs to the Ministry of Interior and handles vehicles data.

Audit

State Audit Office

The State Audit Office is the supreme audit institution of the country. Its mandate covers all public bodies at both national and local levels. It provides oversight on the financial statements of the ministries, central state institutions and local governments.

Data Protection

Data State Inspectorate

Subnational (federal, regional and local)

Policy

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development is responsible for the development of information society policy and eGovernment at regional and local levels.

Coordination

No responsible organisations were reported to date.

Implementation

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development is the central implementation body dedicated to eGovernment across regional and local levels.

Local and regional authorities hold responsibility for the implementation of their respective ICT projects.

Support

State Regional Development Agency (SRDA)

The SRDA provides development and maintenance for the Joint Information System for Municipalities (JISM), which offers technological support to municipalities in accessing their services electronically by creating compatible joint data accounting and exchange systems.

Base registry coordination

No responsible organisations were reported to date.

Audit

State Audit Office

The State Audit Office contributes to the financial governance and the accountability of funds at local level, as well as to fair and transparent decision-making processes in the public sector.

Data Protection

Data State Inspectorate

The Data State Inspectorate oversees personal data protection at local and regional levels.

Digital Government Infrastructure

Portals

State and local government services portal

In December 2016, the portal offered 125 eServices, 364 external eServices and 2 468 public service descriptions. One extra eService is available every year in July for applying to study via the ‘electronic application to undergraduate programmes.

The portal consists of three levels: information, consultation and eProcedures (from basic eDocuments sent by email to advance fully automated eServices).

An authentication certificate embedded in a qualified digital signature smart card or eID and six iBanking authentication tools are available as an authentication tool for access to eServices. The portal also provides the opportunity to carry out eServices payments.

In 2016, there were eight new eServices for citizens made available on the portal:

Complaints, applications and proposals for citizens’ social assistance and social services;
Application status of social services of receiving notice of the taken decisions;
Rows status of social services of receiving notice of the taken decisions;
Repeated issuance of the certificate for persons with disabilities;
Determination status and location of cargo;
Information about the status of nanny in the register;
Mandate to another eServices delivery;
Statistics on applications for undergraduate programmes.

National Open Data portal

Networks

No particular infrastructure in this field was reported to date.

Data Exchange

eHealth System

A new eHealth system is now operational. It ensures citizens had access to current and historical medical data of patients, so long as medical professionals entered patient information in the eHealth system, for example, extracts from hospitals, diagnoses, allergies, medicines and medical devices. In this way, doctors and pharmacists can quickly obtain reliable patient information. The system ensures that the patient follows their treatment as prescribed by their physician.

Health care institutions and pharmacies can access the system by using patient data information systems integrated with eHealth system.

In the eHealth system, health professionals can prescribe ePrescription and eSick leave certificates; view and add data in a patient's summary (diagnoses, allergies and administered medicines); create an eReferral to the specialist or diagnostic test; prepare medical documents during a consultation, examination or treatment; view medical documents prepared by other doctors; deny a patient's right to view certain medical data; fill-in the patient data in the Register for specific diagnoses. Pharmacists can issue prescribed medicine, as well as make their own statistical reports. Patients can access their medical information, grant or refuse access to their records and apply for a new European Health Card.

Court Information System (CIS)

The CIS is a database of legal proceedings aimed at automating the administrative cycle – data registration, processing, storage and availability - thus affecting the efficiency of the court process. It ensures electronic registration and reflection of administrative court, district court and regional (city) court bookkeeping and legal procedures, as well as court statistics record keeping.

Integrated State Information System (IVIS)

The IVIS is tasked with the unification and central management of the integration of platform-independent standardised data exchange between national registries and information systems. It provides a platform for sharing resources and for the public administration in using electronic services in the creation and delivery. Together with the state portal latvija.lv, it creates a single national electronic service delivery platform. One of the IVIS components is the public administration documents management system integration environment (DIV). DIV provides safe and secure environment between different record keeping systems of public administration.

Web-based document flow system (DAUKS)

DAUKS was launched in April 2007. This electronic processing and assignment control system has been in operation and in use since 1 September 2008. The objective is for national institutions to switch to a new, fully-automated electronic system permitting the standardised and automatic circulation of documents between the State Chancellery and the ministries. DAUKS allows the simple and secure transfer of data to other systems and offers an external XML-based interface which enables the exchange of documents between various local systems.

