Applying for the passport, the ID card and foreigner’s eID card

Important:

• The application form to apply for the passport/ identity card (eID) is in Latvian language only. If applicants lack the necessary knowledge of Latvian language, they must come with someone who can help to check the accuracy of the form. This could be a friend, a relative or a hired professional. 
• This service is available to Latvian nationals residing permanently in the US  or in other countries where there is no Latvian Embassy.
• Passport/eID card applications can only be processed if the applicant´s current place of residence and personal data (e.g. name, surname and citizenship) are correct and up-to-date in the Register of Natural Persons of Latvia. E.g. a name change due to marriage or a child born outside of Latvia shall be registered in the Register of Natural Persons of Latvia before submitting the passport application.
• The passport/identity card (eID) can only be applied for in person only. Children of all ages should apply for a passport in person.

To apply for a Latvian passport and/or eID card,  an appointment should be scheduled in the electronic pre-registration system. When applying for the passport and/or eID card, you must bring along your previously filled out application form for the passport and/or eID card. ONLY the name of the person who applies for a passport/eID should be entered in the pre-registration system. Persons who accompany should not be registered.

TO APPLY FOR A PASSPORT AND/OR eID CARD, please submit the following documents:

• passport or eID card (if such have been issued and/or expired ones);
• APPLICATION for the passport and/or eiD card (to be filled out in Latvian);
• if a passport and/or an eID card requesed due to loss, theft or destruction of a document – statement on the loss of the document;
  
• to apply for a passport and/or eID card for the first time – the OCMA decision for granting Latvian citizenship;
• document certifying your permanent residence in the USA (permanent resident card, work authorization, US passport, US visa, I-94 or I-20 forms, or other document).

A non-citizen of Latvia MUST present document certifying that the person is legally staying in the United States of America (for example, a residence permit). A non-citizen of Latvia who has obtained citizenship of any other country has the obligation to renounce the status of the non-citizen within 30 days from obtaining the other citizenship.

Under the age of 15, documents regarding a child’s document issuance are submitted by one of the child’s parents or the child’s legal guardian by presenting a passport, with the presence of the child. If a legal guardian, who is a foreigner, but not a citizen of the European Union, or a stateless person, wants to obtain a personal identification document for a child, he or she must present the respective minor legal guardian's (a citizen or alien of Latvia, or a citizen of the European Union, or a stateless person) letter of attorney certified by a notary for submission of documents or for receiving a personal identification document. The letter of attorney is not necessary if none of the child's legal guardians are citizens or aliens of Latvia, citizens of the European Union, or stateless persons;

Payment is accepted by credit or debit card.

Average processing time for a new passport and/or eID card is approximately 8 weeks.

In case of questions please contact the Consular Division of the Embassy by e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone for consultations: +1 (202) 328-2877 from Monday until Friday from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon and from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm Eastern time).

Please note:

All citizen passports (blue color) issued before July 1, 2002 containing a glued photograph, as well as passports without an expiration date (beztermiņa), are not valid travel documents since July 1, 2008.

Latvian citizen's passports issued between July 1, 2002 and November 19, 2007 with a validity of 50 years, and Latvian non-citizen's passports issued between April 10, 1997 and November 19, 2007 with validity of 50 years are not valid for international travel as of November 1, 2010.

Photo:

Photographs of both children and adults are taken at the Embassy on the spot. If a passport is processed for a child, the parents must evaluate whether their child will be able to sit on his own or agree to be photographed at the particular moment. Otherwise, photo must be submitted for a passport.

Prices for a passport and eID card at the Embassy:

·         passport only – 74 EUR

·         passport and eID card – 89 EUR

·         passport for persons under the age of 20 and persons over the age of 64 – 55 EUR

·         passport and eID card for persons under the age of 20 and persons over the age of 64 – 60 EUR

·         eID card only – 55 EUR

·         eID card for persons under the age of 20 and persons over the age of 64 – 45 EUR

·         shipment of each passport and/ or eID card with FedEx – 25 EUR

·         shipment of each envelope of PIN/PUK codes with FedEx – 25EUR

FOREIGNER's eID CARD

Foreigner’s eID card is a personal identity document, confirming the identity of the holder thereof when receiving the services in the digital environment as well as in presence, when visiting service providers in Latvia, for example, banks, notaries, state authorities.

How to register for a foreigner’s eID card:

1.     Register in the Register of Natural Persons in order to receive a personal identity code. The Embassy registers and issues Latvian personal codes to those foreign nationals who promote the development of economic, scientific, educational or cultural relations.

2.      Registration can be performed by filling in the QUESTIONNAIRE, which shall be submitted at the Embassy in person (2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008) or at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of the Republic of Latvia. The fee for the service at the Embassy is 40 EUR.

3.      During the visit a foreigner will have to present a personal identity document issued by his or her home country.

4.      The fee at the Embassy for preparation, production and issue of the foreigner’s eID card shall be 170 EUR.

If you eligible to receive a personal identity code at the Embassy, for submiting the questionnaire and applying for a eID card please schedule 2 appointments in the electronic pre-registration system.

More detailed information about foreigner’s eID card is available here.

* The legal basis for the processing of personal data (given name, surname, personal identity number and other personal data indicated in the application) is Article 6(1)(c) of the General Data Protection Regulation. The legal obligation of Diplomatic and Consular Missions of Latvia abroad is to process personal data in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 134 of 21.02.2012 “Regulations Regarding Personal Identification Documents”.