Latvia Reciprocity Schedule


Visa Classification Fee Number of Applications Validity Period
A-1 None Multiple 60 Months
A-2 None Multiple 60 Months
A-3 [1] None Multiple 24 Months
B-1 None Multiple 120 Months
B-2 None Multiple 120 Months
B-1/B-2 None Multiple 120 Months
C-1 None Multiple 60 Months
C-1/D None Multiple 60 Months
C-2 None Multiple 12 Months
C-3 None Multiple 60 Months
D None Multiple 60 Months
E-1 [2] None Multiple 60 Months
E-2 [2] None Multiple 60 Months
F-1 None Multiple 24 Months
F-2 None Multiple 24 Months
G-1 None Multiple 60 Months
G-2 None Multiple 60 Months
G-3 None Multiple 60 Months
G-4 None Multiple 60 Months
G-5 [1] None Multiple 24 Months
H-1B None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-1C None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-2A None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-2B None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-2R None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-3 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
H-4 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
I None Multiple 60 Months
J-1 [4] None Multiple 24 Months
J-2 [4] None Multiple 24 Months
K-1 None One 6 Months
K-2 None One 6 Months
K-3 None Multiple 24 Months
K-4 None Multiple 24 Months
L-1 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
L-2 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
M-1 None Multiple 24 Months
M-2 None Multiple 24 Months
N-8 None Multiple 60 Months
N-9 None Multiple 60 Months
NATO 1-7 10 None Multiple 60 Months
O-1 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
O-2 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
O-3 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
P-1 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
P-2 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
P-3 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
P-4 None Multiple 24 Months [3]
Q-1 [6] None Multiple 15 Months [3]
R-1 None Multiple 24 Months
R-2 None Multiple 24 Months
S-5 [7] None One 1 Month
S-6 [7] None One 1 Month
S-7 [7] None One 1 Month
T-1 [9] N/A N/A N/A
T-2 None One 6 Months
T-3 None One 6 Months
T-4 None One 6 Months
T-5 None One 6 Months
TD [5] N/A N/A N/A
U-1 None One 1 Month
U-2 None One 1 Month
U-3 None One 1 Month
U-4 None One 1 Month
U-5 None One 1 Month
V-1 None Multiple 120 Months
V-2 None Multiple 120 Months [8]
V-3 None Multiple 120 Months [8]

Documents

“Apostille” certification must be obtained from the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia (link http://www.am.gov.lv/en/service/legalisation/) for any documents issued by Latvian authorities that will be used in the United States.

People residing in other countries may contact the nearest Embassy of the Republic of Latvia for assistance in obtaining documents from Latvia, such as civil records, police, court, and military records, etc.

People permanently residing in Latvia who require documents from abroad should check the applicable reciprocity information. They may choose to contact the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia for assistance in their matters.

Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Certificates

Available. Civil records up to 1910 should be requested from the State History Archive (16 Slokas St., Riga, LV-1048, telephone (371) 676 13118 or (371) 676 12406).

References and duplicates of civil records prepared in Riga City after May 1, 1921 till now should be requested  from the Riga City Civil Registry office (86 Brivibas St., Riga, LV-1010, tel. (371) 673 12 114).

References or duplicates of all other civil records are available through local district or city Civil Registration offices (their location may be specified at the Civil Registration Department of the Ministry of Justice) or the Archive of the Civil Registration Department (38a A.Caka St, Riga, LV-1011, tel. (371) 678 30677, (371) 678 30682). Note: Until 1921 only churches registered birth of a child, therefore a person must know the name of the church when requesting data.

Adoption Certificates

Available at the local court which issued the adoption decree  or the Central State Archive (1 Bezdeligu St., Riga LV-1007, tel. (371) 674 62317).

Police and Prison Records

Available from the Information Center of the Ministry of Interior (72b Bruninieku St., Riga, LV-1009). Non-immigrant and immigrant visa applicants who require a police clearance letter from Latvia may submit the application to the Information Center in person, through an Embassy of the Republic of Latvia abroad or electronically indicating that it is required for U.S. visa application purposes. The letter will be issued in English language in a sealed envelope.

Note: Police Clearance Letters obtained through the Embassies of the Republic of Latvia will be issued on their letterheads instead of letterheads of the Information center.The service is subject to a fee. Processing time for application made in Latvia is 5 days. Expedited service is available at an extra fee.

