Organization : Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia
Type of Facility : Online Application For Schengen Visa
Country: Latvia
Website : https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/?Itemid=
Apply Online : https://epak.pmlp.gov.lv/NVIS.EService001.WebSite/?
MFA Online Application For Schengen Visa
Obtaining Visa:
Types of visa:
Schengen Visa:
Schengen visa is a visa that gives a foreigner the right to stay in Latvia and in other Schengen member states – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Island, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland – for a period indicated in visa sticker.
Related : Ministry of Foreign Affairs Document Authentication/Legalisation & Apostille Certification Latvia : www.statusin.org/9306.html
Uniform visa has two types – A and C – depending on the purpose of the entry.
A type visa is intended for crossing international transit zone at the airport of a Schengen member state.
C type visa is issued if a foreigner wishes to visit or transit one or more Schengen member states.
Airport transit visa – A type:
This visa may be issued to stay in an international transit zone at the airport of a Schengen member state. It is an airport transit visa that is required for nationals of several countries who need to change an airplane at the airport of a Schengen member state or whose airplane lands in the airport of a Schengen member state on the way from one non-Schengen member to another non-Schengen member state.
In principle an airport transit visa allowing to stay in an international transit zone is required for citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka or foreigners holding travel documents issued by the aforementioned countries. However, there are several exceptions when an airport transit visa for citizens of these countries is not needed. About specific cases, please, consult the consular officer of the relevant mission.
Short-stay visa – C type:
This visa is issued for a short-term visit in, or transit through Schengen member states. It is a short-stay visa which depending upon the purpose of the visit may be issued for one, two or multiple entries.
The validity period of the visa may not exceed 5 years. An entry means crossing the border between a Schengen member state and a non-Schengen state. A foreigner holding a C visa may stay in Schengen member states no more than 90 days in any 180-day period. The validity period of visas for one or two entries includes also a ‘period of grace’ – additional 15 days that do not influence the period of stay indicated in the visa. This means that, when issuing a visa for one or two entries, 15 days are added to the period of validity indicated by the foreign national in his visa application. Thus a foreign national may enter or leave the territory of the Schengen states within the period of validity indicated on the visa, but may stay for as long as indicated in the “duration of stay” section on the visa sticker.
In case of transit, the length of the authorized stay is established corresponding to the time necessary for the purpose of transit. In order to receive a visa for transit, the travel document must bear a visa for the country of destination, if required.
Long Stay Visa – D Type:
Foreigner who needs to stay in Latvia more than 90 days in a half-year period depending on the circumstances should apply for a long-stay visa (or a residence permit). Under Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council that came into effect on 5 April 2010, a third-country national holding a valid long-stay visa issued by a Schengen state may travel and stay in the territory of other Schengen states no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
Visa With A Limited Territorial Validity:
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 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. If it is said on a visa that visa is valid only for Latvia, a foreigner is barred from entering other Schengen member states.
Visas with limited territorial validity may be issued for transit or a short-term visit in a Schengen member state no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.
Documents required when applying for a visa:
If a foreign national applies for a visa to enter Latvia or for transit through Latvia, he has to submit the following:
** Passport or other travel document with a period of validity extending at least three months past that of the visa, containing at least two blank pages for affixing visas, and issued within the previous ten years
** Visa application form completed and signed by the applicant
** 1 colour photo (35mm x 45mm)
** travel medical insurance policy valid for the whole Schengen area and covering the entire period of the foreigner’s intended visit in the Schengen area (see section “Travel medical insurance”)
** payment or confirmation of the payment of visa application fee (see section “Visa application fees”)
When applying for a Schengen visa, the applicant also submits:
** documents indicating the purpose of the journey
** documents in relation to accommodation, or proof of sufficient means to cover his accommodation
** documents indicating that the applicant possesses sufficient means of subsistence both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to his country of origin or residence
** information enabling an assessment of the applicant’s intention to leave the territory of the member state before the expiry of the visa applied for
If a foreigner applies for a transit visa, he has to hold a valid visa of the state that he intends to enter after leaving the Schengen area, except when a foreigner is not required a visa to enter the country of his destination after exiting the Schengen area.
When applying for an airport transit visa, the applicant also submits:
** documents in relation to the onward journey to the final destination after the intended airport transit
** information enabling the assessment of the applicant’s intention not to enter the territory of the member states.
Consular officers of the representations decide upon the kind of supporting documents that have to be submitted by foreign nationals. This depends on the purpose of the visit, travelling experience, ties to the state of residence or situation of the state of residence. For more detailed information about supporting documents to be annexed to a visa application, please contact the respective representation where the foreigner intends to apply for a visa, and/or check the information on the homepage of the respective representation.
Supporting documents when applying for a visa to Latvia at a representation of another Schengen state:
When applying for a visa at the diplomatic or consular representation of another Schengen state representing Latvia in issuing Schengen visas, a foreign national should be aware of the following:
** a translation into English or in the language of the representation in charge of issuing the visa must be attached to the documents produced in Latvian
** an invitation approved by the Office of Migration of Citizenship Affairs should be submitted at the relevant representation in paper-form.
The inviting party will be provided with an invitation in paper-form if the diplomatic representation of another Schengen state issuing visas on behalf of Latvia is indicated as the place for applying for a visa. After the receipt of the invitation it must be forwarded to the visa applicant.