Students from Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia and Yemen must obtain a residence permit before entering Latvia. Here are the steps how to apply:
- Student must receive an official invitation from the University. The invitation is filed in the Office of Citizenship and Migration (OCMA) by the University representative. Student must provide the invitation number upon submitting the documents.
No documents are accepted by mail! - Student should arrange an appointment with the Consular Section of the Embassy to submit the documents. To make an appointment, visit: https://pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv/en/egypt
- Note that it may take up to 8 weeks to review the application.
- During the appointment the applicant should submit all the required documents and have an interview with the Consular Officer. Below is the list of the required documents:
- a definite sample form for a residence permit request;
- a passport;
- a recent photography;
- statement on punishability (criminal record) issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country, if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months. Document shall be Apostilled or legalized by both the Foreign Ministry of student’s residence country and the student’s residence country's Embassy in Egypt, Cairo as well;
- a document certifying the necessary subsistence (the required subsistence is 700 euros per month. If family members come with you, the required subsistence is 700 euros per month for an adult and 210 euros per month for a minor.) The bank documents have to be issued within the last 3 months. Documents have to be issued in or translated to English. If the studies are financed by another person, the same rules apply, however, in latter case a certificate approved by a notary and legalized is required enabling the student to use the person’s account in order to cover the expenses associated with the studies and living in Latvia;
- an agreement on studies in the Republic of Latvia;
- the statement from the Academic Information Center of the Republic of Latvia (AIC) that your education documents are sufficient for the studies in Latvia;
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- State fee: 70 EUR (application reviewed within 30 days) or 200 EUR (application reviewed within 10 working days), or 400 EUR (application reviewed within 5 working days, after being received by OCMA)
- Consular fee - 80 EUR.
- Exception!! Students applying for a master degree or doctorate are exempted from the state fee, unless they wish their application to be reviewed in 10 or 5 working days.
- Fees are paid at the Embassy with bank card. No cash payments are accepted at the Embassy.
- Legalization fee - 25 EUR for 1 document legalisation withing 5 working days (see also: Legalisation of documents).
- Residence permit application is reviewed by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) of Latvia. ONLY IF THE DECISION OF OCMA IS POSITIVE THE STUDENT CAN APPLY FOR D CATEGORY VISA. D visa is issued within few days up to 15 days). Latvian visa applications are submitted at the visa centre VFS Global Egypt (in Cairo). List of the required documents for D visa.
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- Passport or other travel document (containing at least two blank pages, with a term of validity of the passport that exceeds that of the visa by at least three months, the passport must be signed by the bearer and issued within the last 10 years, previous passport);
- Visa application (legibly filled out and signed by the applicant), ATTENTION! – this form can be filled only by persons who have received the positive decision of OCMA about their residence permit. The form is not valid for any other use.
- 1 color photo (size 35mm x 45mm, made on a white background);
- Travel medical insurance policy (valid in all Schengen countries, covering the period of 30 days, the minimum amount of the insurance is 42 600 EUR);
- Confirmed airline tickets reservation
- The Residence permit is issued in OCMA.