Coronavirus and Traveling to Latvia
As you are probably aware, the number of registered cases of coronavirus in Latvia has increased in past few weeks.
Latest information about current situation concerning coronavirus in Latvia and travel restrictions related to it is available on the webpage of Center of Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia:
https://www.spkc.gov.lv/lv/valstu-saslimstibas-raditaji-ar-covid-19-0
A number of travel restrictions still remain in force, but Latvian nationals, their family members and certain categories of students, entrepreneurs and professionals can travel to Latvia from the U.S:
https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa/consular-information
Full list of categories of persons that are allowed to travel to Latvia is available in Paragraph 37 of the Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers No.360 of June 9, 2020 Epidemiological Safety Measures for the Containment of the Spread of COVID-19 Infection: http://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/315304
Documents needed to travel to Latvia
For Latvian nationals a valid passport of Latvia is needed to be able to travel to Latvia.
If a Latvian national would like to travel to Latvia, but his/her passport has expired, there are three options how to assist:
- The Latvian national can request a new passport from the Embassy of Latvia (usually delivered to the applicant’s home address within 8 weeks): https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa/consular-information/applying-for-passport-and-or-id-card
To request a new passport, personal appearance at the Embassy is required. All portable passport station trips scheduled for the year 2020 have been cancelled. Information about portable passport station trips is available on the Embassy’s webpage and is usually posted at least two months before the trip: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa/consular-information
- The Latvian national can request from the Embassy a certificate from the Population Register regarding his Latvian citizenship: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/usa/konsulara-informacija/dokumentu-izprasisana-no-latvijas .
The certificate can be requested by mail and is usually issued within 5 working days. It does not have any expiration date.
- The Embassy or the Honorary Consul (if authorized) in his consular district after receiving confirmation from the Embassy can issue a return certificate : https://www.mfa.gov.lv/usa/konsulara-informacija/dokuments-lai-atgrieztos-latvija-atgriesanas-aplieciba-return-certificate
The return certificate is valid no longer than 30 days from the date of issuance.
In the cases of option 2) or 3) after returning to Latvia and self-isolation, a person must visit the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) and receive a new Latvian passport.
For foreign family members of Latvian nationals and other categories of persons allowed to enter Latvia we recommend to contact their air companies to receive information what documentation is needed to be able to travel to Latvia. Also, we recommend to have with them all documents proving the relationship with Latvian national (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.) when traveling to Latvia to be able to present them to border control officers and representatives of air companies.
From our side, we offer a letter of support for family members and other categories of persons who can enter Latvia, if such a letter is required. To receive that letter, they can reach out to us by e-mail: consulate.usa@mfa.gov.lv . Please note that a letter of support from the Embassy is not needed for Latvian nationals to be able to travel to Latvia.
Please be also informed that from October 12 everyone entering the territory of Latvia from abroad has to fill out an electronic form, so called COVIDPASS, available at: https://www.covidpass.lv/ before traveling to Latvia.
Specific requirements of air companies and restrictions of transit countries
Additionally, we advise everybody to get to know the specific requirements of the airlines, transit countries and airports for travel to Latvia.
Self-isolation:
The 10 day self-isolation is still mandatory for travelers to Latvia from the U.S. Exceptions from the self-isolation requirement can be found in Part IX of the Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers No.360 of June 9, 2020 Epidemiological Safety Measures for the Containment of the Spread of COVID-19 Infection: http://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/315304
Detailed information about self-isolation after entering Latvia is available on the webpage of the government of Latvia: https://covid19.gov.lv/en/covid-19/safety-measures/self-isolation and on the webpage of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia https://www.spkc.gov.lv/lv/valstu-saslimstibas-raditaji-ar-covid-19-0 . The list of countries upon returning from which persons must self-isolate is being updated each Friday.
General information on Coronavirus in Latvia:
Information about the newest decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia can be found here: https://www.mk.gov.lv/en/content/covid-19
Very useful information from different angles about coronavirus in Latvia you can find in FAQ: https://covid19.gov.lv/en/covid-19-frequently-asked-questions-and-answers
Please use already available sources provided by the Embassy:
We kindly ask you to direct anyone interested in traveling to Latvia and travel restrictions to the Consular Division of the Embassy of Latvia: consulate.usa@mfa.gov.lv
In addition please be informed that the Consular Division of the Embassy of Latvia is continuing in-person appointments for consular services, mainly for passports and eID cards. For more information please see: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/usa/consular-information