Consular Information

FAQs

COVID-19 Information

Last updated: 26 June, 2023

The Administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. This means starting May 12, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. CDC’s Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic will no longer be in effect when the Presidential Proclamation Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic is revoked.

Please see: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/01/the-biden-administration-will-end-covid-19-vaccination-requirements-for-federal-employees-contractors-international-travelers-head-start-educators-and-cms-certified-facilities.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Are there COVID-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens? No
Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry for U.S. citizens? No
Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? No

Quarantine Information  

Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine?  No

COVID-19 Testing

Anyone with symptoms can be tested for free with doctor`s referral. For those without symptoms the cost, per test, is 37 euros.
A map of COVID-19 testing sites in Latvia
Individuals with severe symptoms please call the emergency line at 113.
For a COVID-19 questions, call the COVID-19 Hotline at 8345.

TRAVELING TO LATVIA - VISA REQUIREMENTS

U.S. citizens and passport holders do not need a visa to enter Latvia (as a tourist, for maximum of 90 days within a 6 month period).

Citizens from E.U. members states, as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, and Brazil, do not need a visa to visit Latvia. Click here to see a full list of countries whose citizens may enter Latvia without a visa.

Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, China and other countries, not included on the visa-free list, require a visa to travel to Latvia

If you reside on the West Coast of the United States and require a Schengen visa for a short-term stay in Latvia, under a joint co-operation agreement between the governments of Latvia and Poland, you can apply for a visa through the Polish Consulate General (12400 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 555, Los Angeles, CA) by appointment only (310-442-8500). The Honorary Consulate of Latvia in Southern California does not issue any visas (or passports).

All applications require the following:

a) application form

b) passport photo

c) valid travel passport / travel document

d) proof of travel health insurance

e) proof of legal USA residence

f) application fee

g) supporting documents detailing the reason for the visit, return air ticket and proof of accommodation.

The standard cost of a visa is $70 ($40 for citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Moldova, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan).

Note, visa applications must be made at least 15 days before the travel date to Latvia and no earlier than 3 months prior to travel to Latvia.

If you require a student visa, long-term resident’s permit or work visa, or other visa not related to a short-term stay in Latvia, all these applications are handled by the Consular Section of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C. Visit their website for more information - click here.

If you wish to apply for a passport, citizenship, and or have any related legal question or need for an official document from Latvia, these matters are handled by the Consular section of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C (click here for more details). Although we are happy to provide you with advice over the phone or by email, unfortunately, the Consulate in Southern California does not deal with such administrative matters and applications locally.

What if I will be staying in Latvia for more than 90 days?

To remain in Latvia for more than 90 days, or to work, study or reside in Latvia, as a self-employed person, a U.S. citizen is required to obtain a temporary residence permit. Please visit the website of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs or the Embassy’s website for more information on what is required to apply - click here.

The Latvian Embassy in Washington D.C. is happy to answer questions regarding these types of visa applications and assist you with your application. Please email them at: consulate.usa @ mfa.gov.lv

How can I work in Latvia as a foreigner?

Foreigners wishing to work in Latvia must have a visa and proper immigration status. You cannot work if you are in Latvia on a tourist visa. For more information about work visas, please visit the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

What if I need a Schengen Visa to travel to Latvia?

If your passport requires a visa for travel to Latvia and you are traveling as a tourist, you are issued a Schengen visa which is valid for staying in Latvia as well as in the other Schengen Area member states. Passport control on the border is only done once the person crosses into the Schengen Area. If a person has been issued a visa for a short-stay visit to a Schengen country, the maximum duration of the intended stay is 90 days within a 180-day period. If a person needs to stay in Latvia for longer than 90 days, he or she has to apply for a long-stay visa or a residence permit.
If you wish to visit several Schengen countries, you do not have to apply for a visa in each of the given Schengen country’s diplomatic missions. An application for a visa has to be submitted only to the mission of that country that is your main destination. If there is no main destination, you have to turn to a mission of the country whose external border will be the first to be crossed in order to enter the Schengen Area.
If a third-country national needs to enter a Schengen member state but there are circumstances forbidding him to have a uniform visa valid in all Schengen member states, he or she may be granted a visa with a limited territorial validity. It means that visa is not valid for entering all Schengen member states, but only those indicated on the visa.

