Before traveling to Latvia, citizens of the Russian Federation need to resolve the issue of obtaining an entry permit in advance. The package of documents and the period for which a visa to Latvia is issued to Russian citizens and residents of the CIS countries directly depends on the purpose of the trip. In some cases, additional papers may be required.
What does a visa to Latvia give
Latvian visa is an official document issued by the government of the country and giving the right to stay on its territory.
An entry permit is required for foreigners who do not have Latvian citizenship, residence permit or permanent residence. With a request to make a Latvian visa, you should contact the consular department of the country's official missions at the place of your stay.
From December 21, 2007, a Schengen visa is required to enter the country. A permit to enter the Schengen area can be issued by any member state of the agreement. In this case, it is recommended to follow the rules of the country of first entry and the main country of stay. Otherwise, in the future, you may be denied a visa by sending it to the consulate of Latvia for an appointment.
Any adult and capable foreign citizen or his legal representative can apply for a Latvian visa. For children and incapacitated citizens, the application is drawn up by their legal representatives.
A sticker is applied to the applicant's passport and a stamp is affixed, which indicates:
- type of visa;
- date of application submission;
- the code of the state to which the Schengen visa was issued.
Types of visas to the Republic of Latvia
Permits for crossing the Latvian border are divided into three main types.
| Category | Peculiarities | When issued |
|---|---|---|
| A | transit Schengen | For the purpose of crossing the international transit zone at the airport of a Schengen country (for some countries). |
| WITH | short-term Schengen. | Stay in the Schengen area for 90 days in 180 days. |
| D | To obtain a long-term visa or residence permit in Latvia. | Permitted length of stay exceeds 90 days in a 180-day period. |
| Visas with limited territorial validity category A or C | Issued for transit or short-term stays if there is a ban on entry to one or more Schengen states. | For the purpose of staying no more than 90 days in 180 days. |
Any type of authorization document, be it a transit visa through Latvia or a residence permit, is issued by the Latvian consular service.
Where to apply for a visa to Latvia
In 2021, there are several ways to apply for a Schengen visa for citizens of the Russian Federation for the purpose of entering Latvia:
- in the Latvian representative office;
- representation of Hungary in the Russian Federation;
- at the official visa agency (convenient for those who are looking for where to apply for a visa to Latvia in the region of residence).
There are several official representations of the Republic of Latvia on the territory of the Russian Federation. Those wishing to apply for a visa can apply directly to the Consulate General by appointment, phone number for appointment: +7 812 44 937 70. Registration is carried out by the visa center.
If it is not possible to approach the Latvian representation for submission of documents, it remains possible to do so through the Pony Express visa agency.
Contacts and addresses of organizations for obtaining a visa to Latvia
Citizens of the Russian Federation can apply for a permit to enter Latvia at the following addresses.
Departments of the Consular Service of Latvia in the Russian Federation:
| Representation | Contacts |
|---|---|
| Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Moscow | st. Chaplygin, building 3, 115127 metro stations "Turgenevskaya", "Chistye Prudy" and "Sretensky Boulevard". +7 (495) 232 97 60 +7 (495) 232 97 43 (consular section) Fax: +7 (495) 232 97 50 +7 (495) 232 97 40 (consular section) [email protected] (embassy) [email protected] (consular section) https://www.mfa.gov.lv/ru/moscow |
| Consulate General of Latvia in St. Petersburg | Vasilievsky island, 10 line, house 11 www.mfa.gov.lv/ru/stpetersburg 8 (812) 336-34-54 8 (812) 336-34-53 8 (812) 775-24-25 - making an appointment (submission of documents for a visa). 8 (812) 336-34-54 - make an appointment for other issues. Reception of documents: Mon-Fri from 09.00 to 12.00 Issuance of passports: Mon-Fri from 14.00 to 15.00 |
| Consulate of Latvia in Kaliningrad | st. F. Engels, house 52a. [email protected] 7-401-256-55-01 |
| Consulate of Latvia in Pskov | st. Narodnaya, house 25. mfa.gov.lv/ru/pskov 7-811-272-53-90 [email protected] |
| Pony Express Visa Application Center | Point in Moscow: Nizhniy Susalny per., Building 5, building 19, (Kurskaya metro station). Office in Kaliningrad: Victory Square, building 10, office 412 Representative office in Kazan: st. Kurashova, 20. Schedule of documents acceptance: Mon. - Fri. 09:00 - 17:30. Website: http://www.pony-visa.com |
To use the Pony Express visa service at your place of residence, select the nearest office of the company on its official website. You can read your feedback on the work of the Visa Application Center here.
List of documents for a visa to Latvia
The final list of documents for issuing a Schengen visa to Latvia depends on the identity of the applicant and the specific purpose of the trip. The data presented in them must be reliable and up-to-date, the originals and notarized copies / translations must be valid.
