Visas and Residence Permits

Student has to apply for the registration certificate in person at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga (any division) within 90 days as of the first day of entry, if a Union citizen resides in the Republic of Latvia for longer than 90 days counting from the first day of entry. A registration certificate shall be issued to a Union citizen without delay after submission of all necessary application documents.

To request a registration certificate the Union citizen needs submit the following documents:

1) Valid travel document;

2) Application form (will be available at the Office of Citizenship and Migration);

3) Study agreement;

4) Health insurance (valid in Latvia);

5) Document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 500 Euro per month). Document – official (original) statement from bank with stamp and signature of represenative person and also copy of bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval).

As to get to the main Office of Citizenship and Migration you must take the Tram No.11 and hop off on the stop "2. Meza kapi". More information about other divisions of OCMA is here and on the public transport routes and schedules available here.

There is a list of countries (see below) that citizens of which in issuing a visa or a residence permit an additional assessment shall be performed. Citizens of these countries need to apply for residence permit and visa by themselves the Embassy of Latvia in their country of origin or at the Embassy of other country who has territorial competence on giving visas for going to Latvia. University doesn’t have the rights to do that.

For preparing the invitation for residence permit UL should have the following data about the student: 

• copy of passport; 

• date and place of birth; 

• citizenship; 

• home address; 

• address of accommodation in Riga;  

• Embassy of Latvia where student will submit the documents for the residence permit.

After the invitation is approved, the student can submit the following documents for the residence permit:

• invitation document;
   
• residence permit application form (available at www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/residence-permits/applications.html);
   
• copy of passport (original must be presented). Passport should be valid at least 3 months longer than planned residence permit term;
   
• one photo (3x4 cm);
   
• a proof of study fee payment;
   
• legalized statement on punishability issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months (Certificate valid for 6 months from the date of approval);
   
• document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 500 Euro) per month. Document – official (original) statement from bank with stamp and signature of represenative person and also copy of bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by UL if will be staying at students dormitory) (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• copy of study agreement (original must be presented);
   
• AIC decision (Given by university);
   
• legalized documents on previous education which should be sufficient for studies at the University of Latvia;
   
• state duty payment  for the examination of submitted documents will be done on the place in embassy or OCMA. (see price table below).

  
  All underaged students must have person who will be responsible and help them with all migration procedures, as it can not be done by student himself.

• Students must have notice from the parents for the person who will accompany student, notice must be legalized and notary translated in English.

• Students must have birth certificate, birth certificate must be legalized and notary translated in English.

Prices for examination of the documents for requesting a temporary residence permit:

The residence permit procedure takes over 40 days. Student may receive the residence permit for studies in Latvia for the period on which the Student has paid their study fee. The documents for the prolongation procedure must be submitted not later than 40 days before the validity of the current permit has run out.

On receiving the residence permit student have to present a life and health insurance policy which is valid in Latvia and a copy of statement on fluorography or x-ray results (original must be presented) issued by a competent institution in Latvia.

Other useful information:  
www.am.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission
www.pmlp.gov.lv/en

Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,  Dominica, East Timor, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, The Vatican, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America,  Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela. 

In order to receive a residence permit student has two options:

1) Apply for residence permit by him/her after arriving to Latvia (within 90 days as of the first day of entry) at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga (OCMA);

2) Student can apply for residence permit in the Embassy of Latvia in his/her country of origin (If there is Embassy of Latvia)

For preparing the invitation for residence permit UL should have the following data about the student: 

• copy of passport; 
• date and place of birth;
• citizenship; 
• home address; 
• address of accommodation in Riga;
• Embassy of Latvia where student will submit the documents for the residence permit (if the documents will be submitted in the Embassy).

After the invitation is approved, the student or UL coordinator can submit the following documents for the residence permit:

• invitation document;
   
• residence permit application form (available at www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/residence-permits/applications.html);
   
• copy of passport (original must be presented). Passport should be valid at least 3 months longer than planned residence permit term;
   
• one photo (3x4 cm);
   
• document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 500 Euro) per month. Document – official (original) statement from bank with stamp and signature of represenative person and also copy of bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by UL if will be staying at students dormitory) (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• copy of study agreement (original must be presented);
   
• AIC decision (Given by university);
   
• legalized documents on previous education which should be sufficient for studies at the University of Latvia;
   
• state duty payment for the examination of submitted documents will be done on the place in embassy or OCMA. (see price table below).
  
  All underaged students must have person who will be responsible and help them with all migration procedures, as it can not be done by student himself.

• Students must have notice from the parents for the person who will accompany student, notice must be legalized and notary translated in English.

• Students must have birth certificate, birth certificate must be legalized and notary translated in English.

Prices for examination of the documents for requesting a temporary residence permit:

The residence permit procedure takes over 40 days. Student may receive the residence permit for studies in Latvia for the period on which the Student has paid their study fee. The documents for the prolongation procedure must be submitted not later than 40 days before the validity of the current permit has run out.

On receiving the residence permit student have to present a life and health insurance policy which is valid in Latvia and a copy of statement on fluorography or x-ray results (original must be presented) issued by a competent institution in Latvia.

