On Tuesday, 19 October, the government approved amendments prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture to the Hunting Regulations and the regulations on the training and examination of hunters and hunt managers, in order to allow private individuals to receive these services electronically as well.
With the entry into force of the regulations, private individuals will be able to:
- apply for a hunting examination electronically, as well as pay the state fee via online banking,
- take the hunter or hunt manager examination electronically,
- forego the paper-format certificate of attendance for hunting training courses at an educational institution in order to submit it as a document to the State Forest Service (VMD). In the future, the educational institution itself will make an entry in the State Forest Register (MVR),
- purchase a seasonal hunter's card without receiving it in the form of a paper document, but by recording information about the state fee payment in the MVR. It is intended that only information regarding the issued seasonal card will be printable,
- purchase a permit for a foreign hunter to hunt in Latvia. The permit will no longer be a paper document – it will be replaced by an entry in the MVR, which will simultaneously confirm the payment of the state fee for the service provided. It is intended that only information regarding the issued permit for a foreign hunter to hunt in Latvia will be printable. The procedure for obtaining hunting documents remains essentially unchanged, but the opportunity to receive services in an electronic format is being provided.
Individuals will also retain the option to approach the VMD with applications in various ways – both verbally and in writing.