The Republic of Latvia is in Northern Europe, near the Baltic Sea. It has an area of 64,589 km2 and a population of 1,841,775 people. Its capital city, Riga, is one of the biggest cities in Latvia. One-third of the people in Latvia live there. Because Latvia is part of the Schengen Area, getting a visa to go there is pretty much the same as it is for most other Schengen countries. If you already have a valid Schengen visa, you can use it to travel to Latvia. If you need a visa, the process is not hard, and you can apply at the embassy of a Schengen country close to where you live. This makes it easier to get a Schengen visa so you can go to Latvia. If you have a residency permit for Latvia or any other Schengen country, you do not need a visa to visit Latvia.
Latvia entry requirements
Since the Republic of Latvia is an equal member of the Schengen Area, all travelers must follow the same rules here. So, everyone from the Schengen Area who wants to visit Latvia only needs an ID to get into the country. If you are not from a Schengen country and want to visit Latvia, on the other hand, you will need to show the border guards at the Latvian port of entry the following:
A valid passport or travel document
Your passport must be valid for at least three more months after the date you plan to leave Schengen. Moreover, it must have been issued within the past decade.
Health insurance for travel
Your health insurance must cover at least €30,000 worth of medical costs in Latvia, including getting you back to your home country in the event of a serious illness or death. After getting a 90-day long-stay visa, students must apply for a residence permit at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia when they enter the country (OCMA).
How to apply for a long-stay visa
For a long-stay visa, you need the following:
Passport
A passport that is valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave Latvia or another EU country, and has at least two blank pages. Copies of the pages used for identification and the pages that show information about visas that have already been given.
There is one picture
The picture must be 35mm x 45mm and taken within the last 6 months. The background should be white.
Proof of where you plan to stay
Along with the documents, you have to send a copy of proof that you plan to live in Latvia.
Proof that the person has enough money
Original private bank account statement showing transactions from the last three months. This should be along with a letter from the bank confirming the account balance and duly stamped and signed by the bank. They should also present an Indian income tax return acknowledgment for the last three assessment years.
Making a reservation for a ticket
You must show a reservation for an airplane ticket that shows when you plan to enter the Schengen area. Please keep in mind that if your visa is turned down, the Embassy is not responsible for buying tickets.
Travel medical insurance
Travel insurance must be good for the whole Schengen area and cover the whole planned trip (90 days). The minimum coverage of 42,600 EUR includes the costs of urgent medical care and/or emergency hospital treatment in case of illness, as well as medical transportation and repatriation in case of death. Medical insurance can be bought in the applicant’s home country, in any other country, or by the person who invited them. All of the above must be true of the insurance.
A fee of 60 EUR for a visa
In article 11 of 12.09.2017, you can find a full list of the types of people who don’t have to pay the state fee. Regulations for the state fee for examining the documents needed to request a visa, residence permit, or the status of a long-term resident of the European Union in the Republic of Latvia, and services related thereto.