COLLECTING BIOMETRICS - VIS - VISA INFORMATION SYSTEM

The Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C. and other Schengen State’s embassies and consulates in the U.S. implemented the Visa Information System (VIS).

The VIS is a system for the exchange of visa data among Schengen Member States. These States share a common area of free movement without internal border controls. They have a common visa policy which includes exchanging information on visa applicants.

The visa applicant's bio-metric data (10-digit finger scans and digital photograph) is collected. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Bio-metric data, along with the data provided in the visa application form, is recorded in a secure central database.

10-digit finger scans are neither required from children under the age of 12 nor from people who cannot physically provide finger scans.

Frequent travelers to the Schengen Area do not have to give new finger scans every time they apply for a new visa. Once finger scans are stored in the VIS, they can be re-used for further visa applications over a 5-year period.

U.S. VISA - FOR TRAVELERS TO THE UNITED STATES FROM LATVIA

As of November 17, 2008, when going on a short leisure or business trip to the USA, Latvian citizens can now travel to the U.S. under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). However, all individuals having different purpose of travel than aforementioned are required to obtain an appropriate U.S. visa.

Latvian citizens who have valid tourist/business visas may continue traveling with their visas if they choose so. No additional/new requirements for travelers with visas apply.

Please consult the page “Travel without a visa” for information on requirements for traveling under the VWP.

Latvian non-citizens are always required to obtain a U.S. visa for any purpose of travel.

Please note: Travelers who hold dual citizenship with the United States must enter and depart the United States on U.S. passports.

Please visit the U.S. Embassy website in Riga for more details - click here.

RENEWING OR APPLYING FOR A LATVIAN PASSPORT

RENEWING YOUR LATVIAN PASSPORT

If your current Latvian passport has expired or is about to expire, then you can renew this through the Latvian Embassy in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, the Consulate of Latvia in Southern California cannot issue the new format passports.
You will need to apply for a new passport, make an appointment with the Embassy to have your bio-metric passport photo and fingerprints taken. Once this is done, it can take up 6-8 weeks for the passport to be issued and sent to you. A new passport costs $130 for those between 20 and 62 years of age; for those under 20 years of age and over the age of 65, the cost is $100. If you also need a Latvian State ID card as well as the passport the fee is $140 ($120 for those 62 years or older or under 20 years of age). Alternatively, you can also have your passport renewed at the Foreign Ministry if you are in Riga. Passports in Riga can be issued within 2-4 business days (a rush fee may apply. Note, the Latvian Embassy in Washington D.C. can only issue a new passport to Latvian citizens who are residing in the United States legally (i.e. have a valid visa, Green Card, or other form of legal residency status).
If you have an expired passport and are not here on a legal basis, the Embassy will not be able to issue you a new passport. Note also, if you hold a non-citizens passport issued by the Latvian government, this can also be renewed in person at the Embassy in Washington D.C. However, non-citizen passports cannot be renewed for those people who have already acquired a U.S. passport, or passport from another country. Please visit the Latvian Embassy website for more details.

All passport applications and renewals require an appointment and visit to the Embassy in Washington D.C. because all new passports include bio-metric data.

The Mobile Passport Unit of the Consular section from Washington D.C. does visit Southern California every few years but not on a set schedule. Please visit the Embassy’s website for more information.

Embassy of Latvia
2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel 1.202.328.2840
Fax 1.202.328.2860
Email consulate.usa@mfa.gov.lv
www.mfa.gov.lv/usa

HOW DO I KNOW I HAVE A VALID LATVIAN PASSPORT?