Other useful information:  
www.am.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission
www.pmlp.gov.lv/en

In order to receive a residence permit student has two options:

1) Apply for residence permit by him/her after receiving visa and arriving to Latvia (within 30 or 90 days as of the first day of entry) at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga (OCMA);

2) Student can apply for residence permit at the Embassy of Latvia in their country of origin or at the Embassy of other country who has territorial competence on giving visas for going to Latvia

Note!  According to Immigration Law, University of Latvia provides applicants with the invitation document only for full – time studies. To apply for part – time studies applicant have to have valid Resident permit in European Union country.

Exceptions:

• If the student has a valid residence permit in any of the Schengen countries, she/he has the right to submit the documents in the Embassy of Latvia which is located in a Schengen country.
• Master’s, doctoral and residency students can arrive to Latvia with a any Schengen visa and while the visa is valid, submit the documents for the residence permit at the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga.

For preparing the invitation for residence permit or visa, UL should have the following data about the student: 

• copy passport;
   
• date and place of birth;
   
• citizenship;
   
• home address;
   
• address of accommodation in Riga;
   
• Embassy of Latvia where student will submit the documents for the residence permit.

After the invitation is approved, the student or UL coordinator can submit the following documents for the residence permit:

• invitation document;
   
• residence permit application form, available at http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/residence-permits/applications.html
   
• copy of passport (original must be presented). Passport should be valid at least 3 months longer than planned residence permit term;
   
• one photo;
   
• legalized statement on punishability issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months (Certificate valid for 6 months from the date of approval);
   
• document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 500 Euro) per month. Document – official (original) statement from bank with stamp and signature of represenative person and also copy of bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by UL if will be staying at students dormitory) (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• copy of study agreement (original must be presented);
   
• AIC decision (Given by University);
   
• legalized documents on previous education which should be sufficient for studies at the University of Latvia;
   
• state duty payment for the examination of submitted documents will be done on the place in embassy or OCMA. (see price table below).
  
  All underaged students must have person who will be responsible and help them with all migration procedures, as it can not be done by student himself.

• Students must have notice from the parents for the person who will accompany student, notice must be legalized and notary translated in English.

• Students must have birth certificate, birth certificate must be legalized and notary translated in English.

Prices for examination of the documents for requesting a temporary residence permit:

The residence permit procedure takes over 40 days. Student may receive the residence permit for studies in Latvia for the period on which the Student has paid their study fee. The documents for the prolongation procedure must be submitted not later than 40 days before the validity of the current permit has run out.

On receiving the residence permit student have to present a life and health insurance policy which is valid in Latvia and a copy of statement on fluorography or x-ray results (original must be presented) issued by a competent institution in Latvia.

Other useful information:  
www.am.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission
www.pmlp.gov.lv/en

A residence permit is normally granted for one year at the time. Extension of a residence permit must be done before the existing residence permit expires. Please be aware that the waiting for extension of a residence permit takes time till 3 months. Suggestion is to inform UL coordinator at least 3 month before residence permit expires to get new invitation for extension. If student will apply at least 45 (max 90 days) before residence permit will expire, then it will be for free (Only for Master or PhD students), but if less, then student will need to pay state fee (See table below). You are entitled to stay in Latvia while the permit is being processed.

Before preparing invitation, student needs to bring UL coordinator state duty payment check/receipt that he/she has paid for preparation of invitation document (Below is information for this payment):

When making a wire transfer, the name and surname of the person for which the state fee is paid should be specified in the payment order.

Purpose of payment: State fee payment, NAME, FAMILY NAME and DATE OF BIRTH 
Beneficiary: UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA 
Address: Raina blvd. 19, Riga, Latvia, LV-1586 
VAT number: LV90000076669 
Bank: THE TREASURY OF REPUBLIC OF LATVIA 
Address: Smilsu str.1, Riga, Latvia, LV-1919 
Account No. IBAN: LV33TREL9150101000000 
BIC code: TRELLV22 
EKK 21351
Amount: 14.00 EUR

After the invitation is approved, the student or UL coordinator can submit the following documents for the extension of residence permit:

* invitation document (prepared by UL coordinator);

* residence permit application

* copy of passport (original must be presented). Passport should be valid at least 3 months longer than planned residence permit term;

* one photo; 

* document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 500 Euro per month). Document – official (original) statement from bank with stamp and signature of represenative person and also copy of bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);

* document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (if there are any changes of address) (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);

* copy of study agreement (original must be presented);

All underaged students must have person who will be responsible and help them with all migration procedures, as it can not be done by student himself.

• Students must have notice from the parents for the person who will accompany student, notice must be legalized and notary translated in English.

• Students must have birth certificate, birth certificate must be legalized and notary translated in English.

Arrange appointment at the OCMA by phone (tel.: +371 67829750), then you will agree for the date and time of visit. You will receive reservation No., which you will validate there, before appointment.

As to get to the main Office of Citizenship and Migration you must take the Tram No.11 and hop off on the stop "2. Meza kapi". More information about other divisions of OCMA is here and on the public transport routes and schedules available here.

Prices for examination of the documents for requesting a temporary residence permit:

OCMA bank details: 

When making a wire transfer, the name and surname of the person for which the state fee is paid should be specified in the payment order.

Purpose of payment: VN PMLP dok. MK 577 (12.09.2017)
Beneficiary: The Treasury, registration No. 90000050138
Beneficiary institution: The Treasury, code TRELLV22
Account No.: LV37TREL1060140918500