VISAS AND INVITATIONS

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• Prior to entry into Latvia a visa shall be obtained at Latvian consular missions in foreign countries.
• In cases justified by the interests of Latvian state, force majeure or humanitarian considerations foreigners can apply for single-entry individual transit visas and short-term visas at the state border control points of the Republic of Latvia.
• Documents for extending the duration of stay (issuance of new visa) can be submitted at any regional office of the OCMA or, if in Riga, only at the Foreigners Service Center, at Alunana Street 1, Riga.

* The foreigner whose place of residence is far from the diplomatic or consular representative office (for instance, further than 100 km) or who resides in a country where is no diplomatic or consular representative office of the Republic of Latvia, may submit the documents or copies of the documents for a visa application to the diplomatic or consular representative office by post, electronically or with the mediation of an authorized person.
* If the documents have been submitted to the diplomatic or consular representative office by post or with the mediation of an authorized person, the officer evaluates the documents and, if it is necessary, during four working days after the receipt of the documents informs the foreigner or his or her authorized person on the necessity to submit an additional information or to arrive for an interview in person, establishing the date, from when the foreigner may arrive in the diplomatic or consular representative office.
* Prior to the submission of the documents to the diplomatic or consular representative office the foreigner shall have an invitation, the invitation is valid up to six months.

!!! Airport transit visas are issued only at the Republic of Latvia diplomatic or consular representative offices abroad !!!

Does a foreigner has rights to exercise economic activities in an employed capacity in cases a foreigner has received a visa or he/she does not need a visa to enter the Republic of Latvia?

Foreigners who enter the Republic of Latvia with or without visa are not allowed to exercise economic activities in an employed capacity. Foreigners can be employed only in cases that are stated in normative acts and if they have received a visa for employment and work permit.

Documents required for a visa application.

A letter of invitation for a visa application is not required in the following cases.

Procedure for having a letter of invitation approved.

Letter of invitation and related documents can be submitted at any regional office of the Office of Citizenship and Migration affairs or at the Foreigners Service Centre in Riga, Alunana Street 1.

Extension of the duration of stay- issuance of new visa