The latest new (European Union) passport currently issued by Latvia is a personal identification travel document that contains a microchip, including personal bio-metrics such as a digital picture and fingerprints. These have to be obtained in person either at the Embassy or in the presence of Embassy personnel during a Mobile Passport visit to a city outside of Washington - this is the reason passports cannot be renewed by mail!

Citizen passports issued after July 1, 2002, containing a scanned signature and picture, will be valid until the expiration date and do not have to be changed, unless they have expired.

All citizen passports (blue color) issued before July 1, 2002, containing a glued photograph, as well as passports without an expiration date (beztermiņa), are no longer valid. You will not be allowed to travel with such a document.

Non-citizen passports (violet color) are valid until the expiration date and do not have to be changed, unless they have expired. Please note, that if you had a non-citizen’s passport from Latvia and have now acquired U.S. citizenship, you are no longer permitted to retain non-citizenship status with Latvia. In this case you must inform the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of your new U.S. citizenship status.

I NEED TO HAVE MY CURRENT LATVIAN PASSPORT CERTIFIED AS A VALID DOCUMENT

If you hold a current Latvian passport, the Embassy in Washington D.C. will be able to assist you with an official certification that it is current and a valid document issued by the Republic of Latvia.

APPLYING FOR LATVIAN CITIZENSHIP

MY PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS WERE BORN IN LATVIA - IF I AM A U.S. CITIZEN NOW CAN I ALSO BE A LATVIAN CITIZEN AND HOW DO I APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP?

As of October 1, 2013, if you are eligible and hold a passport from a country with which Latvia recognizes dual citizenship (e.g. the U.S.), you may be able to apply for Latvian citizenship. You can read further about the rules and regulations and how to apply at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PLMP)

There are 3 categories of eligibility that you may apply under:

Exiles (those who were forced to leave Latvia between June 17, 1940 and May 4, 1990 due to foreign occupation) and their descendants. Dual citizenship is allowed with any other country.
At the time of your birth at least one parent was a citizen of Latvia. In this case dual citizenship is allowed for those who are citizens of the member states of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), NATO, or if you are a citizen of Australia, Brazil, or New Zealand (children are eligible for dual citizenship with any country, however at age 25 they will need to make a choice).
You are an ethnic Latvian or Liv. In requesting citizenship based on your ethnic origin, you will be required to pass a language exam in Latvia. You are allowed to maintain dual citizenship with any other county!

Please see this section of their website that details how to register, under what category you might be eligible, and what documents need to be supplied and what forms need to be completed with your application.

Applications for dual citizenship can be made directly through the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) in Riga or through the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C. The Embassy staff in Washington can check all applications before they are sent to Riga for processing.

Here in Southern California we are happy to assist with any questions regarding the dual citizenship application, but all the processing is done by the Consular section of the Embassy in Washington.

Click here for our FAQ on the steps and forms that you will need when applying for dual citizenship under the category of a descendant of a Latvian exile.

If you wish to register by sending your application documents to the Embassy in Washington, please note that you have to include a money order for USD 60 (money order payable to the Embassy of Latvia) which is the fee to have your application forwarded to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Latvia. Please add a USD 20 money order if you wish to have your original documents mailed back to you by USPS or USD 30 money order if you wish to have them returned by FedEx. Note, if you do not wish to supply originals of your documents to the Embassy in Washington you can send notarized copies. If you are sending copies of any official U.S. documents (like a U.S. birth certificate), then these need to also have an Apostille stamp on them (supplied by your local US Dept. of State Offices) in addition to the notary stamp. No other copies will be accepted. Your application form and request documents do not have to be notarized - only legal documents like passports and birth certificates, etc..

Please note, if you hold a non-citizen passport issued by the Latvian government and have acquired a U.S. passport, you will no longer be permitted to hold a Latvian non-citizen's passport. Your non-citizen Latvian passport must be returned to the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C. with a letter explaining when you acquired U.S. citizenship.

