Visas and Residence Permits

The student has to apply for the registration certificate in person at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga (any division) within 90 days as of the first day of entry, if a Union citizen resides in the Republic of Latvia for longer than 90 days, counting from the first day of entry.  A registration certificate shall be issued to a Union citizen without delay after submission of all necessary application documents.

To request a registration certificate, the Union citizen needs to submit the following documents:

1) Valid travel document;

2) Application form (will be available at the Office of Citizenship and Migration);

3) Study agreement;

4) Health insurance (valid in Latvia);

5) Document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 780 EUR per month). Document – official (original) statement from the bank with stamp and signature of a representative person, and also a copy of the bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval).

To reach the main Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, take Tram No. 11 and get off at the stop “2. Meža kapi.” More information about other OCMA branches, as well as public transport routes and timetables, is available online.

There is a list of countries (see below) that citizens of which in issuing a visa or a residence permit an additional assessment shall be performed. Citizens of these countries need to apply for residence permit and visa by themselves the Embassy of Latvia in their country of origin or at the Embassy of other country who has territorial competence on giving visas for going to Latvia. University doesn’t have the rights to do that.

For preparing the invitation for a residence permit, UL should have the following data about the student: 

• copy of passport;
• date and place of birth;
• citizenship;
• home address;
• address of accommodation in Riga;
• Embassy of Latvia where student will submit the documents for the residence permit.

After the invitation is approved, the student can submit the following documents for the residence permit:

• invitation document;
   
• residence permit application form;
   
• copy of passport (original must be presented). The passport should be valid for at least 3 months longer than the planned residence permit term;
   
• one photo (3x4 cm);
   
• a proof of study fee payment;
   
• legalized statement on punishability issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months (Certificate valid for 6 months from the date of approval);
   
• document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 780 EUR per month). Document – official (original) statement from the bank with stamp and signature of a representative person, and also a copy of the bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by UL if you will be staying at the students' dormitory) (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• copy of study agreement (original must be presented);
   
• AIC decision (given by the university);
   
• legalized documents on previous education, which should be sufficient for studies at the University of Latvia;
   

• state duty payment for the examination of submitted documents will be done at the place in the embassy or OCMA (see price table below).

  
  All underage students must have a person who will be responsible and help them with all migration procedures, as it can not be done by the student themselves.

• Students must have a notice from the parents for the person who will accompany the student; the notice must be legalized and notary translated into English.
• Students must have a birth certificate, which must be legalized and notarized in English.

Prices for examination of the documents for requesting a temporary residence permit:

The residence permit procedure takes over 40 days. A student may receive the residence permit for studies in Latvia for the period during which the Student has paid their study fee. The documents for the prolongation procedure must be submitted not later than 40 days before the validity of the current permit has run out.

On receiving the residence permit student have to present a life and health insurance policy which is valid in Latvia and a copy of a statement on fluorography or x-ray results (original must be presented) issued by a competent institution in Latvia.

Other useful information:  
www.am.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission
www.pmlp.gov.lv/en

Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica,  Dominica, East Timor, El Salvador, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, The Vatican, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States of America,  Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela. 

To receive a residence permit student has two options:

1) Apply for a residence permit by him/her after arriving in Latvia (within 90 days as of the first day of entry) at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga (OCMA);

2) Student can apply for residence permit in the Embassy of Latvia in his/her country of origin (If there is an Embassy of Latvia)

For preparing the invitation for residence permit UL should have the following data about the student: 

• copy of passport;
• date and place of birth;
• citizenship;
• home address;
• address of accommodation in Riga;
• Embassy of Latvia, where the student will submit the documents for the residence permit (if the documents will be submitted at the Embassy).

After the invitation is approved, the student or UL coordinator can submit the following documents for the residence permit:

• invitation document;
   
• residence permit application form (more information available);
   
• copy of passport (original must be presented). The passport should be valid for at least 3 months longer than the planned residence permit term;
   
• one photo (3x4 cm);
   
• document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 780 EUR per month). Document – official (original) statement from the bank with stamp and signature of a representative person, and also a copy of the bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by UL if you will be staying at the students' dormitory) (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• copy of study agreement (original must be presented);
   
• AIC decision (given by the university);
   
• legalized documents on previous education, which should be sufficient for studies at the University of Latvia;
   
• state duty payment for the examination of submitted documents will be done at the place in the embassy or OCMA (see price table below).
  
  All underage students must have a person who will be responsible and help them with all migration procedures, as it can not be done by the student themselves.
• Students must have a notice from the parents for the person who will accompany the student, notice must be legalized and notary translated into English.
• Students must have a birth certificate, birth certificate must be legalized and notary translated into English.

Prices for examination of the documents for requesting a temporary residence permit:

The residence permit procedure takes over 40 days. A student may receive the residence permit for studies in Latvia for the period during which the Student has paid their study fee. The documents for the prolongation procedure must be submitted not later than 40 days before the validity of the current permit has run out.

On receiving the residence permit student have to present a life and health insurance policy which is valid in Latvia and a copy of a statement on fluorography or x-ray results (original must be presented) issued by a competent institution in Latvia.

Other useful information:  
www.am.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission
www.pmlp.gov.lv/en

In order to receive a residence permit student has two options:

1) Apply for a residence permit by him/her after receiving a visa and arriving in Latvia (within 30 or 90 days as of the first day of entry) at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga (OCMA);

2) Student can apply for a residence permit at the Embassy of Latvia in their country of origin or at the Embassy of another country that has territorial competence to issue visas for going to Latvia

Note!  According to the Immigration Law, the University of Latvia provides applicants with the invitation document only for full–time studies. To apply for part–time studies applicant have to have a valid Resident permit in a European Union country.

