International Students Visa to study in Latvia

Posted date: 05 May 2020

The conditions for a student visa in Latvia will vary as to whether or not the prospective applicant is a resident of the EU / EEA. EU / EEA students don't need a visa to enter Latvia. Furthermore, there are also non-EU / EEA countries whose residents can benefit from the same privilege. Please take care, though, that such persons can only remain in Latvia for up to 90 days over a six-month span. As such, students wishing to live longer are encouraged to apply for a Certificate of Registration / Residence permit prior to arrival or during their first 90 days of live in the region.

Students from visa-free countries have limited opportunities to secure a residency permit, so they must have the following documents:

•           Apply to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) in Riga in person within 90 days of arrival to Latvia.
•          Valid travel documents
•          Confirmation / Research Invitation
•           A statement of sufficient financing
•          Once the applicant arrives in Latvia certain colleges can conduct the procedure themselves.
•          Write to the embassy of Latvia in their country of origin (if there is one).

Please notice that there could be different conditions depending on the institution selected and checking in with the foreign advisor of the institution is strongly recommended. It would take more than 40 days to complete the residency permit process. Students would have to request a health care package (valid in Latvia) and both the original and copied copies of the results issued by a reputable institution in Latvia.

Nonetheless, the visa conditions and procedures for a student visa in Latvia will differ on the particular country or area for students who are not from the visa – free nations, so it is better to visit the Latvian university or the nearest Latvian embassy. The requirements that must be fulfilled in order to receive a residency permit in Latvia are virtually the same as those from the visa-free countries. Applications must be sent as early as possible, as it can take several weeks for Latvia to secure a residency permit or student visa.

Posted By

GSP Admin