ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Non-citizens (Latvia)

Non-citizens in Latvia are people who are living in Latvia but are not considered citizens of the country. Just like when you go to a friend's house, you are a guest and you don’t live there all the time, non-citizens are guests in Latvia.

This happened because after Latvia got its independence, some people who lived there before were not automatically given citizenship. They could choose to apply for it, but some chose not to, and others were not allowed to apply. This means that they don’t have all the same rights as citizens, like the ability to vote or work for the government.

But they still get to live in Latvia and are protected by the laws of the country. They can also travel freely within the European Union. It's like being a guest in a house - you have to follow the rules of the house and you're not in charge, but you still get to be there and enjoy it.

Latvia is working on giving non-citizens the chance to become citizens if they want to. It’s like your friend making you a part of their family by adopting you. However, some non-citizens choose not to apply for citizenship because they might have stronger ties to their original country, or they don’t want to give up their current citizenship.

In summary, non-citizens in Latvia are people who live there but are not citizens. They are like guests in a house and have some restrictions, but they are still protected by the laws of Latvia and get to live there. Additionally, Latvia is working to help non-citizens become citizens if they would like to.