National information system for work with the European Union documents (ESVIS)

Electronic Declaration System (EDS)

EDS is a secure and handy way to submit tax- and informative declarations, reports, and other documents to the State Revenue Service (SRS) electronically, via internet.

Time saving - the possibility to submit tax reports electronically and in a quick and handy way;
Precision of data - reduced possibility of misspelling and calculation mistakes, because automatic checking of documents takes place; and
Data security - when submitting documents electronically, the data is fully protected.

EDS is a handy tool for every taxpayer. In total, with EDS it is possible to file more than 170 types of declarations, and within 11 months of 2015 there were more than 4,226,000 electronic documents filed via EDS.

From 1 June 2014, all taxpayers' salary tax booklets are available only in electronic form. Both the person and his or her employer have access to the salary tax booklet by using the State Revenue Services (hereinafter – SRS) Electronic Declaration System (hereinafter - EDS)^[1]. All paper format salary tax booklets issued until 1 June 2014 are no longer valid and cannot be used.

Employers, through SRS EDS, have access to information about their employees (those who have opted for the tax relief to be applied to the specific employer) and the applicable tax incentives that the employee confirmed.

In turn, the SRS electronically notifies the employer about changes regarding the incentives applicable to his/her employees by sending information to the email address specified in the section ‘Correspondence with SRS’.

All of the above-mentioned changes in the salary tax booklet can also be carried out by arriving in person to the SRS Customer Service Centre and submitting an application regarding the necessary changes in paper form to a SRS employee. In such cases, the SRS employee will complete the changes in the salary tax booklet and issue a listing in paper form regarding the made changes to the person.

eID and Trust Services

eIDAS-Node

CEF eID Digital Service Infrastructure (DSI)

Electronic Identity (eID) card

The concept for the introduction of a new national eID card was approved by the Government in 2010. A personal identification documents law, defining the eID card types is in force. The eID card contains biometric data and information in electronic form to enable electronic verification of the holder's identity and creation of a secure eSignature. As such, the eID card can serve both as an identity and travel document within the EU and as a personal identification tool for eServices, in addition to providing a secure electronic signature. The law came into force in January 2012. eID cards have been issued since March 2012.

eSignature portal

At the end of 2018, the LVRTC was registered as a qualified provider of this solution. Consequently, the verification of eIdentity with all eIdentity tools issued by the LVRTC — the mobile application eParaksts (eSignature) mobile, eID card, and the eParaksts (eSignature) card and eParaksts (eSignature) card + it is comparable to confirming the identity in-person by producing a personal identification document. The LVRTC has already applied for the launch of eIdentity tools at EU level. The process may take up to half a year, but once completed every user of eSignature will be able to receive eServices in other EU countries.

Electronic passport

eProcurement

Electronic procurement system (EPS)

eInvoicing

No particular infrastructure in this field was reported to date.

ePayment

No particular infrastructure in this field was reported to date.

Knowledge Management

National Database on Learning Opportunities

The National Database was created within the framework of the 'KIPNIS' project, which was co-financed by the European Social Fund and the Ministry of Education and Science and is integrated with the European Commission's portal PLOTEUS (Portal on Learning Opportunities Throughout the European Space).

State Integrated Library Information System (SILIS)

State Integrated Archival Information System (SIAIS)

The objective of SIAIS is to create the IT infrastructure for a state archival system and an integrated platform for receiving archive services. Furthermore, it seeks to ensure the safe long-term storage of state and municipal electronic documents and information, and the public availability of state archival information resources. The project is managed by the State Agency for Information Systems for Culture and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

National union catalogue of museum holdings (NUCMM)

NUCMM is an integrated software platform for storage and access of information on holdings of state, municipal and private museums. The project enhances the functionality of the catalogue; develops digitisation methodology; created 300 000 new records and will digitise 100 000 museum objects. It is managed by the Cultural Information Systems Centre and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

State Information Systems (SIS)

To ensure that state and local authorities offer functions and services to citizens, enforcement authorities create and maintain a variety of electronic databases or State Information Systems (SIS). SIS are a structured set of information technology and database (data/information, which is considered as one unit) aggregate. Individual SIS are an important information resource for the Public Administration.

Cross-border platforms

No particular infrastructure in this field was reported to date.

