Travelling to Latvia

Latvia Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply

Start your application

It depends on your passport. Most nationalities need a tourist visa to visit Latvia for tourism, business, or family visits. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.

Latvia visa at a glance

Government fee
EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
Official processing
15-day up to 45 calendar days (embassy/consulate ETA)
Validity / stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Visa types
3

Do you need a visa for Latvia?

Some nationalities can enter Latvia visa-free for short stays under a bilateral agreement. Check the Latvia consulate visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.

Latvia visa types

Schengen short-stay tourist visa
Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Schengen business visa
Business meetings, conferences — Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Transit visa
Passing through Latvia to a third country — Per the transit rules

Who is eligible

Whether you need a visa for Latvia depends on your nationality:

Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.

Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa for tourism, business, or family visits.

Some visa-exempt nationalities can enter visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — confirm with the Latvia consulate.

What you need

Documents required for a Latvia visa

What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.

  • Valid passportSchengen short-stay tourist visa · 3+ months validity after planned exit from Schengen, 2+ blank pages, issued within last 10 years.
  • Completed and signed Schengen visa application formSchengen short-stay tourist visa · Completed and signed Schengen visa application form.
  • Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 3 months)Schengen short-stay tourist visa · Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 3 months).
  • Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservationSchengen short-stay tourist visa · not a purchased ticket).
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation)Schengen short-stay tourist visa · Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation).
  • Travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 for the Schengen areaSchengen short-stay tourist visa · Travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 for the Schengen area.
  • Proof of financial means (bank statements or employment letter)Schengen short-stay tourist visa · Proof of financial means (bank statements or employment letter).
  • Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
  • Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit windowTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country within the allowed transit window.
  • Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
  • Valid passportBusiness visa · 6+ months validity.
  • Business invitation letter from a registered entity in LatviaBusiness visa · Business invitation letter from a registered entity in Latvia.
  • Proof of employment or company registrationBusiness visa · Proof of employment or company registration.
  • Travel itinerary and accommodation detailsBusiness visa · Travel itinerary and accommodation details.

Latvia visa fees and processing time

Government fee
EUR 90 adult / EUR 45 child 6-12 — passed through at cost, no markup
Expedify processing fee
Shown before you start
Validity / stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Official processing
15-day up to 45 calendar days (embassy/consulate ETA)

Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.

How it works

How to apply for a Latvia visa

The official route, step by step.

  1. Confirm you need a visa

    Check the Latvia Schengen visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.

  2. Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Latvia for your country. Requirements differ by country

    use their list, not a generic one.

  3. Gather your documents

    see the checklist in Required documents for a Latvia visa above (passport, form, photo, itinerary, accommodation, insurance, proof of funds).

  4. Submit your application

    online where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee.

  5. Wait for processing

    the official ETA is 15 days, up to 45 calendar days. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.

  6. Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued

    Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.

Start your application
Two ways to do this

Applying yourself vs. with Expedify

The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.

Research

Apply yourself
Check Latvia's requirements yourself
With Expedify
We confirm what you need for your route

Document check

Apply yourself
Common errors cause refusals
With Expedify
Pre-reviewed before submission

Appointments

Apply yourself
You book and attend yourself
With Expedify
We prepare your application and guide you

Status tracking

Apply yourself
You check the embassy portal
With Expedify
We track and notify you at every step

Government fee

Apply yourself
Same
With Expedify
Same — passed through at cost, no markup

At the border: what to expect

A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Latvia is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.

Entry requirements

  • Valid passport with your Schengen visa or exemption stamp.
  • Return or onward travel ticket.
  • Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
  • Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.

Conditions of stay

  • Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
  • A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
  • No full-time study on a tourist visa.
  • Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Before you apply

Common reasons a Latvia visa is refused

Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.

  • Incomplete or inconsistent documentation

    documents that don't match your application form.

  • Insufficient financial means

    evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.

  • Unclear travel purpose

    an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.

  • Weak ties to your home country

    limited evidence you'll return after your stay.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Latvia visa questions, answered.

Keep exploring

More for your Latvia trip

How we reviewed this page

Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review

About this service

Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.