Latvia Visa RequirementsFor Russia passport holders
Latvia is among the most restrictive EU and Schengen countries for Russian visa applicants post-2022, granting very few tourist visas to Russian nationals. Russian citizens who do apply face extensive documentation requirements and low approval rates.
Russia passport holders require a visa to enter Latvia.
Apply at the Latvian Embassy in Moscow (Ulitsa Chaplygina 3) or at Latvian consular posts in other countries. The Schengen visa fee is 80 EUR (approximately $87). Required documents include a standard Schengen application form, passport, biometric photos, travel insurance, proof of accommodation, financial statements, and a detailed purpose-of-travel cover letter. For tourist applications, Latvian consular officers require particularly compelling justification. Processing may take up to 45 days. Many Russian applicants with ties to Latvia (family, ancestry, business) submit applications in person at the Latvian Embassy in Minsk or Tallinn (via third country) for a potentially different evaluation context.
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
Russia to Latvia: What You Need to Know
Latvia has been one of the most vocal and proactive EU member states in restricting the entry of Russian nationals since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Latvia has a significant ethnic Russian minority and has experienced heightened tensions with Russia for decades, culminating in sharply deteriorated relations after 2022. The Latvian government has actively lobbied for EU-wide restrictions on Russian visas and has implemented its own stricter national guidelines on top of Schengen requirements. The Latvian Embassy in Moscow operates at minimal capacity. Tourist visa applications from Russian citizens are reviewed with extreme scrutiny, and refusal rates are high. Applicants with credible humanitarian, family reunification, or academic purposes have more grounds for application than tourists.
Practical Tips
Be prepared for a high probability of refusal if applying for a purely tourist visa to Latvia as a Russian national. Focus your application on any legitimate ties to Latvia such as family, property, or academic connections. Avoid overstating your travel purpose, as inconsistencies are grounds for immediate refusal. If you have previously been refused a Schengen visa, disclose this honestly in your application form and be prepared to explain the circumstances. Latvia shares land borders with Russia (Terehova crossing) but the practical accessibility of this crossing for Russians seeking to enter Latvia is extremely limited under current policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Russian citizens get a Schengen visa from Latvia?
Yes, technically, but Latvia is one of the most restrictive Schengen countries for Russian visa applicants. Latvia grants very few tourist visas to Russian nationals and applies intense scrutiny to all applications. Applicants with compelling humanitarian, family, or academic reasons have a better chance than those applying purely for tourism.
Why is Latvia particularly strict for Russian visa applications?
Latvia shares a history of Soviet occupation and has maintained adversarial relations with Russia for decades. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Latvia adopted some of the strictest national policies toward Russian travelers in the EU. Latvia has a large ethnic Russian minority but has also been a vocal advocate for EU-wide restrictions on Russian visas. The Latvian government has publicly stated that tourism from Russia is not a priority to facilitate under current geopolitical conditions.
What is the Schengen visa fee for Latvia?
The standard Schengen visa fee is 80 EUR (approximately $87), which is non-refundable whether the visa is approved or refused. Additional VFS Global service fees may apply depending on the submission channel. Processing time is typically 15 to 45 days for Russian applicants, and a refusal will be recorded in the Schengen Information System, affecting future visa applications.
Are there land border crossings open between Russia and Latvia?
Latvia shares land borders with Russia via the Terehova and Paternieki crossing points. However, as of 2024, practical access for Russian nationals seeking tourist entry to Latvia at these crossings is extremely limited given current border management policies. Russian nationals should verify the current status of these crossings through official Latvian border guard sources before planning any overland travel.