Base registries

Population Register

The Population Register is one of the most important national databases containing information on more than 3 million people. The register is set up as a single national population accounting system. It collects information about the name, surname, their change, place of residence, personal identification documents, etc. The information is used for statistical research, tax forecasting, calculation, organisation of elections and other nationally important processes.

Base register for pets

The unified register of domestic animals is maintained by the Agricultural Data Centre. It takes care of the registration of the animal, data on the owner of the animal, travel with the animal, and notification of other events regarding domestic animals.

State information system register (SISR)

The SISR was set up for the registration of State Information Systems (SIS), in which data on the national information systems - their use, technical resources and administrators - is stored. It supplies information to natural and legal entities on the data contained in the registers, as well as to system developers and organisations that integrate SIS. There are 173 registered SIS in the SISR.

Digital Government Services for Citizens

The information in this section presents an overview of the basic public services provided to the citizens. These were identified taking inspiration from Your Europe, a website which aims to help citizens do things in other European countries – avoiding unnecessary inconvenience and red tape in regard to moving, living, studying, working, shopping or simply travelling abroad. However, the categories used in this factsheet aim to collect a broader range of information, focusing therefore not only on cross-border services, but also on national services.

The groups of services for citizens are as follows:

Travel
Work and retirement
Vehicles
Residence formalities
Education and youth
Health
Family
Consumers

Travel

Passenger rights
Passport
Responsibility:	Central Government, Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA)
Website:	http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/
Description:	The OCMA issues identification and travel documents as well as entry visas in the country.
Security and Emergencies
Celo droši (Travel Safe)
Responsibility:	Ministry of Foreign Affair
Website:	https://www.mfa.gov.lv/konsulara-informacija/celo-drosi-2
Description:	The mobile application Ceļo droši (Travel Safe) provides citizens with information to successfully prepare for cross-border trips, warns about possible risks abroad and gives directions where to look for help in emergencies. The application contains travel advice (about necessary travel documents, safety issues, insurance, visas, etc), information on currents risks abroad (for more than 100 countries), reminders about important tasks in preparing for a trip, contact information of Latvian diplomatic missions and representatives abroad and information on assistance in emergency situations. The application also ensures a 24/7 option to contact the Latvian consular services in case of an emergency.
Traveller safety
Responsibility:	Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Website:	http://www.latvija.lv; https://mana.latvija.lv/kas-jazina-ja-celojot-velaties-nemt-lidzi-majdzivnieku/
Description:	The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ eService Consular Registry provides an option for travellers to register their travel data in order for the foreign service to be able to offer assistance in case of an emergency.

Work and retirement

Working abroad, finding a job abroad, retiring
Job search services by labour offices
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Employment Agency
Website:	http://www.nva.gov.lv/
Description:	The State Employment Agency’s online job market enables job seekers to add their CVs in a database, as well as to view vacancies submitted by employers. Employers can access the CV database, as well as register a vacancy and add relevant information.
Professional qualifications
Legal information system (incl. information on the regulated professions)
Responsibility:	Latvijas Vestnesis
Website:	http://likumi.lv/
Description:	Likumi.lv is a legislation website ensuring free access to systematised (consolidated) legislation.
Unemployment and Benefits
Eligible Expenses
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Revenue Service (VID)
Website:	https://eds.vid.gov.lv/login/
Description:	The State Revenue Service mobile application, ‘Eligible expenditure’, was established in 2016. The application is designed to facilitate and simplify the annual income declaration submission procedure for retrieving overpayment of personal income tax, medical treatment, education and other eligible expenses.
Unemployment benefits
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Social Insurance Agency
Website:	http://www.vsaa.lv/en/services/employees/unemployment-benefit
Description:	Information and application forms available for download.
Taxes
Income taxes: declaration, notification of assessment
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Revenue Service (VID)
Website:	https://www.vid.gov.lv/lv/node/57255
Description:	The Electronic Declaration System (EDS) enables taxpayers to submit tax returns, declarations and other documents electronically through the appropriate web forms or by transferring XML files with data prior to sending them to the State Revenue Service (VID). The authentication of users is provided by PIN codes or by means of an authentication certificate via a digital signature smart card. All necessary checks of declarations' data are performed and users are informed of the results online by email.
Platform for Public Administration Services
Responsibility:	State Social Insurance Agency
Website:	https://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	The website offers two eServices related to taxes, information about the paid allowances/pensions/reimbursements and deducted income tax (for income declaration), and information about the withhold income tax from the State Social Insurance Agency.