You can read more about the application steps and documents needed on the Embassy's website here.

REQUESTING OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS FROM LATVIA

REQUESTING A SPECIFIC DOCUMENT ISSUED IN LATVIA

You can request a birth or marriage certificate; information about your relatives in Latvia; information about the duration of your employment in Latvia, real estate in Latvia, etc. Please visit the Latvian Embassy website for more details.

GETTING A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED FOR USE IN LATVIA

USING OFFICIAL U.S. DOCUMENTS IN LATVIA

Before you can submit official U.S. documents to Latvia's official institutions, they need to be legally authorized with a special “Apostille” certification. In Los Angeles, an Apostille may be secured from the California Secretary of State, 300 S. Spring St., Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013, or by mail at Notary Public Section 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. The country where the document is being sent to must be specified. The telephone number in Los Angeles is +1-213-897-3062, an appointment is recommended. More information can be found at https://www.sos.ca.gov/notary/request-apostille
Please note, if the document has also been Notarized, then the signature of the Notary first has to be verified by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, CA 90650. A prior appointment is recommended (8000-201-8999). The filing fee for an Apostille is $20 per document and must be paid by cashier’s check or money order.

WHERE CAN I GET A DOCUMENT NOTARIZED FOR USE IN LATVIA?

The Consulate in Southern California does not offer Notary functions, however there are other ways you can get a document Notarized for it to be accepted in Latvia: a) remotely via a video conference with a registered Notary in Latvia; b) by the Consular sections of the Embassy in Washington D.C.

a) remotely using a Notary in Latvia:

As of July 1, 2018, notarial functions can be carried out remotely by working with sworn notaries in Latvia. In order to receive a notarization remotely, an initial video consultation with a notary must be arranged. This is done through Latvia’s sworn notary client portal www.latvijasnotars.lv

It is possible to apply for a video consultation through the portal by going to the section “Meklēt notāru” (Search for a Notary), selecting any notary and selecting the kind of document required - for example, online power of attorney.

The following are required for a video consultation:

a quiet and bright space;
a reliable internet connection;
a computer, webcam, microphone and earphones or speakers;
e-signature, Latvia passport or eID card, as well as internet banking. If you have not arranged for e-signature (in Latvia), you can receive it by requesting an eID card through the Embassy of Latvia - information is available here.

b) with the assistance of the Consular section of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C.:

The Embassy performs the following notarial functions:

issues powers of attorney and consents in the form of a notarial act only in cases of emergency consular assistance or for the representation of a child or person with limited capacity;
confirms the authenticity of a signature (including the signature of a translator);
confirms that the person is alive;
confirms the document’s derivation and translation;
issues extracts and copies from the register of notarial deeds.

The Embassy performs notarial functions for citizens of Latvia, Latvia’s non-citizens and persons with stateless, refugee or alternative status in Latvia only if the following conditions apply:

The individual permanently resides in the U.S. or another country outside the consular jurisdiction of all other Latvia diplomatic missions and

The individual has officially notified the Latvia Population Register about his/her residence address outside of Latvia.

If an individual is a holder of a Latvia passport and is residing temporarily in the U.S or in another country outside the consular jurisdiction of all other Latvia diplomatic missions, the Embassy can perform notarial functions only in the case of consular assistance, that is, only in emergency situations which have arisen due to situations beyond the person’s control or due to unforeseen circumstances.

The Embassy is able to perform notarial services for citizens of other countries (foreigners) in only one case – if it is essential for representing the interests of a child or a person with limited capacity – a Latvian citizen or non-citizen - and then only if the individual permanently resides in the U.S. or another country outside the consular jurisdiction of all other Latvia diplomatic missions.

The Embassy does not perform notarial functions for individuals representing a legal person.

