Latvia Visa RequirementsFor Afghanistan passport holders
Afghan citizens require a Schengen visa to visit Latvia, costing €90 ($98 USD). Latvia has no embassy in Afghanistan or Pakistan. Applications are handled by the Finnish or German embassy in Islamabad or another designated Schengen representative. Latvia's capital Riga has exceptional Art Nouveau architecture.
Afghanistan passport holders require a visa to enter Latvia.
Contact the Finnish Embassy in Islamabad or the German Embassy to confirm which Schengen country represents Latvia. Required documents: completed Schengen form, valid Afghan passport (at least 3 months beyond return), two biometric photos, travel insurance (minimum €30,000), confirmed return flights, accommodation bookings, 3 months of bank statements, employment letter. Processing takes 15 business days.
Latvia is part of the Schengen Area. Your stay counts toward the 90-day limit within any 180-day period for the entire Schengen zone. Learn more about Schengen rules →
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
3 months beyond departure from Schengen
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Current Travel Situation
Afghanistan to Latvia: What You Need to Know
Latvia is a Schengen member: a Latvian Schengen visa grants access to all 27 Schengen countries. The Schengen fee is €90 since June 2024. Latvia has very limited embassy presence in the region. Afghan nationals apply at a designated Schengen embassy, typically Finnish or German, in Islamabad or Dubai. Latvia joined the eurozone in 2014. Riga's Art Nouveau district has over 750 buildings in the style, the largest concentration in the world. The Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) are conveniently visited together on one Schengen trip.
How to Get There
No direct flights connect Afghan airports to Latvia. Route via Helsinki (HEL) or Amsterdam (AMS) then airBaltic to Riga (RIX). Via Istanbul (IST) with Turkish Airlines then connecting is another option. From Islamabad, connect through Gulf hubs then European connections. Total journey time from Kabul is typically 16 to 22 hours.
Money & Banking
Latvia uses the euro (EUR). Visa and Mastercard are accepted widely. Latvia is moderately priced: Riga accommodation from €35 per night, meals from €8 to €14. Latvia is generally more affordable than Tallinn and has a growing food scene. ATMs are available in cities. Latvia is part of the Baltic states trio often visited together.
Practical Tips
Riga's Art Nouveau district is the city's crown jewel, with 750 extraordinary early 20th-century buildings. Riga Old Town (UNESCO) has medieval guild halls and Latvia's three-starred freedom monument. Jurmala beach resort is 25 minutes from Riga. Gauja National Park has castle ruins and sandy ravines. Sigulda, the "Switzerland of Latvia," has medieval castles and a bobsled track. Latvian dark rye bread and smoked fish are culinary highlights.