Exceptions:

• If the student has a valid residence permit in any of the Schengen countries, she/he has the right to submit the documents to the Embassy of Latvia, which is located in a Schengen country.
• Master’s, doctoral, and residency students can arrive in Latvia with any Schengen visa and while the visa is valid, submit the documents for the residence permit at the Office of the Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga.

For preparing the invitation for a residence permit or visa, UL should have the following data about the student: 

• copy passport;
   
• date and place of birth;
   
• citizenship;
   
• home address;
   
• address of accommodation in Riga;
   
• Embassy of Latvia, where the student will submit the documents for the residence permit.

After the invitation is approved, the student or UL coordinator can submit the following documents for the residence permit:

• invitation document;
   
• residence permit application form;
   
• copy of passport (original must be presented). The passport should be valid for at least 3 months longer than the planned residence permit term;
   
• one photo;
   
• legalized statement on punishability issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months (Certificate valid for 6 months from the date of approval);
   
• document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 780 EUR per month). Document – official (original) statement from the bank with stamp and signature of a representative person, and also a copy of the bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (provided by UL if you will be staying at the students' dormitory) (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);
   
• copy of study agreement (original must be presented);
   
• AIC decision (given by the University);
   
• legalized documents on previous education, which should be sufficient for studies at the University of Latvia;
   
• state duty payment for the examination of submitted documents will be done at the place in the embassy or OCMA. (see price table below).
  
  All underage students must have a person who will be responsible and help them with all migration procedures, as it can not be done by the student themselves.
• Students must have a notice from the parents for the person who will accompany the student, notice must be legalized and notary translated into English.
• Students must have a birth certificate, birth certificate must be legalized and notary translated into English.

Prices for examination of the documents for requesting a temporary residence permit:

The residence permit procedure takes over 45 days. A student may receive the residence permit for studies in Latvia for the period during which the Student has paid their study fee. The documents for the prolongation procedure must be submitted not later than 40 days before the validity of the current permit has run out.

On receiving the residence permit student have to present a life and health insurance policy which is valid in Latvia and a copy of a statement on fluorography or x-ray results (original must be presented) issued by a competent institution in Latvia.

Other useful information: 
www.am.gov.lv/en/ministry/mission
www.pmlp.gov.lv/en

A residence permit is normally granted for one year at a time. The extension of a residence permit must be done before the existing residence permit expires. Please be aware that the waiting for the extension of a residence permit takes up to 3 months. The suggestion is to inform the UL coordinator at least 3 months before the residence permit expires to get a new invitation for extension. If the student applies at least 45 (max 90 days) before the residence permit will expire, then it will be free (Only for Master's or PhD students), but if less, then the student will need to pay the state fee (See table below). You are entitled to stay in Latvia while the permit is being processed.

Before preparing the invitation, the student needs to bring (or send by email to studies@lu.lv ) the UL coordinator's state duty payment check/receipt that he/she has paid for preparation of the invitation document (Below is information for this payment):

When making a wire transfer, the name and surname of the person for whom the state fee is paid should be specified in the payment order.

Purpose of payment for Bachelor's students: State fee payment, NAME, FAMILY NAME, and DATE OF BIRTH (dd.mm.yyyy)
Beneficiary: UNIVERSITY OF LATVIA 
Address: Raina blvd. 19, Riga, Latvia, LV-1586 
VAT number: LV90000076669 
Bank: STATE TREASURY 
Address: Smilsu str.1, Riga, Latvia, LV-1919 
Account No. IBAN: LV33TREL9150101000000 
BIC code: TRELLV22 
EKK 21351
Amount: 27.00 EUR

After the invitation is approved, the student or UL coordinator can submit the following documents for the extension of the residence permit:

* invitation document (prepared by UL coordinator);

* residence permit application

* copy of passport (original must be presented). The passport should be valid for at least 3 months longer than the planned residence permit term;

* one photo; 

* document confirming the necessary subsistence (at least 780 EUR per month). Document – official (original) statement from the bank with stamp and signature of a representative person, and also a copy of the bank card (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);

* document which approves the place of accommodation in Latvia (if there are any changes of address) (Certificate valid for 3 months from the date of approval);

* copy of study agreement (original must be presented);

All underage students must have a person who will be responsible and help them with all migration procedures, as it can not be done by the student themselves.

• Students must have a notice from the parents for the person who will accompany the student, notice must be legalized and notary translated into English.
• Students must have a birth certificate, birth certificate must be legalized and notary translated into English.

Arrange an appointment at the OCMA by phone (tel.: +371 67829750), then you will agree on the date and time of your visit. You will receive a reservation No, which you will validate there, before the appointment.

To reach the main Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, take Tram No. 11 and get off at the stop “2. Meža kapi.” More information about other OCMA branches, as well as public transport routes and timetables, is available online.

Prices for examination of the documents for requesting a temporary residence permit:

OCMA bank details: 

When making a wire transfer, the name and surname of the person for whom the state fee is paid should be specified in the payment order.

Purpose of payment: VN PMLP dok. MK 731, NAME, FAMILY NAME, and DATE OF BIRTH (dd.mm.yyyy), TRP registration
Beneficiary: STATE TREASURY, Registration No: 90000050138
Beneficiary institution: STATE TREASURY, code TRELLV22
Account No.: LV37TREL1060140918500