A foreign national whose short-stay visa, long-stay visa or a local border traffic permit has been refused, annulled or revoked by a Latvian diplomatic/consular mission abroad, has the right to appeal that decision before the Director of the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereafter – MFA CD Director) in accordance with Section 3, Subsection 1 of Article 41 and Article 17 of the Immigration Law of the Republic of Latvia.
An appeal of the decision on the refusal, annulment or revocation of a visa or a local border traffic permit does not suspend the effect of the decision.
Procedures for lodging an appeal
Only the applicant whose visa or a local border permit has been refused, annulled or revoked has the right to appeal against a decision on the refusal, annulment or revocation of a visa or a local border traffic permit. Inviting persons and/or third persons indirectly affected by the decision have no such right.
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 should submit in writing an appeal letter in Latvian, Russian or English, signed in handwriting (hereafter – an appeal letter):
- at the diplomatic or consular mission of Latvia which has refused, annulled or revoked the visa, or the local border traffic permit;
- at the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (address: Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elizabetes iela 57, Riga, LV-1050, Republic of Latvia).
The appeal letter can be submitted:
- in person;
- by post;
- electronically, if the appeal letter is signed with a secure electronic signature according to Article 26 of Electronic Documents Law.
Submission of an appeal via an authorised person
If the applicants’ interests are being represented by an authorised person, a notarised power of attorney to act on behalf of the applicant should be attached to the appeal letter.
If a notarised power of attorney has not been issued in Latvia, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation, the following steps should be taken:
- legalise the notarised power of attorney at the Consular Department of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at the Latvian diplomatic/consular mission in the respective country, or
- authenticate the power of attorney with an Apostille at the competent institution of the foreign country that issued the document.
Information on the authentication of documents can be accessed here.
If a foreign national is represented by a sworn advocate practicing in Latvia, this should be witnessed with a non notarised power of attorney and the power of attorney should be attached to the appeal letter.
Procedures for the examination of applications
Within 30 days of the receipt of an appeal, the MFA CD Director decides on maintaining in force, repealing or repealing in part of the consular officer’s decision.
The MFA CD Director’s decision is issued in Latvian with a summary attached in English.
The MFA CD Director’s decision can be appealed in Administrative Court of the Republic of Latvia. The ruling of the Administrative Court in the case of a visa or a local border traffic permit is final and cannot be appealed.