Under Latvian law, almost all records are routinely "cancelled/expunged" after several years. The length of time depends on the nature and scope of the legal punishment imposed. After the criminal record is officially expunged from a person’s record the ex-offender is not normally obliged to indicate his/her conviction, for example, when applying for a job or when involved in criminal or civil proceedings. Cancelled/expunged records remain in the Punishment Register and are available if the person specifically authorizes disclosure of the entire record. The police clearance letters issued for U.S. visa application purposes contain the entire record (including convictions that are considered expunged). Note: The Punishment Register contains complete information on criminal offences committed in the territory of Latvia both before and after regaining independence of the country in 1991.

Military Records

Available. Records about service in the National Armed Forces of Latvia can be requested from the Military Recruitment and Registration Center of the Republic of Latvia (15 Hospitalu St., Riga, LV-1013, tel. (371) 673 87352). 12 months military service was obligatory until December 31, 2006 for all men, Latvian citizens, between the age of 19 and 27. The law provided a number of exceptions, for example, for people with health problems, under criminal proceedings, students enrolled in universities, or having families with at least two small children.

During the Soviet era, military service was recorded in military service books. People who are unable to present a book to confirm their military records should attempt to obtain a written reference from the following institutions:

  • records from 1980s and later- the Military Recruitment and Registration Center of the Republic of Latvia (15 Hospitalu St., Riga, LV-1013, tel. (371) 673 87352);
  • any records (including from 1980s and later if not available from the Military Recruitment and Registration Center) - Central State Archive (1 Bezdeligu St., Riga LV-1007, tel. (371) 674 62317);
  • Central Archive of the Ministry of Defense of Russian Federation (74 Kirova St., Podolsk, Moscow Oblast, Russia, 142100). Latvian permanent residents may contact the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia for assistance requesting documents from abroad.

 People who served in other countries should check the applicable reciprocity information on obtaining the required references.

Court Records

Court records can be obtained at the corresponding local court archives at the request of participants in the trial. Contact information for courts in Latvia is available at http://www.tiesas.lv.

Residential Records

Information on a person's prior and present place of residence in Latvia may be obtained at the Population Registry of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs at Ciekurkalna 1.linija 1, K5, Riga, LV-1026, tel. (371) 678 29710, (371) 678 29711, e-mail: ird@pmlp.gov.lv.

Passport and Other Travel Documents

Latvian citizens and non-citizens residing abroad can apply for a Latvian passport or travel document through the nearest Embassy of the Republic of Latvia. In Latvia, passport applications are accepted at any branch of the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP). Contact information for the PMLP is on the website: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/

The Government of Latvia issues Citizen and Non-citizen (Alien) passports. It also issues Diplomatic and Service passports, and travel documents. Both, Latvian Citizen and Non-citizen, passports are valid for issuance of U.S. immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Diplomatic and Service passport are valid for issuance of non-immigrant visas. The Latvian/U.S. reciprocity schedule should be followed when issuing non-immigrant visas to bearers of any these passports.

Validity for Latvian passports issued to people 60 years old and older at the time when the passport application was made was 50 years if the passport was issued as follows:

  • Citizen passport issued between July 1, 2002 and November 19, 2007;
  • Non-citizen (Alien) passport issued between April 10, 1997 and November 19, 2007.

These passports will be valid for travel ONLY in Schengen zone countries after November 1, 2010.

Latvian citizen passports issued before June 30, 2002 are invalid for international travel. All other types of Latvian passports are valid for international travel.

As of November 20, 2007 Latvia issues biometric passports. Validity of the biometric passports:

  • 1 year - issued to minors below the age of 5
  • 5 years - issued to persons from 5 to 60 years of age
  • 10 years - adults over 60 year of age.

Biometric Latvian Citizen passports are valid for applying to travel visa free to the U.S. benefiting from the Visa Waiver Program.

An exit stamp from the Latvian authorities for international travel is not needed. The Latvian passport may also include information about the individual's children and the passport holder's ethnic origin. The passport holder may request that in addition to the name spelling in Latvian, his/her name spelling in other languages is also included in the passport.

The Government of Latvia issues a Stateless Person's Travel Document to those Latvian residents who hold neither Latvian citizenship nor resident alien status, nor have nationality of another state. This document is valid for immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance. The document cover is brown with the seal of Latvia and the words 'Latvijas Republika Celosanas Dokuments'. The Stateless Person's Travel Documents are valid for up to two years from the date of issuance and can be renewed until the document holder acquires Latvian citizenship or that of another state's.

Detailed information about different types of Latvian passports and their security features is available at http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/pakalpojumi/pases.html .

Special Clearance and Issuance Procedures

None.

Visa Issuing Post

Riga, Latvia (Embassy) -- Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visas

Raina Boulevard 7

Tel: (371) 6703-6200

Fax: (371) 6781-4088

E-mail: askconsular@usriga.lv

Visa Services

All visa categories for all of Latvia.