Airport transit visa The airport transit visa entitles airplane passengers to cross the transit zone of an international airport in the territory of the Republic of Latvia, without crossing the border of the Republic of Latvia, for the period indicated in the visa, during the landing of an international flight or when transferring from one international flight to another international flight. The airport transit visa is required for citizens of and persons holding travel documents issued by the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iraq, Iran, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka. Foreign nationals who are citizens of or persons holding travel documents issued by the aforementioned countries, do not require an airport transit visa if: • the foreign national holds a valid residence permit, an entry visa or a transit visa for the Republic of Latvia; • the foreign national holds a valid entry visa or residence permit issued by a member country of the European Union or the Schengen Agreement; • the foreign national holds a valid residence permit issued by Andorra, the USA, Japan, Canada, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland or the Vatican, guaranteeing the right to return; • the foreign national is a crew member of an airplane and citizen of a country which is a member of the December 7, 1944 International Civil Aviation Convention. Transit visa Transit visa entitles its holder to cross the territory of Latvia and remain in the country for a period not exceeding three days. Foreign sailors may be issued a transit visa entitling them to remain in Latvia for up to five days. A visa of this category may be issued in cases when the applicant holds a visa for the country, which is his/her ultimate destination, or if a visa to enter that ultimate destination is not required. Short-term visa A short-term visa may be issued to foreign nationals entering and staying in Latvia for a limited time. The period of validity of a short-term visa may not exceed one year and the period of sojourn may not exceed ninety days during any six-month period counting from the day of entry. Long-term visa The period of validity of a long-term visa may not exceed one year (except for visas marked “Diplomatic visa” or “Service Visa”), and may be issued to foreign nationals if they need to remain in the Republic of Latvia for more than ninety days during any six-month period counting from the day of entry, and if obtaining of the visa: • complies with international norms; • conforms with the interests of Latvia; • is justified by circumstances of force majeure; • is justified by humanitarian considerations. Local border visa A local border visa may be issued in accordance with the international agreements of the Republic of Latvia on simplified procedures for issuing visas to residents of border zones. The period of validity of such a visa may not exceed one year and the period of sojourn in the Republic of Latvia may not exceed ninety days during any six-month period counting from the day of entry. “Diplomatic Visa” or “Service Visa” Visas marked “Diplomatic Visa” or “Service Visa” are issued in Latvia by the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but in other countries, by the Latvian Embassy or Consulate. These visas may be issued to persons enjoying diplomatic or consular (and similar) privilege and immunity and who are staying in Latvia for official purposes. Entry visas, transit visas and airport transit visas may be issued for a single, double or multiple entry into the Republic of Latvia. A single, double or multiple entry visa of any category is an individual visa and will appear in the person’s travel document. A single or double entry transit visa and a single or double entry short-term visa may also be a group visa. A group visa may be issued to an organized group of foreign nationals, if it holds a group passport and consists of 5 - 50 persons entering, staying in and departing from Latvia or crossing the border of Latvia in transit together as a group. The person in charge of the group must hold a travel document and an individual visa, if a visa is required. Fee for processing visa applications in Latvian diplomatic and consular missions abroad: • Short-term visa (C category) - 60 EUR • Transit visa (B category) - 60 EUR • Airport transit visa (A category) - 60 EUR • One entry or double entry long-term visa (D category) - 43 LVL • Multiple entry long-term visa (D category) - 60 LVL • Visa with a limited territorial validity (B or C category) - 60 EUR • One entry or double entry long-term visa simultaneously valid as a short-term visa (D+C category) - 43 LVL • Multiple entry long-term visa simultaneously valid as a short-term visa (D+C category) - 60 LVL To obtain up-to-date information about visas, please visit the home page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia at www.am.gov.lv or contact the Latvian diplomatic mission or embassy at your home country.