Entry/Exit Requirements

Latvia is a party to the Schengen Agreement.  U.S. citizens may enter Latvia for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa.  Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the period of stay.  You need sufficient funds and a return airline ticket.  Specific immunizations are not required for travel to Latvia but you should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination.  For additional details about travel into and within Schengen countries, please see our Schengen Fact Sheet. 

Only one stay up to 90 days is permitted in the Schengen territory within a six-month period.  If you plan to visit multiple European Schengen zone countries on the same trip, you should pay attention to the total number of consecutive days spent in member countries, including Latvia.  You are advised to carry your passport when travelling to neighboring Baltic countries from Latvia – even on day trips – as random passport checks are possible.

If you are going to stay in Latvia for more than 90 days, you must apply for temporary residence.  You must have a valid insurance policy, which includes coverage of medical expenses while in Latvia.  Repatriation costs, including funeral and dispositions of remains costs, also have to be covered by the policy.  One of the requirements for the temporary residence application is a criminal records check from the United States, which can be requested through the FBI.  You must submit proof of identity, which consists of name, date and place of birth, and a set of ink-rolled fingerprint impressions.

The U.S. Embassy cannot take your fingerprints, but the Latvian State Criminal Police Department is able to provide such service at Bruninieku iela 72, Riga, tel: 371 6720-8662.

For more information, contact the Latvian Embassy at 2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, tel: (202) 328-2840, fax: (202) 328-2860.  Within Latvia, contact the Ministry of Interior’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, at Ciekurkalna 1^st line, building 3, Riga, LV-1026.  Tel: (371) 8300, e-mail: pmlp@pmlp.gov.lv.

If you are planning to travel to the Russian Federation from Latvia, even in transit, we recommend you obtain a visa prior to your entry into Latvia.  The process to apply for a visa at the Russian Embassy in Riga can be lengthy, and may involve submission of your passport for an undetermined period of time.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Latvia.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.