ETIAS Latvia visa for U.S. citizens
Citizens of the United States will be required to present an ETIAS visa when travelling to Latvia. ETIAS visa can be obtained online, by filling out the ETIAS application form online and receiving your ETIAS via e-mail once the application is approved. This ETIAS visa will allow U.S. citizens to enter Latvia for tourism, work, transit, or for medical reasons, provided that the duration of the trip is no more than 90 days, and the permit will be valid for multiple entries made via air, sea, or land. What is more, people between 18 and 70 years of age will be able to apply for ETIAS free of charge.
What is ETIAS Latvia for Americans?
ETIAS will come into force in November 2023, as part of a European Commission program aimed at strengthening European borders and keeping a digital track on all people entering Schengen Area. After some terrorist attacks that affected some European countries, this program was already approved in 2016.
How does ETIAS Latvia visa work for U.S. citizens
Starting from November 2023 American citizens must have an ETIAS visa before embarking on a trip to Latvia. If the trip has a duration longer than 90 days or has other purposes than those required for the ETIAS permit, they will require a full visitor Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Latvia, respecting requirements and timing for the permit they are applying for. Once issued, ETIAS has a duration of 3 years, and will allow to travel multiple times in Latvia and other countries within the Schengen Area, provided that each trip has a duration of less than 90 days. In order to get your approved ETIAS in time for the trip, it is recommended to apply for the permit at least 4 days before the departure date. If the ETIAS visa is denied, you can still apply for a Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Latvia or present an appeal to the country that denied the visa.
ETIAS destinations for U.S. citizens
Starting from November 2023 ETIAS visa will come into force for Americans to travel to the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
At the time being, Americans are not required to obtain ETIAS visa to travel to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, since these countries are not Schengen Area members yet. However, this may change in the future, so please keep updated with the requirements.
ETIAS Latvia visa requirements for Americans
To apply for the ETIAS visa, you will need to be a U.S. citizen and hold a valid electronic passport issued by the United States of America. If you are not entitled to an American passport, you will require a full visitor Schengen visa. The ETIAS visa application can be completed online, entering all necessary information by following the required steps, and making sure all the data is entered correctly. Once the application form is completed, you will also have to pay a 7 euros fee, applicable to all citizens between 18 and 70 years old, using a credit or debit card.
How much does the ETIAS Latvia visa cost for American citizens
After completing the application form, all Americans between 18 and 70 years of age must pay a fee of 7 euros, using a credit or debit card. American citizens under 18 and over 70 years of age are entitled to apply for ETIAS permit free of charge.
About Latvia
Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a sovereign state, situated on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea sharing a maritime border with Sweden. It is bordered by Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, and Estonia.
The country has an area of 64,589 sq. km and has a population of 1.95 million people. The official language is Latvian, Russian is also spoken with English being used for business and tourism. The major religion is Christianity, and the official currency is the euro.
Latvia is a member of both the European Union and the Schengen Area. The capital and largest city is Riga, the second largest is Daugavpils, and the third largest city is Liepaja.
Latvia consists of four main regions
- West Latvia – Kurzeme
- East Latvia – Latgale
- North Latvia – Vidzeme
- South Latvia – Zemgale
Latvia has forests covering 56% of its total land area, the fifth highest proportion of land covered by forests in the E.U.
Agricultural areas account for 29% of the total land area. Nationally protected areas account for 20% of the total land area.
Within Latvia there are
- Four national parks
- One biosphere reserve
- 42 nature parks
- Nine areas of protected landscapes
- 260 nature reserves
- 4 strict nature reserves
- 355 nature monuments
- Seven protected marine areas
- Twenty four micro reserves
Latvia is ranked highly based on the environmental performance of its official policies.
Latvia at a glance
Capital: Riga
Timezone: UTC/GMT +2 hours
Languages: Latvian 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, Other 0.6%, Unspecified 9.4%
Area: 64,589 KM2
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Population: 2,217,969
Calling Code: +371
Travel in Latvia
Latvia has been described as a vast unspoiled parkland with just one city – it’s capital Riga.
Latvia’s National Parks are
- Gauja National Park in Vidzeme
- Kemeri National Park in Zemgale
- Slītere National Park in Kurzeme
- Rāzna National Park in Latgale
Common wild animal species in Latvia include wild boar, bear, beaver, deer, fox, lynx, moose and wolves.
Eurasian beavers, Eurasian otters, European wolves, and European lynx are also common in the vast national parks of Latvia but are not common in other European countries.
About 30,000 species of fauna and flora have been registered in Latvia.
Latvia’s capital city, Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage site, lined with cobblestones and endless beautiful views. Riga is a modern city with a vibrant nightlife and is Europe’s wifi capital with almost 1,000 free wifi hotspots. Among the best sites in Riga are the Central Market, Riga Cathedral and St. Peter’s Church.
Just 30 minutes from Riga, lies the beach town of Jūrmala. There are sandy beaches, legendary spas, mineral water treatments, and famous medicinal mud baths. As well as its natural attractions, Jūrmala also boasts cultural and entertainment events throughout the year. Music lovers enjoy Dzintari Concert Hall, whilst family groups love to go to Līvu aquapark, the biggest waterpark in the Baltics.
Ice Hockey is considered the most popular sport in Latvia with basketball the second most popular sport. Other popular sports include bobsleigh, skeleton, floorball, football, volleyball, tennis and cycling.
The US and Latvia
The U.S.A. and Latvia are strategic allies and valued partners.
Latvia has embraced democracy since gaining its independence and values the principles of an open market.
The U.S. and Latvia both belong to the following organizations
- The United Nations
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Organization for Economic Cooperation and development
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe International Monetary Fund
- World Bank
- World Trade Organization
There are no direct flights to Latvia from the U.S., but direct flights from London take less than three hours.
Riga International airport is the busiest airport in the Baltic states. With direct flights to and from 30 countries, it is very convenient to add Latvia to a multi-destination visit to Europe.
U.S. visitors to Latvia are really beginning to discover the wonderful scenery, calm beach scene, and vibrant nightlife. Digital nomads will find that they are well catered to with ample free internet connections.
For travel from 2021, a new travel scheme is coming into effect which will affect visitors who up until then, did not need permission to travel to Europe. Citizens of Europe and the Schengen zone will be unaffected as they are allowed free passage between member countries.
U.S. citizens will be affected and will need to apply for an ETIAS. A simple online form is all that needs to be filled in, with a payment, and within 96 hours, sometimes within minutes, new ETIAS travel authorization will be issued. Once issued, the travel authorization is valid for three years.
FAQ about ETIAS Latvia visa
List of US diplomatic offices in Latvia
The Embassy of USA in Riga, Latvia
Address: 1 Samnera Velsa St. (former Remtes) Riga LV-1510 Latvia
Phone: +371 6710 7000
Fax: +371 6710 7050
The Embassy of Latvia in Washington, USA
Address: 2306 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington DC 20008 United States of America
Phone: (202) 328-2840
Fax: (202) 328-2860
Email: embassy.usa@mfa.gov.lv
Consulate of Latvia in New York, USA
Address: 333 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022, USA
Phone: +1 212 838 88 77
Fax: +1 212 838 89 20
Email: mission.un-ny@mfa.gov.lv
Consulate of Latvia in Houston, USA
Address: 2120 Troon Road, Houston, Texas 77019 USA
Phone: (+1) 832-263-1635
Email: Consul@lvtex.com