Latvia

Information for all students

Students should ensure that their passports are signed and stamped when entering and exiting Border Control. These stamps will prove the duration of your visit and, more importantly, prove to the visa official that you have not overstayed your 90-day visit.

It is important to understand the Schengen 90/180 rule. You are allocated 90 visa-free days to use within the Schengen Zone, however you must remember these are rolling days and are added onto a cumulative total of days in the Schengen region. Leaving and entering does not reset your calculator – only leaving for a period of 90 days in a non-Schengen country will reset your visa-free 90-day allowance.

Read more about the Schengen rules

Studying for up to 3 months

Students travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen area, including Latvia, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period to complete the following activities:

• Tourism
• Visiting family or friends
• Attending business meetings
• Cultural or sports events
• Short-term studies or training

EU/EEA citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Latvia, however, EU nationals who plan to stay in Latvia for more than 90 days must register for a residence permit.

Some students do not require a visa to enter Latvia for a period of up to 90 days within a 180 day period.

Non-EU/EEA students should apply for long-term (D-type) visa at the Embassy/Consulate of Latvia, according to its territorial competence.

Non-EU nationals will need to apply for a Schengen Visa Type-C to study for a duration of up to 90 days in Latvia.

Citizens of visa-free countries should consult the Embassy/Consulate of Latvia.

Gather your documents

To apply for your Schengen visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Passport or other valid travel document
• Visa application form
• 1 colour photograph (35mm x 45mm)
• Proof of travel medical insurance policy, valid for all of the Schengen Member States and covering the entire period of your intended visit in the Schengen area
• Visa fee, for processing the visa application
• Documents indicating the purpose of the journey
• Proof of accommodation in Latvia or proof of sufficient means to cover accommodation expenses
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the intended stay in Latvia
• Information that enables assessment of the applicant’s intention to leave the territory of the Schengen states before the expiry of their visa.

Discover the full list of documents.

How to apply

When applying for a Schengen visa, you must provide your biometric data (fingerprints).

Please note, if your biometric data has already been collected by a diplomatic/Consular mission of a Schengen State during the past five years, there is no need to provide it again.

Studying for more than 3 months

EU/EEA citizens are not required to have a visa to enter Latvia, however, EU nationals who plan to stay in Latvia for more than 90 days must register for a residence permit.

Exchange students are advised to apply for a long-term (D-type) visa at the Embassy/Consulate of Latvia in their home country.

Since UK students do not need a visa to enter Latvia, you may come to Riga and apply for the long-term (D-type) visa in person in the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA). It is advisable to apply for the long-term visa within the first 30 days of your stay in Latvia.

Please note that you may reside in Latvia (Schengen area) for no longer than 90 days within half a year.

It is possible to apply for the long-term (D-type) visa before arriving in Latvia. In this case you will need to apply for the visa at the Embassy of Latvia.

Gather your documents

In order to apply for a long-term (D-type) visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Completed and signed D-visa application form
• copy of valid passport
• 1 passport photo
• Valid health insurance, valid for the entire Schengen area for the entire period of stay in Latvia (minimum amount insured should be EUR 42,600)
• Proof of necessary subsistence (minimum 500 EUR/month)
• Proof of sufficient financial means to live in Latvia for the duration of your stay (e.g.: bank statement)
• Original acceptance letter, prepared by the Mobility Division confirming that you are accepted for exchange studies
• Proof of accommodation, confirming your address in Latvia

Your proof of sufficient financial means must be an original document with a signature and stamp. A credit/debit card affliated with your bank account must also be presented. You must show evidence that you have a minimum of 500 EUR per month of your intended stay in Latvia (e.g.: 500 EUR x 5 months = 2,500 EUR).

Discover the full list of documents.

How to apply

Applications should be made at your nearest Latvian Embassy.

There is also an e-service that allows you to fill in the visa application form automatically. Please check with your local diplomatic and Consular missions of Latvia.

Working for up to 3 months

EU/EEA nationals do not need a visa to work and live in Latvia. Register with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) and declare your residence – you can start working without any additional conditions.

Non EU nationals will need to apply for a Schengen Visa Type-C to work in Latvia for a duration of up to 90 days. To qualify you must: 

• Have an employment contract with either a company in the UK or Latvia 
• Stay on UK payroll if employed by a UK company, or on Latvian payroll if employed by a Latvian company 
• Meet minimum monthly income requirements – check with the authorities as this amount may change over time 

The Schengen C visa takes up to 8 weeks to get. The Schengen C visa is valid for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.  

UK students and students from visa-exempt countries can enter Latvia for a duration of 90 days under the Schengen waiver. The following activities can be completed under this waiver:

• Running or attending job interviews
• Going to court as a witness
• Attending trade fairs
• Attending board meetings
• Meeting clients or customers (including entertainment, like eating at a restaurant)
• Meeting colleagues, contractors or sellers
• Fact-finding visits
• Negotiating, signing and executing deals or contracts
• Attending, speaking or presenting at a conference (unpaid only)
• Studying
• Team-building activities
• Visiting business partners
• Conducting research or developing professional contacts

Prior to entry into Latvia, a visa needs to be obtained at one of the Latvian Consular missions in foreign countries or at the Consulates of other Schengen Member States who are competent to process Schengen visa applications.

Foreigners who enter Latvia with or without a visa are not allowed to exercise economic activities in an employed capacity. Foreigners can be employed only if their particular case is stated in normative acts and they have received both an employment visa and work permit.

Working for more than 3 months

For EU/EEA students, visa and work permits are not required regardless of length of stay. However, you must have a valid passport and work permit.

For stays over 90 days, EU nationals must register at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

UK Students may apply for visa for seasonal work to work in Latvia for a maximum of 6 months.

Non–EU nationals should apply for a National D visa for up to 1 year by submitting an application to the Latvian Consulate or Embassy. To qualify you must:

• Have an employment contract with either a company in the UK or Latvia 
• Stay on UK payroll if employed by a UK company, or on Latvian payroll if employed by a Latvian company 
• Meet minimum monthly income requirements – check with the authorities as this amount may change over time 

National D visas take up to 8 weeks to process. You need to apply for a residence permit if you have been offered employment with a company in Latvia. 

Gather your documents

• Copy of the job vacancy publication with the State Employment Agency, if you have an employment contract with a company in Latvia 
• Visa application form 
• Passport, valid for 3 months past the expected visa expiry date 
• Employment contract or service agreement 
• Proof of financial stability 
• Proof of travel medical insurance 
• Proof of accommodation 
• Proof you’ve paid the government application fees (state duty payment) 

If you are entering Latvia for the purposes of employment, your employer will need to seek prior permission to employ you.

Follow the below process to ensure your legal employment in Latvia:

1. Your prospective employer in Latvia requests permission from the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to employ you.
2. Submit a Residence Permit application to the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs or to the Latvian Consulate or Embassy.
3. Make an appointment with the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs and submit your biometrics.
4. Undergo testing for tuberculosis (TB) in Latvia.
5. Make a second appointment with the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to collect your Residence Permit.

Contact the Latvian Embassy or Consulate for further information in relation to working in Latvia for over 90 days.