Published: 06.10.2020.
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A visa is a sticker of a certain design affixed in a travel document. It shall certify that a person has requested an authorisation to enter and stay in the Republic of Latvia or in any Schengen Member State, or in several Schengen Member States or cross their territory in transit, and that the institution, which has issued the visa in accordance with the competence thereof, does not see any obstacle to the fact that the person enters and stays in the Republic of Latvia or in any Schengen Member State, or in several Schengen Member States during the period of time indicated in the visa and for the number of times indicated therein. However, visa does not, by itself, provide the right of entrance into the Republic of Latvia or any of Schengen Member States. 


More detailed information about visa types.

Who needs a visa?

List of countries citizens of which may enter the Republic of Latvia without a visa.

What are the regulations for a visa application for family members of citizens of a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area, or Switzerland?

What visa facilitations are applied for citizens of the Russian Federation?


What visa facilitations are applied for citizens of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, North Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and  Ukraine?

An airport transit visa is necessary for citizens (nationals) of certain countries if they possess a travel document issued by their respective countries.

Where can a visa be obtained?

Services as applying for a visa or visa extension are available by submitting documents by post.

  • Prior to entry into Latvia a visa shall be obtained at Latvian consular missions in foreign countries or at the consulates of other Schengen Member States which is competent to process Schengen visa application for travelling to Latvia.
  • 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 division of the OCMA or, if in Riga, only at the Riga 1st Division.

!!! 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.

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.

Extension of the period of validity and/or the duration of stay of an issued visa

The authority competent to extend a Schengen visa and to extend the duration of stay of a D-type visa is the OCMA – a visa holder shall submit all documents at the regional offices of the OCMA or, if in Riga, only at the Riga 1st Division.

  • Extension of the Schengen C type visa:

-   A visa shall be extended where the competent authority considers that a visa holder has provided proof of force majeure or humanitarian reasons preventing him from leaving the territory of Latvia (and other Schengen Member States) before the expiry of the period of validity of the visa. Such an extension shall be granted free of charge.

-   A visa may be extended if the visa holder provides proof of serious personal reasons justifying the extension. For such an extension a fee of EUR 30 shall be charged.

!!! Generally, the extension of a C visa should not result in a total stay going beyond 90 days in a 180 days period.

  • Extension of the national D type visa (Long-stay visa):

-   The duration of stay for foreigner who legally stays in Latvia D visa can be extended only in the cases if a foreigner submits documents proving that the reception of new visa is:

  • in accordance with international laws;
  • in accordance with the state interests of Latvia;
  • is justified by force majeure;
  • is justified by humanitarian considerations.

Documents required for a visa application.

The decision on visa extension/issuance of new visa is made upon evaluating the current situation as verified by the documents presented.

A foreigner submits the required documents no later than three working days before the expiry of the previous visa.