Vehicles

Cars
Web services for vehicle and driver management
Responsibility:	Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD)
Website:	https://www.csdd.lv/en/#
Description:	The Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) is creating special web services for citizens and businesses to simply and easy manage their vehicles, driving licenses, fines and other services related to vehicle and driver. The main benefit is that a user gets all the information and possibilities in one place online. CSDD uses innovative technologies such as push notifications, user-centric award-winning design, and the availability of online payments.
Driving licence
Driver’s licence
Responsibility:	Central Government, Road Traffic Safety Directorate
Website:	https://csdd.lv/
Description:	Enables users to register in order to book driving tests and receive information on driving licences and penalty points electronically.
Registration
Car registration (new, used, imported cars)
Responsibility:	Central Government, Road Traffic Safety Directorate
Website:	https://csdd.lv/
Description:	Online information on vehicles, in addition to a service fees and taxes billing system.

Residence formalities

Documents and formalities
Announcement of moving (change of address)
Responsibility:	Central Government, Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) and Local Government
Website:	http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/
Description:	A place of residence and/or a change of place of residence have to be declared within 30 days after arrival in Latvia, or 6 months after leaving Latvia. A specific form has to be completed using the eSignature or an i-bank authentication. This eService is available at the 'latvija.lv' portal. However, a declaration form can be downloaded (available at the OCMA website) and an electronically signed declaration form sent using the eSignature to the respective local government institution where the new place of residence is located.
Certificates (birth, marriage): request and delivery
Responsibility:	Central Government (Ministry of Justice) and Local Government, General Registry Offices
Website:	http://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	The providers of the service are local authorities, which supply information about the certificates as well as application forms for download and completion. The municipalities of Riga and Ventspils offer a repeat application eService for these certificates via the 'latvija.lv' portal.
Certificate of good conduct (criminal record certificate)
Responsibility:	State Regional Development Agency
Website:	https://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	The website provides information on the different types of certificates which can be requested. It allows the request of a certificate of good conduct or administrative penalties online.
Declaration to the police (e.g. in case of theft)
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Police
Website:	http://www.vp.gov.lv/; https://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	An eService is available via the state portal, which enables a user to electronically submit an application to the State Police and receive a reply regarding the applicable laws and regulations, using an eSignature. It also provides information on other police related services.
Housing (building and housing)
Responsibility:	State Regional Development Agency, State Land Service
Website:	https://www.latvija.lv/, https://www.kadastrs.lv/
Description:	The website provides compiled information on different services regarding records of land and buildings.
Passport
Responsibility:	Central Government, Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA)
Website:	http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/
Description:	The OCMA issues identification and travel documents as well as entry visas.
Waste
Responsibility:	Environment State Bureau
Website:	https://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	The website provides information on different services regarding activities such as environmental impact assessment and waste management.
Submission of a questionnaire for requesting a residence permit
Responsibility:	Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
Website:	https://epak2.pmlp.gov.lv/#/ResidencePermit
Description:	This online service provides the possibility to complete requests for residence permits through an electronic questionnaire.
Elections
Participation in Latvian elections
Responsibility:	Central Election Commission of Latvia
Website:	https://www.cvk.lv/
Description:	The website gives access to news regarding upcoming elections and links to dedicated election websites including for those voting abroad.
Voting from abroad online
Responsibility:	Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Website:	http://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	The Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers an e-service for citizens to register for voting via mail from abroad

