On entry into Latvia from 1 September 2025

Amendments to Article 4.⁴ of the Immigration Law are coming into force on 1 September 2025. According to the amendments, third-country nationals who do not have a visa or residence permit issued by Latvia will be obliged, before entering Latvia, to submit certain information about themselves and the purpose of their travel to the State Threat Prevention Information System at eta.gov.lv.

The aim of the amendments is to strengthen national security and improve the efficiency of state border protection in order to prevent threats to national security in its various manifestations through identifying risks. Thereby, obtaining information before persons enter the Republic of Latvia will contribute to the ability of the state to predict and respond appropriately to threats to national security.

Persons exempt from the obligation to register:

• foreigners who are citizens of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a member state of the European Economic Area, the Swiss Confederation or the Federative Republic of Brazil, and who do not have a visa or residence permit issued by the Republic of Latvia;
• other third-country citizens who have visas and residence permits issued by Latvia;
• persons with diplomatic immunity, persons who arrive for a short period of time to perform official functions (including in transit) or to provide technical support to a Latvian or foreign diplomatic or consular mission or international organization;
• stateless persons who have been granted this status by one of the countries mentioned in the provisions of Section 4.⁴, Part One of the Immigration Law.

Registration is compulsory for all foreign nationals who do not fall under the above-listed categories.

Registration must be completed at least 48 hours before arrival in Latvia, including if you intend to cross Latvia in transit. Information will have to be submitted on the website at eta.gov.lv (the website is planned to be accessible late at night on 29 August). The person using the system will receive an automatic notification via email 48 hours after submitting their information on the website, and there is no further need to wait for a separate permit. If the initial travel plans have changed, information about the actual plans must be submitted no later than 48 hours before entering Latvia.

Information must be submitted by the traveller themselves and not on behalf of another person.

Information to be provided:

• purpose of travel (entry);
• planned time and place of stay;
• travel route;
• contact information;
• any elected positions held by the applicant and their relatives;
• any record of running for election;
• current or former status as a central or local government official;
• service in the armed forces, special services, border guard, customs, or in the interior, justice, or foreign (including diplomatic) services.

A foreign national is subject to administrative liability for failure to submit the required information and for providing incomplete or false information.

Persons who entered Latvia before 1 September and are present in the country, are not obliged to submit the relevant information.

Photo: Ministry of the Interior