The main list of documents for a Latvian visa includes:
- foreign passport (issued no later than 10 years ago, validity period + 3 months from the date of the end of the trip, with at least 2 free pages);
- health insurance valid in the Schengen countries with a minimum coverage of € 30,000;
- completed visa application form;
- a receipt for payment of the consular fee;
- Photo;
- documents confirming the purpose of the trip;
- information about the place of residence in Latvia (hotel reservation, rental agreement, sponsor's letter);
- confirmation of financial security (bank statement, sponsorship letter, income statement).
In 2021, the following basic requirements for a photo for a visa to Latvia are put forward:
- 2 color photos (45 x 35 mm ± 1 mm), without a white corner;
- glossy or matte photo paper;
- head position: front, distance between the pupils of the eyes 6 ± 3 mm, distance from the midline of the eyes to the chin line (extreme points) 15 ± 2 mm, distance from the head to the upper edge of the photograph 6 ± 2 mm;
- the background is light gray or white, no glare, special effects, scratches;
- photo age - no more than six months.
You can find out all the current requirements for documents by visiting the official website of the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Russian Federation.
Requirements for completing a visa application form
The visa application form is filled out separately for each applicant who has a general civil and foreign passport (over 14 years old). The application form is available here.
When entering data, observe the following rules:
- information is entered in Latin letters;
- a ready-made application for a visa to Latvia is printed and certified by the personal signature of the applicant / his legal representative;
- blots, misprints or corrections are inadmissible.
After the data is entered and saved, the applicant is issued an application number and security code. You can edit the profile by following the link.
The finished document is printed, signed and submitted to the consular service or visa center of Latvia.
List of additional documents for different types of visas to Latvia
Depending on the purpose of the upcoming trip, the identity of the applicant and the type of visa, the following additional documents must be provided.
| Visa type / purpose of travel / applicant | List of additional papers |
|---|---|
| Private visit to friends or family (by invitation) | the original or the number of the invitation issued and certified by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Latvia by a legal entity or an individual (a citizen of Latvia, holder of permanent residence or residence permit in the country). |
| A private trip with documents on the property owned | an extract from the land register issued no later than 2 years. |
| Entrepreneurs | original or certified number of the invitation from the host company or other legal entity, the organizing committee of the event. |
| Individual tourist trip | round trip tickets / booking confirmation. |
| Private Latvian visa for pensioners | pensioner's ID. |
| Participants in sports / cultural / artistic events and their accompanying persons | original or certified invitation number from the Latvian Sports Federation, the Latvian National Olympic Committee or a competent institution. |
| Education | original or certified copy of the invitation from the educational institution; ID of a student, school student or college student. |
| Relatives of Latvian citizens, ethnic Latvians, Livs and their relatives (g visitor visa) | birth certificate; a document confirming the change of surname, if it was carried out; information on marital status from the Register of Latvian residents. |
| Visiting military graves or graves of relatives | a certificate of the presence of a burial, certified by the Latvian local government; a document confirming the relationship with the buried; the original or the number of the invitation from a citizen of Latvia or a legal entity (if there are no documents specified above). |
| Serious illness or death of a relative (urgent visa) | a telegram certified by the attending physician; death certificate; papers confirming the relationship with the sick / deceased. |
| Members of state and regional boards, parliaments, constitutional / supreme court | a document confirming the status of the leaving person and the purpose of his trip. |
| Participants in official exchange programs organized by the cities of the commonwealth | invitation from the mayor or administration. |
| Journalists | a letter from the employer confirming the purpose of the trip; journalist ID. |
| International carriers (working visa) | a copy of the contract confirming the implementation of international transportation; copy of the license to carry out this type of activity; copy of the certificate of making an entry in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities / copy of the certificate of registration of an entrepreneur; original / copy of the document confirming the fact of labor relations between the driver and the legal entity. |
| Transit | a visa issued to the country of destination (exception - if a visa is not required at the final destination); a document confirming the route. |
How to apply for a visa to Latvia for a child
An application for permission to enter citizens under the age of 18 is submitted by their parent / legal representative.
A Schengen visa to Latvia for a child is issued after the submission of the following documents:
- a visa application form completed and signed by a parent / legal representative;
- birth certificate;
- general civil passport (for children over 14 years old);
- passport of a parent / legal representative for children under the age of 14 (provided that the child's details are entered into it and a photo is pasted in) or the child's passport;
- permission to leave the child from the second parent / legal representative (from both, if the child leaves with a third party).
The package of documents is submitted together with the documents for the accompanying person's visa to the Latvian consular department in Moscow, the visa agency or the Latvian consulate at the place of residence.