In order to receive a notarial service, the person must arrive at the Embassy in person, by previous appointment only, for a specific meeting time and must have with them an acceptable identification document issued in Latvia. Additional information on the process of receiving notarial services is available at the Consular Section of the Embassy, telephone 202-328-2881 or 202-328-2882, or email: consulate.usa@mfa.gov.lv

c) using the services of a registered Notary in Southern California:

If the individual is unable to come to the Embassy in person, the notarial service can also be performed by a public notary in the United States. Before submitting official U.S. documents (issued by the U.S. authorities or notarized by U.S. public notaries) to Latvia's official institutions, they must be authorized with a special Apostille certification, obtained from the Office of the Secretary of State where the document was originally issued or notarized. After the document has reached Latvia, it must be translated into Latvian (if it is in English) and the signature of the translator must be confirmed by a sworn notary.

Please note that a power of attorney prepared at the office of a U.S. notary can be used in Latvia only if it meets the following requirements, both in content and format:

the power of attorney has been prepared by a professional lawyer, who based on his/her education and position is entitled to perform actions corresponding to the functions of a sworn notary (for example, a sworn notary or lawyer in Latvia or a public notary in the U.S.); cannot be used against them; requirements stated in Latvia’s normative acts regarding the presence of witnesses and interpreters have been properly followed; the notarial act is signed in the presence of the notary.
the participants’ true will and terms of the transaction have been identified, their statements have been noted clearly and unequivocally, the participants have been informed about any possible legal consequences so that ignorance of the law and lack of experience cannot be used against them;
requirements stated in Latvia’s normative acts regarding the presence of witnesses and interpreters have been properly followed;
the notarial act is signed in the presence of the notary.

Important: In order to avoid misunderstandings regarding the use of U.S.-issued powers of attorney in Latvia, prior to drafting the document we ask that you consult the appropriate Latvia authority where the power of attorney will be used, as well as a sworn notary in Latvia about its content and format.

Prior to use in Latvia, a power of attorney issued by a U.S. notary must be certified with an “Apostille” issued by the corresponding State’s Office of the Secretary of State. After the power of attorney has reached Latvia, it must be translated into Latvian (if it is in English) and the signature of the translator must be certified by a sworn notary.

RENEWING MY PENSION ELIGIBILITY STATUS IN THE U.S.

APPLYING FOR A PENSION FROM LATVIA

Under the current agreement between Latvia and the United States Latvian citizens who reside in the United States can only receive a pension if they became of pensionable age whilst still living in Latvia. For those Latvian pensioners who left Latvia after January 1, 2002, you can receive a pension if you now live in the United States. For information about pensions, please visit the website of the State Social Insurance Agency (VSAA) for further details (see pages in English, Latvian and Russian). You can also email the Riga office branch: zemgale@vsaa.lv (which handles all U.S. related pension inquries). The Consulate in Southern California nor the Embassy in Washington can handle any of these matters. You must contact Riga with your specific pension questions and needs.

HOW DO I GET MY PENSION STATUS RENEWAL DONE EACH YEAR SO MY PENSION CAN BE PAID TO ME IF I AM NOW PERMANENTLY LIVING OUTSIDE LATVIA?

If you are receiving a pension in Latvia and then travel to live permanently abroad, then each year, during the last calendar quarter (October 1-December 15), you will need to submit a request to the Latvian State Pension Agency (VSAA) for the pension payment to continue to be paid to you outside Latvia during the next calendar year. You can do this by mail, or in person in Riga, or someone who has your power of attorney can submit this on your behalf.

If you are doing this via post, or with the assistance of someone who has your power of attorney to do this on your behalf, you will also need to submit a confirmation that you, the recipient, are still alive. This certification needs to be signed in front of a Notary and then this document needs to legalized with an Apostille stamp (issued by the U.S. Department of State offices in your State – 300 Spring St, Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013, in the case of Los Angeles, CA). This document needs to submitted to the VSAA in Riga within 30 days of it being Notarized.

If this certification is not received by VSAA in Riga by December 15, then the pension payment will be stopped as of January 1st.

For more information about Latvian pensions, please visit the department’s website www.vsaa.gov.lv