Education and youth

School & University
Enrolment in higher education/university
Responsibility:	Central Government, Ministry of Education and Science, Universities
Website:	http://www.aip.lv/eng_info.htm; https://www.latvija.lv/en
Description:	The regulations of each university differ and information about the admissions procedures are available on university websites. latvija.lv offers a service to facilitate the electronic application to undergraduate programmes in ten universities.
Public libraries (availability of catalogues, search tools)
Responsibility:	Central Government, Ministry of Culture
Website:	https://www.lnb.lv/en/catalogues-and-databases/electronic-union-catalogue-libraries-national-importance (Union catalogue of state-level libraries) http://www.biblioteka.lv/ (Libraries of Latvia portal) http://www.kulturaskarte.lv/ (Culture Map) http://www.lndb.lv/ (National Digital Library of Latvia)
Description:	The catalogue of state-level libraries is a shared electronic catalogue, giving access to information about the holdings of the National Library and the major academic libraries. Libraries of Latvi' is the central access point to all state and municipal libraries. Culture Map is the central access point to all cultural institutions.
Student grants
Responsibility:	Central Government, Ministry of Education and Science
Website:	http://www.izm.gov.lv/en/
Description:	Every university in Latvia provides its own grant system. University students who meet the requirements can register for a grant using an online university system (www.luis.lv).
Researchers
Funding support
Responsibility:	Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA)
Website:	http://www.liaa.gov.lv/
Description:	Information on available funding opportunities and incentives for R&D.
Information and assistance to researchers
Responsibility:	EURAXESS Latvia
Website:	http://euraxess.lv/
Description:	EURAXESS Latvia provides information and assistance to mobile researchers – by means of the web portal and with the support of the national EURAXESS Service Centres. The portal contains practical information concerning professional and daily life, as well as information on job and funding opportunities.
Public libraries (availability of catalogues, search tools)
Responsibility:	Central Government, Ministry of Culture
Website:	https://www.lnb.lv/en/catalogues-and-databases/electronic-union-catalogue-libraries-national-importance (Union catalogue of state-level libraries) http://www.biblioteka.lv/ (Libraries of Latvia portal) http://www.kulturaskarte.lv/ (Culture Map) http://www.lndb.lv/ (National Digital Library of Latvia)
Description:	The catalogue of state-level libraries is a shared electronic catalogue, giving access to information about the holdings of the National Library and the major academic libraries. 'Libraries of Latvia' is the central access point to all state and municipal libraries. 'Culture Map' is the central access point to all cultural institutions.
Volunteering
Volunteering
Responsibility:	Latvia University
Website:	http://www.karjera.lu.lv/
Description:	The website provides a list with useful links for volunteering programs and projects.

Health

Healthcare
Passport
Responsibility:	National Health Service (NHS)
Website:	http://www.vmnvd.gov.lv/en/e-health; https://www.latvija.lv/en/PPK/Veseliba
Description:	The website provides information on different eHealth services, as well as development in the field. Patients can easily access care records using the state eServices portal (authenticated with ibank information, electronic signature). These eServices are: ’My state paid healthcare services’; ‘My general practitioner’; ‘My newborn children data’; ’My data within the diabetes mellitus patients' register’. There will soon be a significant number of new eServices in the field of health available on the portal www.latvija.lv, including: ‘My referrals to doctors’; ‘Information about visits and costs of medical treatment’; ‘Received consultations from family doctor per email and phone’; ‘My electronic recipes’;’ My visual diagnostic health data’; ‘My family doctor’.
Health related services (interactive advice on the availability of services in different hospitals; appointments for hospitals)
Responsibility:	Central Government, Ministry of Health and Health Payment Centre
Website:	http://www.vm.gov.lv/en/; http://www.vmnvd.gov.lv/en
Description:	Information on how and where to obtain treatment, patient fees, and detailed information including regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on healthcare in Latvia.
Medical treatment abroad
Medical costs (reimbursement or direct settlement)
Responsibility:	Central Government, Health Payment Centre
Website:	http://www.vmnvd.gov.lv/en/
Description:	Health insurance covers the costs of services provided to insured persons, the financing of certain medicines and products. Insurance is organised by the Health Payment Centre, which realises and implements state policy regarding availability of health care services, and moreover administers the state budgetary funds prescribed for healthcare. It is the competent institution for the reimbursement of costs for services to other EU institutions.
Getting prescription medicine abroad
ePrescription
Responsibility:	The National Health Service
Website:	http://www.itbaltic.com/e-health/e-prescription/
Description:	The Latvian e-Prescription Information System is a central hub that supports prescription of medication and related processes. This system is mandatory for all doctors and pharmacies from 2018, to ensure the easy and quick record and exchange of information between the patient and medical practitioners involved in their care. Health care service providers are ensured of quick access to necessary patient health data.
When living abroad
Healthcare abroad
Responsibility:	National Health Service (NHS)
Website:	http://www.vmnvd.gov.lv/
Description:	The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is used to claim health insurance entitlements while temporarily outside Latvia (e.g. while on holiday or on a business trip) in EU states, the countries of the EEA or Switzerland. The website gives information on how to request the EHIC, as well as which forms to complete for obtaining the card.

