Republic of Latvia

Cabinet
Regulation No. 123
Adopted 25 February 2025

Regulations Regarding Restrictions on the Acceptance of Visa Applications and Entry of Third-country Nationals in the Republic of Latvia

Issued in accordance with
Section 4, Paragraph twelve of the Immigration Law

I. General Provision

1. The Regulation prescribes the third countries for the nationals of which restrictions on the acceptance of visa applications and entry in the Republic of Latvia are determined and the time limits for the abovementioned restrictions.

II. Restrictions on the Acceptance of Visa Applications and Entry of the Citizens of the Russian Federation

2. The diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia in foreign countries shall accept visa applications from the following citizens of the Russian Federation:

2.1. who are family members of the nationals of the Republic of Latvia (spouses, minor children of the spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and also persons under their care, guardianship, or trusteeship);

2.2. who are family members of the nationals of the countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation;

2.3. who are entering based on humanitarian considerations;

2.4. who have been granted the right of residence in the Republic of Latvia and require a visa for entry in the Republic of Latvia;

2.5. who are employees of the diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation who are accredited by the Republic of Latvia or assigned to the Republic of Latvia and their family members;

2.6. who are diplomatic couriers of the Russian Federation or ad hoc diplomatic couriers who present an official document which states their status and the number of parcels in the diplomatic bag;

2.7. who are going to the embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Latvia on a short-term official travel for the provision of technical support.

3. The diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia in foreign countries shall accept visa applications from citizens of the Russian Federation in individual cases if it conforms to the international obligations binding on the Republic of Latvia or the national interests of the State in the field of foreign and development policy, or is in the interests of the public or national security.

4. The following citizens of the Russian Federation may be permitted to enter the Republic of Latvia by crossing the external border of the Republic of Latvia:

4.1. who are holders of a residence permit of the Republic of Latvia, country of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation;

4.2. who are holders of a long-term visa of a Schengen Agreement country;

4.3. to whom visa has been issued in accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) and who are:

4.3.1. family members of the nationals of the Republic of Latvia (spouses, minor children of the spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and also persons under their care, guardianship, or trusteeship);

4.3.2. family members of the nationals of the countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation;

4.3.3. employees of the transport and passenger carriage service providers, the crews of freight or technical voyages who enter or exit the Republic of Latvia for the performance of work duties;

4.3.4. seafarers who must reach their work place aboard a ship or must return from it;

4.3.5. persons who are entering based on humanitarian considerations;

4.4. who are employees of the diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation who are accredited by the Republic of Latvia or assigned to the Republic of Latvia and their family members;

4.5. who are diplomatic couriers of the Russian Federation or ad hoc diplomatic couriers who present an official document which states their status and the number of parcels in the diplomatic bag;

4.6. who are going to the embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Latvia on a short-term official travel for the provision of technical support;

4.7. who are employees of the diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation who are crossing the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit for the performance of official functions and their family members, and also persons who are crossing the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit and are going to an embassy of the Russian Federation in the host country on a short term official travel for the provision of technical support.

III. Restrictions on the Acceptance of Visa Applications of Citizens of the Republic of Belarus

5. The diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia in foreign countries shall accept visa applications from the following citizens of the Republic of Belarus:

5.1. who submit documents for requesting a long-term visa;

5.2. who submit documents for requesting visa in accordance with the Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code) and who are:

5.2.1. family members of the nationals of the Republic of Latvia (spouses, minor children of the spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters, and also persons under their care, guardianship, or trusteeship);

5.2.2. family members of the nationals of the countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation;

5.2.3. persons who are entering based on humanitarian considerations;

5.2.4. family members of the nationals of the Republic of Belarus who have valid right of residence in the Republic of Latvia (spouses, minor children of the spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, and also persons under their care, guardianship, or trusteeship);

5.2.5. employees of the transport and passenger carriage service providers, the crews of freight or technical voyages who enter the Republic of Latvia for the performance of work duties;

5.2.6. seafarers who must reach their work place aboard a ship or must return from it;

5.3. who are employees of the diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Belarus who are accredited by the Republic of Latvia or assigned to the Republic of Latvia and their family members;

5.4. who are diplomatic couriers of the Republic of Belarus or ad hoc diplomatic couriers who present an official document which states their status and the number of parcels in the diplomatic bag;

5.5. who are going to the embassy of the Republic of Belarus in the Republic of Latvia on a short-term official travel for the provision of technical support.

6. The diplomatic and consular missions of the Republic of Latvia in foreign countries shall accept visa applications from citizens of the Republic of Belarus in individual cases if it conforms to the international obligations binding on the Republic of Latvia or the interests of the State in the field of foreign and development policy, or is in the interests of the public or national security.

IV. Closing Provisions

7. The Regulation shall be in force until 31 December 2026.

8. Cabinet Order No. 599 of 9 September 2022, On Entry of Citizens of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Latvia (Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2022, No. 175B; 2023, No. 125; 2024, No. 45A), is repealed.

Acting for the Prime Minister -
Minister for Justice I. Lībiņa-Egnere

Acting for the Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Minister for Finance A. Ašeradens

Translation © 2025 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)