If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Latvia visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Latvia may ask you to show €14 per day (at least €700 for stays over 30 days). Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Latvia, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Latvia can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Latvia can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: €14 per day; for stays over 30 days, at least the monthly minimum wage (€700). (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Latvia
Main international airports in Latvia: Rīga (RIX).
If Latvia is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Latvia is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
Latvia has an external Schengen land border with Russia, Belarus. Crossing there means a full passport check and EES registration, just like at an airport.
The EES at airports and borders in Latvia
In Latvia, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Rīga (RIX) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Latvia no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Latvia in depth: the lowest daily amount in Schengen
Latvia asks for only €14 per day, the lowest daily amount in the Schengen Area. For stays longer than 30 days, you need at least €700.
Its borders with Russia and Belarus are external Schengen borders with heavy restrictions. Riga airport is the main hub of the Baltic states.
Buses and trains to Estonia and Lithuania cross internal borders with no routine checks.
Good to know about Latvia
- Borders with Russia and Belarus are external borders with tight restrictions.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Latvia add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Latvia after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need for Latvia?
€14 a day; for stays over 30 days, at least €700.
Do US citizens need a visa for Latvia?
No. US citizens can visit Latvia visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Latvia?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Latvia, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.