Visa applications shall be lodged no earlier than 6 months before the start of the intended visit. Seafarers in the performance of their duties can submit an application no earlier than 9 months before the start of the intended visit. An application shall be lodged 15 calendar days before an intended trip to the Schengen Area.
Holders of a multiple-entry visa may lodge the application before the expiry of the visa valid for a period of at least six month, namely, a holder of a multiple-entry visa may apply for a new visa also while the validity of a previous visa has not expired.
Pursuant to Article 23 of the Visa Code, diplomatic/consular missions decide on a visa application within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging of an application.
In individual cases, that period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days.
Diplomatic/consular missions of Latvia use Visa Information System for processing visa application data and taking decisions on applications.
In accordance with Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (hereinafter – Regulation), please be informed about the processing of personal data in the process of submission and processing of visa applications. More information is available here.
A visa does not automatically guarantee entry into the Schengen Member States and the holders of visa are requested to present proof that they fulfil the entry conditions at the external border, as provided for in Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code.