Entry with visa

Entry with visa

You require a visa to enter the Republic of Latvia and a residence permit (RP) after your arrival if you are a citizen of any other country not indicated in the previous lists and your stay in the Republic of Latvia will exceed 90 days within a 6-month period.

Detailed visa application process for citizens of India and Sri Lanka

Visa application process

Step 1
Fill in online Visa application form that can be found HERE (indicate type D visa).

Step 2
Print out and sign the completed application form and gather all supporting documents:

  • Two passport-size photos (size 35mmx45mm) must be taken in last 6 months and it should be on white background;
  • Passport containing at least two blank pages. Copies of the identification pages and the pages that contain information about previously issued visas;
  • Invitation approved by the OCMA (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Latvia), you will receive it from RTU when first study year tuition fee and a security deposit fee has been settled;
  • Proof of accommodation: a copy of proof of your intended residence in Latvia has to be submitted (A Guarantee letter (GARANTIJAS VĒSTULE) will be provided from RTU when first study year tuition fee and a security deposit fee has been settled);
  • Study agreement copy to be submitted along with the documents (you will receive a signed scanned copy from RTU).
  • Proof of sufficient financial means:
    • Original private bank account statement showing the history of transactions over the last three months period, duly stamped and signed by the bank, the balance of the account shall be 8500 EUR or equal in another currency. Copy of the letter must be submitted along with visa application;
    • Income tax return acknowledgment for the last two assessment years (applicable only for citizens of India);
  • Travel medical insurance valid for the whole Schengen area and covering the entire period of visa duration (90 days). The minimum coverage of 42,600 EUR including the costs of urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment in case of an illness as well as medical transportation and repatriation in the event of death. It is important that the insurance meets all the above requirements.

Step 3
Visa submission appointment may be requested only through VFS (Visa Facilitation Services) Global. Once you will received a copy of Invitation from University, make a call to VFS Centre to book an appointment at VFS near you +91 022-67866025.

Locate the closest VFS branch HERE.

Following fees shall apply:

  • tax duty fee for visa application reviewing 60.00 EUR (5100 INR) can be paid in cash or by bank card at VFS centre;
  • service charge of Rs. 1737/- (inclusive of Goods and Service Tax –SGST @9% and CGST@9%) payable in cash or by debit/credit card. More info HERE.

Step 4
Embassy interview. Every student will be interviewed by the Latvian Embassy (New Delhi) via video call at VFS centre. This interview can take place at the time of file submission at the VFS centre or student may get a call from VFS at a later stage for the interview date and time.

Your application will be accepted only if all documents listed in the STEP 2 will be presented. Note that if you miss the appointment or you do not have all documents another appointment time will NOT be given.

If your visa decision is positive you may enter Latvia. Upon arrival you will have to submit an application for a residence permit (RP) to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA).

The following documents must be prepared while in your home country:

  • A definite sample form for a residence permit request find HERE;
  • Originals of your educational documents or notary approved copies of them (to be legalized/apostilled);
  • An original statement on punishability/criminal record issued (PCC) by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country in which you have spent last 12 months, valid for 6 months (to be legalized/apostilled);
  • An evidence that you have sufficient financial means 8500 EUR/per one year.

An original letter from the bank on your name; your full name must be written as in the passport, date of birth and balance of your account; this letter must be signed and stamped by bank official!

DEBIT or CREDIT card must be affiliated with the account for use abroad, valid for 3 months.

Note: The documents for your residence permit application can be submitted in Latvian, English, French, Russian or German.

Note: Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) is not a notarial act. Unless there are international agreements in force that provide for a different procedure, all documents issued in other countries have to be legalized. Legalisation – Certification of Document Authenticity. Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) means verification of signature and seal of a document. It is performed by a Consular Officer in order the documents drawn up in one country were in force in another one. Legalisation also implies confirmation of the legal status and authority of the signatory.

Please find more information on legalization HERE.

Tax duty fee applies to submit a residence permit application, fin more information HERE. 

Before arrival

Step 1
After you have paid tuition fee for the first study year and a security deposit, RTU will prepare and provide an Invitation letter which will allow applying for D type (long-term) entrance visa to the Republic of Latvia at a Latvian consular mission in a foreign country. 

Step 2
Prepare and submit the following documents to a Latvian consular mission in a foreign country for the D type long-term visa application:

  • Find D type visa application form HERE. Find sample of long-term visa HERE.
  • Invitation letter from the University (received from RTU when fees settled);
  • Guarantee letter from the University (received from RTU when fees settled);
  • A copy of statement on punishability/criminal record issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country, valid for six months (to be legalized/apostiled);

Note! ONLY a copy of the letter must be given for visa application!

  • An evidence that you have sufficient financial means of 8500 EUR/per year.

A bank statement/letter  must be on your name; your full name must be written as in the passport, date of birth and final account balance of your account; this letter must be signed and stamped by bank official! Validity of the statement is 3 months.

DEBIT or CREDIT card must be affiliated with the account for use abroad.

Note! ONLY a copy of the letter must be given for visa application!

Note! If the letter is on other person`s name, then double the amount of required balance must be showed and an affidavit prepared, that states, that you will be allowed to use other persons bank account (affidavit must be legalized);

  • Insurance covering the validity of visa.

This information is regarding extra documents for students that are not 18 yet. 2 additional documents are required :

1. Birth certificate(legalized). Original of the birth certificate has to be legalized. Apostille is put on the back of the original and not on the notary translation. If the document is not in English and is translated and approved by notary then apostille is also required on the translation!

2. Guardianship letter. Your guardian can be any person who has reached 18 years of age and is a resident here in Latvia or is a citizen of the Republic of Latvia(has a personal code of Latvia). This person will help you sign all the agreements here, since you cannot do that yourself under 18. In this case you need a document from notary made by your parents stating that they allow this person to be your legal guardian till you reach 18. This original document has to be legalized as well. If the document is not in English and is translated and approved by notary then apostille is also required on the translation!

Step 3
Receive the long-term visa at a Latvian consular mission in a foreign country.

After arrival

Step 1
Arrange the following documents to submit to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs for RP application:

  • A definite sample form for a residence permit request find HERE;
  • Legalized/apostilled originals of your educational documents. Apostille is done on the original document and not on the not on the notary approved translation!

Note! If your previous education documents are not in English, you need notary approved translations of them;

  • An original statement on punishability/criminal record issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country, valid for six months (to be legalized/apostilled);
  • An evidence that you have sufficient financial means of 8500 EUR/per year.

A bank statement/letter  must be on your name; your full name must be written as in the passport, date of birth and final account balance of your account; this letter must be signed and stamped by bank official! Validity of the statement is 3 months.

DEBIT or CREDIT card must be affiliated with the account for use abroad.

Note! If the letter is on other person`s name, then double the amount of required balance must be showed and an affidavit prepared, that states, that you will be allowed to use other persons bank account (affidavit must be legalized);

Note! The documents can be submitted in Latvian, English, French, Russian or German unless there are international agreements in force that provide for a different procedure, all documents issued in other countries have to be legalized.

Please find more information on legalization of documents HERE.

Step 2
Receive a positive residence permit decision to your e-mail address.

Step 3
Receive the RP card by providing your travel document, health insurance valid for 1 year, and an x-ray check provided by any private/public health clinic.

Step 4
Receive the RP card by providing your travel document, health insurance valid for 1 year, and an x-ray check provided by any private/public health clinic.