Travel to Latvia by private car
To cross the border of the Republic of Latvia on your own vehicle, you will need to present the following documents:
- technical passport;
- technical inspection coupon;
- Green card (driver's liability insurance);
- international driving license;
- a notarized power of attorney for driving a vehicle (if you need a visa to Latvia by car for a second driver);
- a free-form statement on behalf of the person driving the vehicle, which will indicate the route of the trip.
In addition, all persons crossing the border must have valid foreign passports with Latvian visas pasted into them, medical insurance and documents confirming the purpose of their trip.
If the Latvian customs does not find prohibited items and substances, entry into the country will not be a problem.
Visa to Latvia for citizens of the CIS countries, Ukraine and Moldova
The procedure for issuing and the list of documents for issuing a Schengen visa to Latvia for citizens of the CIS countries, Ukraine and Moldova does not differ from those adopted for citizens of the Russian Federation.
The exception is the countries for which a visa-free entry to Latvia is established with a limited period of stay.
| Citizenship | Permitted duration of stay without a visa |
|---|---|
| Ukrainians | up to 90 days within 6 months |
| Moldovans | up to 90 days within 6 months |
| Residents of Russian cities adjacent to the border with Latvia (no more than 30 km from the border) | up to 90 days within 6 months (you need an identity card confirming registration in the city of the border zone from 3 years) |
However, despite the fact that citizens of Ukraine, Moldova and a number of Russian cities do not need a visa to Latvia for a short-term stay, they may be denied to cross the border if the border service has doubts about the authenticity of the documents, the declared purposes of the trip or the identity of a foreign citizen.
How much does it cost and how long does it take to get a visa to Latvia
The amount of the consular fee depends on the type of permission requested. To shorten the processing time for a Latvian visa, you can use the urgent application processing service.
Terms and cost of issuing visas to Latvia for citizens of the Russian Federation and CIS countries, euros:
| Type of permitting document | RF | Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan |
|---|---|---|
| С (standard processing time up to 10 days) | 35 | 35 |
| С (urgent registration in 3 days) | 70 | 35 |
| D | 60 | 60 |
At the same time, the price of a visa to Latvia for Russians from 6 to 12 years old is 35 €.
When submitting an urgent application, an additional document may be required: confirming the illness or death of a close relative, the applicant's illness and the need for an urgent visit to a medical institution, a certificate of the beginning of training, and the like.
Consular fees can be paid in cash or from VISA, VISA Electron, Maestro or MasterCard.
When applying for a Latvian visa through the Pony Express agency, its cost increases due to the visa fee:
- 20 euros in Moscow;
- 30 euros - when submitting documents in the regions of the Russian Federation.
How to find out about the status of consideration of an application for a visa to the Republic of Latvia
When submitting documents through the Pony Express visa center, the readiness of the visa can be tracked by the link, indicating the number of the visa invoice.
It is impossible to check the readiness of the visa by calling the consular service. The result of the consideration of documents is reported through the contact details of the applicant.
How to extend a visa to Latvia
To extend the validity of a Latvian visa, you will need a permit from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Latvia, which is issued only upon presentation of documents confirming the existence of insurmountable circumstances that impede departure.
What to do in case of refusal to issue a Latvian visa
If a visa is denied to Latvia, the decision can be challenged with the Director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia within 30 days after receiving a written notification of the refusal to issue a visa.
The director's decision is provided in a maximum of 30 days and can be challenged in court at the location of the consulate. The court decision is not subject to challenge, therefore it is recommended to resolve the issue through the Consulate General of the Republic of Latvia or other official representations.
The appeal is submitted independently, by mail or in electronic form by the applicant / his authorized representative in Latvian, Russian or English:
- to the representative office of Latvia that made the decision;
- to the Consular Department (address: Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elizabetes Street 57, Riga, LV-1050, Republic of Latvia).
Frequent reasons for refusal are incorrect paperwork, an incomplete package of papers, previously violated rules for entering Latvia or other countries of the Schengen area. In some cases, the solution is to request a visa of a different category.
Summarizing
Citizens of the Russian Federation, Belarusians and residents of the CIS countries need a Schengen visa to travel to Latvia and other Baltic countries. Citizens of Moldova and Ukraine can enter the country without a visa for a period of 90 days in 180 days.
In most cases, a short-term permitting document of category C is sufficient. If desired and a positive visa history, a multivisa to Latvia can also be issued.
The permit to enter Latvia can be of three types: transit Schengen, short-term Schengen visa and national long-term (residence permit).
To open an entry permit, you will need to collect a package of documents corresponding to the purpose of the trip. You can find out what you need to travel to Riga, Jurmala and other Latvian cities on the website of the consular service or the official Latvian visa agency Pony Express.
