Important!
Latvian visa applications are submitted at the visa centre VFS Global Egypt (in Cairo) with prior appointments only!
All applicants applying for a C short stay (Schengen) visas and D long stay (National) visas are requested to book an appointment for submission of the visa applications at the VFS Global Egypt visa application centre in Cairo. No walk-ins are accepted at the VFS Global Egypt except when applicant has a positive decision on the residence permit from the Office of Citizenship and Migration Office of Latvia.
More information on appointment procedure is available on VFS Global Egypt webpage: https://www.vfsglobal.com/latvia/egypt/
No visa aplications are submitted directly at the Embassy and no appointments are scheduled via e-mail!
Amendments to Article 4.⁴ of the Immigration Law are in force from 1 September 2025. According to the amendments, third-country nationals who do not have a visa or residence permit issued by Latvia are obliged, before entering Latvia, to submit the Electronic Travel Declaration (Declaration) about themselves and the purpose of their travel to the State Threat Prevention Information System at eta.gov.lv. Please find more information here: Procedures of Entry into Latvia as from 1 September 2025 | Ārlietu ministrija
General information on visas is available here: Entry into Latvia | Ārlietu ministrija
C SHORT STAY (SCHENGEN) VISAS
C short stay (Schengen) visa is an authorisation issued by one of the Member States of the Schengen Area with a view to transit through or an intended stay in the territory of the Member States of duration of no more than 90 days (short stay) in any 180 day period. C short stay (Schengen) visa
The processing of visa applications is based on the VISA CODE Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009, last amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of 20 June 2019. More information on the Schengen Area can be obtained visiting the following website: Schengen, visa, borders.
The minimum processing time of a visa application is 15 working days, so applicants are advised to leave enough time for the Embassy to process their visa application; no guarantees can be given on the visa application’s return date. The processing of a visa application from the citizens of countries of which an additional assessment is performed can take up to 60 days. The list of countries is available here: Noteikumi par valstīm, kuru pilsoņiem, izsniedzot vīzu vai uzturēšanās atļauju, veic papildu pārbaudi. It is advisable to plan your travel well in advance to avoid any inconvenience.
The lists of documents to submit is available here:
- Tourism
- Business
- Visiting Family and Friends
- Study Exchange or Volunteering
- Sports, Culture or Conferences
In addition to other documents required to apply for a visa citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, persons whose place of residence or place of birth is in Abkhazia (Georgia) or South Ossetia (Georgia), the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine), the Luhansk Region (Ukraine), the Donetsk Region (Ukraine) or the Palestinian Authority; foreigners who have been granted stateless or refugee status in a foreign state shall submit a completed QUESTIONNAIRE.
D LONG STAY (NATIONAL) VISAS
A foreigner who needs to stay in Latvia more than 90 days in a 180 day period depending on the circumstances should apply for a long-stay visa or a residence permit.
The processing of visa application is regulated by the Immigration Law of Latvia: Imigrācijas likums.
The lists of documents to submit is available here:
- Studies;
- Positive Decision on Residence Permit by the OCMA;
- Study Exchange or Volunteering;
- Employment.
In addition to other documents required to apply for a visa citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, persons whose place of residence or place of birth is in Abkhazia (Georgia) or South Ossetia (Georgia), the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Ukraine), the Luhansk Region (Ukraine), the Donetsk Region (Ukraine) or the Palestinian Authority; foreigners who have been granted stateless or refugee status in a foreign state shall submit a completed QUESTIONNAIRE.
Information on "Privacy policy for the processing of personal data during the acceptance and examination of visa applications, and ensuring the appeal of the decisions taken" available here.