Family

Children and couples
Certificates (birth, marriage): request and delivery
Responsibility:	Central Government (Ministry of Justice) and Local Government, General Registry Offices
Website:	http://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	The providers of the service are local authorities, which supply information about the certificates as well as application forms for download and filling in. The municipalities of Riga and Ventspils offer a repeat application eService for these certificates via the 'latvija.lv' portal.
Registration of marriages
Responsibility:	Central Government (Ministry of Justice)
Website:	https://www.tm.gov.lv/files/l1_MjAxOC8zMC0wNS9JZXNuaWVndW1hX3ZlaWRsYXBhLmRvY3g/2018/30-05/Iesnieguma_veidlapa.docx
Description:	This digital application for registration of marriages can be used when a couple has decided to register for a marriage, they may submit an application together. It is no longer necessary to make in-person visits because applications can now be sent with a secure electronic signature (e-signature).
Child allowances
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Social Insurance Agency
Website:	http://www.vsaa.lv/en/services/parents
Description:	This website provides information about child allowances. It is possible to electronically fill in and send via email approved documents with a qualified digital signature.

Consumers

Shopping
Consumer protection
Responsibility:	Consumer Rights Protection Centre (CRPC)
Website:	http://www.ptac.gov.lv/en/content/consumer-protection-0
Description:	The portal offers comprehensive information on consumer protection. There is help and advice for consumers as well as useful links. It also provides information for entrepreneurs.
Unfair treatment
Consumer protection (cross-border)
Responsibility:	ECC - Net Latvia
Website:	http://www.ecclatvia.lv/index.php/en
Description:	The European Consumer Centre belongs to the European Consumer Centre Network-ECC Net, founded by the European Commission in 28 Member States in collaboration with National Governments. It aims at informing consumers on their rights and assisting them in their cross-border consumption issues, promoting and supporting out of court disputes resolution more quickly and at lower cost than the Court claim procedures.

Digital Government Services for Businesses

The information in this section presents an overview of the basic public services provided to the Businesses. These were identified taking inspiration from Your Europe, a website which aims to help citizens do things in other European countries – avoiding unnecessary inconvenience and red tape in regard to moving, living, studying, working, shopping or simply travelling abroad. However, the categories used in this factsheet aim to collect a broader range of information, focusing therefore not only on cross-border services, but also on national services.

The groups of services for businesses are as follows:

Running a business
Taxation
Selling in the EU
Human Resources
Product requirements
Financing and Funding
Dealing with Customers

Running a business

Intellectual property
Intellectual property rights
Responsibility:	Patent Office
Website:	https://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	The website offers multiple eServices relating to the protection of intellectual property.
Start-ups, Developing a business
Registration of a new company
Responsibility:	Central Government, Register of Enterprises
Website:	http://www.ur.gov.lv/
Description:	The website provides businesses with the possibility to follow the flow of documents. There is information and forms for download purposes. By using a digital signature, a business can submit documents if there is no requirement for a notarial certification. Application for registration as a VAT payer is submitted together with an application for registration in 'Register of Enterprises' as a single application, which automatically forwards this application to the State Revenue Service (SRS).
Submission of data to statistical offices
Responsibility:	Central Government, Central Statistical Bureau
Website:	http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/dati/key-indicators-30784.html; https://eParskats.csb.gov.lv
Description:	Forms of statistical reports are available and businesses can complete and submit statistical questionnaires electronically through the 'eQuestionnaire' system.

Taxation

Excise duties, VAT and business tax
VAT: declaration, notification
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Revenue Service
Website:	https://www.vid.gov.lv/lv/node/57255
Description:	The EDS enables taxpayers to submit declarations and statements electronically.
Corporate tax: declaration, notification
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Revenue Service
Website:	https://www.vid.gov.lv/lv/node/57255
Description:	The EDS enables taxpayers to submit tax returns online.
Customs declarations (eCustoms)
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Revenue Service
Website:	https://www.vid.gov.lv/lv/node/57255
Description:	The website provides information on the comprehensive information on eCustoms.
Taxpayer Rating System
Responsibility:	The State Revenue Service (SRS)
Website:	https://eds.vid.gov.lv/login/#
Description:	SRS made significant improvements in the Electronic Declaration System with the creation of a rating tool called the Taxpayer Rating System. It rates companies according to various criteria set by the SRS, providing a single result expressed in percentage terms. At the same time, entrepreneurs can view the measurement of individual indicators. SRS is a system that automatically calculates and repays all overpaid Value added tax (VAT) and Income tax returns (ITR). It does this by analysing data from huge volumes of e-submitted VAT and ITR documents.

