Latvia Visa RequirementsFor Kenya passport holders
Kenyan citizens require a Schengen visa to visit Latvia, costing €90 ($98 USD). Latvia is a Schengen and EU member in the Baltic region. Applications are processed through VFS Global or the Latvian Embassy. Riga is Latvia's capital and one of the Baltic states' most visited cities.
Kenya passport holders require a visa to enter Latvia.
Apply through VFS Global Nairobi or the Latvian Embassy. Required documents: completed Schengen form, valid passport (at least 3 months beyond return), two biometric photos, travel insurance (minimum €30,000 Schengen-wide), confirmed return flights, accommodation bookings, 3 months of bank statements, and employment or income evidence. Processing takes 15 business days on average. The €90 fee is paid at the application centre.
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
Kenya to Latvia: What You Need to Know
Latvia is a Schengen member: a Latvian Schengen visa grants access to all 27 Schengen countries for up to 90 days. The Schengen fee is €90 since June 2024. Latvia joined the eurozone in 2014. Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania form the Baltic states and are conveniently visited together on one Schengen visa. Riga's Art Nouveau architecture is among the finest in Europe, and the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Latvian Embassy or VFS Global handles applications for Kenya.
How to Get There
No direct flights connect Nairobi (NBO) to Riga Airport (RIX). Common routings go via Helsinki (HEL) with Finnair then airBaltic, or via Copenhagen (CPH), Frankfurt (FRA), or Amsterdam (AMS) with connections. airBaltic operates extensively from Riga. Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines via ADD connect to European hubs. Total journey time is typically 16 to 20 hours.
Money & Banking
Latvia uses the euro (EUR). Visa and Mastercard are accepted widely. Latvia is moderately priced: Riga accommodation from €40 per night, meals from €8 to €15 in mid-range restaurants. Riga's Old Town has excellent budget dining options. ATMs are available in cities and towns. Latvia is generally more affordable than Tallinn (Estonia) and has a growing tourism infrastructure.
Practical Tips
Riga's Art Nouveau district has some 750 buildings in the distinctive architectural style, the largest concentration in Europe. The UNESCO-listed Old Town has medieval guild halls, the iconic Three Brothers buildings, and Riga Cathedral. Jurmala beach resort is 25 minutes from Riga by train. The Gauja National Park offers castle ruins, sandy ravines, and bobsled tracks. Day trips to Sigulda (the "Switzerland of Latvia") cover medieval castles and walking trails. Latvian cuisine features dark rye bread, smoked fish, and grey peas with bacon.