Foreign national whose short stay visa, long term visa or local border traffic permit has been refused, annulled or revoked by a diplomatic or consular mission of Latvia abroad has a right to appeal this decision to the Director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with the Sections 4 and 17 of the Immigration Law of the Republic of Latvia.
The appeal procedure:
- Within 30 days following the notification of the decision on the refusal, annulment or revocation of the visa or the local border traffic permit the foreign national has a right to submit the written and signed appeal in Latvian, Russian or English:
- at the diplomatic or consular mission of Latvia which has refused, annulled or revoked the visa or
- at the Consular Department
address: Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Elizabetes iela 57
Rīga, LV-1050
Republic of Latvia
An appeal letter against a visa or a local border traffic permit refusal may be registered at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia only if it is received from and signed by a person whose visa has been refused (original form). Inviting persons and/or third persons related to the decision indirectly have no such right.
The signature must be performed in handwriting by the applicant. An appeal letter cannot be submitted by an e-mail, except, if such an e-mail is signed by a secure electronic signature in accordance with the requirements of the Article 26 of the Electronic Documents Law of the Republic of Latvia (http://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=68521). Application without appropriate signature cannot be examined accordingly.
- Within 30 days after receiving the appeal the Director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes a decision on whether the refusal, annulment or revocation of the visa or the local border traffic permit has been justified. The foreign national is being issued the decision in Latvian, supplemented by the clarification in English or Russian (depends on the submitted appeal language).
If a person is being represented by a legal representative, a notary approved power of attorney to act on behalf of the applicant should be attached to the appeal letter.
Please note that in case a notarised power of attorney is submitted, it is regarded as a public document issued in a foreign country and it should be legalised at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia or a diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Latvia in the respective country or their authenticity should be certified with an Apostille in a competent institution of the foreign country unless other procedures are in place between Latvia and the respective country.
Information regarding the authentication of document authenticity can be obtained on the following webpage: http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/consular-information/document-legalisation
The decision of the Director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not suspend the decision regarding the refusal, annulment or revocation of the given visa or local border traffic permit.
The decision of the Director of the Consular Department can be appealed at the District Administrative Court of the Republic of Latvia. The ruling of the Court is final and irreversible.