Selling in the EU

Public contracts
Public procurement / eProcurement
Responsibility:	Central Government, Procurement Monitoring Bureau, Department of eServices of State Regional Development Agency
Website:	http://www.iub.gov.lv/; http://www.vraa.gov.lv/
Description:	The website of the Procurement Monitoring Bureau provides access to calls for tenders, supports online notification of tenders and limited interaction (online filling of forms). Furthermore, it is responsible for organising and managing the eProcurement system, which allows state and municipal authorities to purchase standard goods and services electronically.
Competition between businesses
Legislation website
Responsibility:	Latvijas Vestnesis
Website:	http://likumi.lv/
Description:	Likumi.lv is a legislation website ensuring free access to systematised (consolidated) legislation.

Human Resources

Employment contracts
Social contributions for employees
Responsibility:	Central Government, State Revenue Service
Website:	https://www.vid.gov.lv/lv/node/57255
Description:	The Electronic Declaration System (EDS) enables taxpayers to submit social contributions declarations online.
Posted workers
Employment opportunities outside the country
Responsibility:	State Employment Agency
Website:	http://www.nva.gov.lv/
Description:	The section is divided into information on working abroad in the European Union countries, part of the EURES project.
Social security and health
State Labour Inspectorate portal
Responsibility:	State Labour Inspectorate, Ministry of welfare
Website:	http://www.vdi.gov.lv/lv/; http://www.lm.gov.lv/text/400
Description:	The website of the Chief Labour Inspectorate contains all necessary information related to the occupational health and safety.

Product requirements

Chemicals (REACH)
REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals, EU Regulation no 1907/2006) Helpdesk
Responsibility:	Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre
Website:	http://www.meteo.lv/
Description:	The website offers ample information particularly for small and medium-scale enterprises.
Energy labels, Eco-design requirements, EU Ecolabel
Environment-related permits (incl. reporting)
Responsibility:	Central Government, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, State Environmental Administration, Environmental Boards
Website:	http://www.vvd.gov.lv/eng/; https://www.latvija.lv/
Description:	There is a standard procedure to obtain an environment-related permit concerning the start of a corporate activity. Regional Environmental Boards provide the possibility of an electronic intake with an official electronic form to start the relevant procedure. Information on the service is available via 'latvija.lv'.
Rural Support Services
Responsibility:	Central Government, Ministry of Agriculture.
Website:	http://www.lad.gov.lv/en/about-us/general-information/general-information/
Description:	This system involves a number of services in order to improve the maintenance of a common and wider system of information on Rural Support Services. The main goal of the information system, to be implemented, is to provide users with quick, traceable services and to foster cooperation between public authorities, farmers and rural entrepreneurs. Farmers submit necessary information for Europe area payments and to regulatory authorities to monitor applications.

Finance and funding

Getting funding
Subsidies and financing
Responsibility:	Ministry of Culture
Website:	http://www.km.gov.lv/lv/
Description:	Information on available EU and international funding opportunities.
Youth programmes
Responsibility:	Agency for International Programs for Youth
Website:	http://jaunatne.gov.lv/en/about-agency
Description:	The website provides detailed information on different programmes, both National and International, in which young people could participate.

Dealing with customers

No public services were reported in this domain to date.

The Digital Government Factsheets

The factsheets present an overview of the state and progress of Digital Government European countries.

The Digital Government Factsheets are prepared for the European Commission by Wavestone

An action supported by ISA²

ISA² is a EUR 131 million programme of the European Commission which develops digital solutions that enable interoperable cross-border and cross-sector public services, for the benefit of public administrations, businesses and citizens across the EU.

ISA² supports a wide range of activities and solutions, among which is the National Interoperability Framework Observatory (NIFO) action.
ISA² solutions can be used free of charge and are open source when related to IT.

Contact ISA²

From 1 June 2014 it is possible to log on the SRS Electronic Declaration System by using the authentication features (online banking user name and password) offered by the portal www.latvija.lv, eID card issued by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs or electronic signature card (eSignature) issued by the State Joint-Stock Company ‘Latvia State Radio and Television Centre’. ↑

Digital Government Factsheet 2019

Latvia

Table of Contents

Coordination

Base registry coordination

Travel

Running a business