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Latvia Schengen visa — full guide
Latvia is a small Baltic Schengen state combining Riga's Art Nouveau heritage with low-cost coastal tourism. Visa volume is dominated by Russian, Belarusian and CIS nationals.
Where to apply
Latvian embassies use a mix of direct intake and VFS partnership. Estonia or Lithuania often represent Latvia where there's no embassy.
Processing time
8–14 days typical; Latvian missions are well-organised.
Travel insurance
Schengen-standard €30,000+ insurance.
Photo requirements
Standard 35×45 mm biometric photo to Schengen rules.
Common visa purposes
- Riga Art Nouveau tourism
- Baltic coast beaches
- Jurmala beach resort
- Russian-language diaspora visits
- Cross-border trips with Estonia and Lithuania
Most common refusal cause
Insufficient invitation evidence when visiting friends — Latvia requires formal invitation registered with OCMA in some cases.
Best time to apply
Peak Jun–Aug (beach and city), Dec for Christmas markets.
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