All foreigners entering Latvia must take out health insurance.

Insurance for entry to Latvia must meet the following requirements:

- Insurance coverage of at least €30,000.

- Coverage area - the entire EU and non-EU countries that are signatories to the Schengen Agreement.

Who needs a visa to Latvia?

Here is a list of countries whose citizens can enter the Republic of Latvia without a visa. The total period of stay in the country should not exceed 90 days within 180 days. This applies if you are traveling as a tourist, visiting family or friends, attending business meetings, cultural or sporting events. A longer stay is possible, but you must apply for a visa or residence permit.

Citizens of other countries need a Schengen visa to enter or cross the territory of Latvia. 

All tourists from outside the Schengen area must have biometric passports issued less than 10 years before the date of entry (check the "issue date") and valid for at least 6 months after the day you plan to leave (check the "expiration date"), as well as take out an insurance policy for the entire duration of your stay in the country.

If you do not have a biometric passport or if you are a citizen of a country that does not have visa-free entry to Latvia, you will need to obtain a short-stay Schengen visa.

The list of documents to be submitted with the visa application is available here.

How to apply for a Schengen visa to Latvia?

To apply for a Schengen visa to Latvia, you need to follow the following steps:

1. Fill out the application form online. Print the application form, sign it and attach it to the rest of the required documents.
2. Find a Latvian embassy or consulate. To apply for a Latvian visa, you must make an appointment in advance. You can make an appointment online or by contacting the embassy/consulate directly.
3. Gather all the necessary documents. 
4. Submit the documents to the embassy/consulate. On the appointed day, submit the documents and pay the visa fee. You may also be invited for an interview to review your visa application.
5. Wait for a response. The processing procedure will take about two weeks.

Schengen visa processing time for Latvia

The processing of documents for a Schengen visa to Latvia usually takes 14 to 15 days. In exceptional cases, the processing time may be longer, and you may have to wait up to 45 days for a response, for example, during the summer season due to the large number of visa applications.

What additional documents do I need to have to enter Latvia?

Business travelers:

• written confirmation of a meeting, conference, etc. from the organization or from the organizing company, 
• documents confirming business relations (copy), 
• invitations/tickets to seminars, exhibitions, fairs, 
• documents confirming the applicant's relationship/status with the company - a letter of guarantee.

Tourist or private travel:

• a document confirming the accommodation (hotel reservation, written confirmation from the person being visited), 
• travel package, 
• tickets or documents for a car (copy of the vehicle registration certificate and driver's license).