Immigration

Latvia is a member of the European Union (EU) and the Schengen area. If you are an EU citizen you do not need a visa.

 Application procedure for the EXCHANGE STUDENTS (visa for the non-EU citizens)

When applying for a D-type visa the following documents are required:

• a valid travel document;
• a visa application form filled out and signed;
• a photography;
• a health insurance policy (min coverage is 50 000 Euro);
• a copy of the Study agreement (original must be presented);
• a copy of a document approving the place of accommodation in Latvia (original must be presented);
• a document confirming the necessary subsistence - confirmation of scholarship or a reference/letter from applicants bank (on an official form) about the state of the applicant's account, presenting available financial funds for the visa period. The amount of living expenses should be at least 14 EUR per day for the whole period of stay.

N.B.

• Apply for the visa approx. 1 month before the 90-days period expires.
• Contact the International cooperation centre and ask for an Invitation.

 Application procedure for the FULL TIME STUDENTS  (residence permit)

1. If you are a citizen of EU or you are coming from member states of the European Economic Area or Switzerland, then to enter the Republic of Latvia you do not need a visa and you can stay for 90 days within a 6 months period. If the duration of your stay exceeds 90 days, you must register in the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) and receive a Registration Card. 

To receive the Registration Card you will need to present a valid travel document and submit the following documents to OCMA:

• a definite sample form for a residence permit request (photo required);
• European Health Insurance Card;
• health insurance policy (valid in Latvia);
• study agreement (provided by LBTU);
• document confirming the necessary subsistence - a reference/document from the applicant's bank (on an official form) about the state of the applicant's account, presenting available financial funds for the first year (at least 740 Euro per month);
• your previous education documents (for full time students).

2. If you are not a citizen of EU, but you are coming from one of following countries (find more information here),  then you may enter Latvia without a visa and stay up to 90 days in any 6 month period. If the duration exceeds 90 days, then you need to apply for a residence permit.
To receive a residence permit you will need to present a valid travel document and submit following documents to OCMA (LBTU can do that on your behalf):

• a definite sample form for a residence permit request;
• copy of passport (passport need to be valid 3 month longer, than the term of residence permit);
• a photography (3x4cm);
• a document confirming the necessary subsistence  - original of reference/letter from applicant's bank about the state of applicant's account, that presents available financial funds for the first year (at least 740 Euro per month, total it will be 8880€ ). The reference/letter must be on an official form (signed, stamped), where the applicant's name, surname, DOB, bank account payment card No. and the available funds are presented;
• a credit or debit card (original and copy) for the above mentioned account;
• a document confirming the state duty payment (exceptions: master and doctoral students who are paying only for faster examination);
• an agreement on studies in the Republic of Latvia (provided by LBTU);
• a document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by LBTU);
• originals of previous education documents (need to be legalized).

3. If you are coming from:

Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Kingdom of Bahrain, People's Republic of Bangladesh, Arab Republic of Egypt, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Yemen, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, State of Qatar, Republic of Kenya, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Russian Federation (Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetiya)*, State of Kuwait, Lebanese Republic, Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Kingdom of Morocco, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sultanate of Oman, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Palestinian Authority**, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syrian Arab Republic, Somalia, Republic of Sudan, Republic of Tunisia - 

    * applies to persons, whose place of birth or residential address is in Chechnya, Dagestan or Ingushetiya
    ** applies to persons whose place of birth or residential address is in the Palestinian Authority

to enter the Republic of Latvia you will need a visa. If the duration of your stay will exceed 90 days within a 6 months period, you will need to apply also for a residence permit. Citizens from the above mentioned counties are applying for visa and residence permit themselves. When applying for the residence permit you will need to submit the following documents to a Latvian consular mission:

• a definite sample form for a residence permit request;
• a copy of passport (passport need to be valid 3 month longer, than the term of residence permit);
• a photography (3x4cm);
• a document confirming the necessary subsistence  - original of reference/letter from applicant's bank about the state of applicant's account, that presents available financial funds for the first year (at least 740 Euro per month). The reference/letter must be on an official form (signed, stamped), where the applicant's name, surname, DOB, bank account No., payment card No. and available funds are presented;
• a credit or debit card (original and copy) for the above mentioned account;
• a document confirming the state duty payment (exceptions: master and doctoral students who are paying only for faster examination);
• an agreement on studies in the Republic of Latvia (provided by LBTU);
• a document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by LBTU);
• original documents of previous education (need to be legalized);
• a legalized  statement on punishability (Police Clearance Certificate) issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country (for a foreigner more than 14 years old), if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months.

4. If you are a citizen of any other country, not mentioned above, to enter the Republic of Latvia you will need a visa. If the duration of your stay will exceed 90 days within a 6 months period you will also need to apply for a residence permit.
To apply for residence permit it is required to submit following documents to the OCMA (LBTU can help and do that on your behalf):

• a definite sample form for a residence permit request;
• a copy of passport (passport need to be valid 3 month longer, than the term of residence permit);
• a photography (3x4cm);
• a legalized  statement on punishability (Police Clearance Certificate) issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country (for a foreigner more than 14 years old), if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months;
• a document confirming the necessary subsistence  - original of reference/letter from the applicant's bank about the state of applicant's account, that presents available financial funds for the first year (at least 740 Euro per month). The reference/letter must be on official form (signed, stamped), where applicants name, surname, DOB, bank account No., payment card No. and available funds are presented;
• a credit or debit card (original and copy) for the above mentioned account;
• an agreement on studies in the Republic of Latvia (provided by LBTU);
• a document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by LBTU);
• original documents of previous education (need to be legalized);
• a document confirming the state duty payment (exceptions: master and doctoral students who are paying only for faster examination).

!N.B.

• It is an obligation to declare your place of living (address) in Latvia. After you receive your card, please inform an officer about your place of living.
• As soon as you acquire your card, please bring it to the International cooperation centre (Jelgava palace, room 195). LBTU must have a copy of it in your student file.
• Do not forget to inform LBTU and OCMA if yout place of living (address) or passport is changed.
• For citizens of non-EU/EEA countries - remember, that the TRP normally is granted for one year (the period can be also shorter) and that you will need to extend it. At least 45 (max 90 days)  before expiration of your TRP contact the staff of International Cooperation Centre to get a new invitation and ask for documents that need to be submitted. You need to take into consideration, that also the prolongation procedure can take over 1 month.

USEFUL LINKS:

More information about visas and residence permits in OCMA home page: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/

Diplomatic missions (Embassys) of Latvia: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/latvias-embassies-and-consulates