Latvia Visa Policy

The visa policy of Latvia dictates when and under which circumstances a traveler needs a visa in order to successfully enter the country.

These rules may differ depending on the nationality of passport the traveler is using, as well as the length and purpose of the intended stay.

At the moment all the countries inside the Schengen Area enjoy freedom of movement between member states, including Latvia. In order to cross Latvian borders, Schengen citizens are required to present a valid ID card at an immigration checkpoint, as a passport is not required.

All other visa-exempt nationals for Latvia, from outside the Schengen zone, must present a valid passport in order to gain access to Latvian borders for a stay not exceeding 90 days for tourism, business, or transit purposes.

Nevertheless, a new requirement will become mandatory for these visa-free citizens to travel to Latvia in 2024, when the ETIAS electronic travel authorization system is introduced for all Schengen countries.

Once the program is activated, all travelers with visa exemption will be required to pre-register for this electronic visa waiver through a simple online form.

All other foreign nationalities are required to obtain an embassy visa for Latvia (also known as a Latvian Schengen visa) in advance from a Latvian overseas diplomatic mission, no matter the duration or intended purpose of their visit.

To do so, it is usually necessary to make an appointment at a Latvian embassy or consulate well in advance of the intended dates of travel to Latvia, as it may take several weeks for the approved travel document to be processed and issued.

Lavtia does not currently impose any entry bans against any foreign citizen.

Check the information below for further explanations of all the types of visas available in order to travel to Latvia.