As of September 19, 2022, the entry of citizens of the Russian Federation into the Republic of Latvia while crossing the external border of the European Union is restricted. That is, citizens of the Russian Federation who are holders of short-term Schengen visas will be denied entry for non-essential purposes, such as tourism and recreation.
Restrictions do not apply to:
- holders of a residence permit issued by the European Union, a member state of the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation, as well as holders of a long-term visa issued by a Schengen Agreement member state;
- family members of citizens of the Republic of Latvia (spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, as well as dependents);
- family members of European Union citizens, countries of the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation;
- employees of transport and passenger transportation service providers, as well as crews of cargo or technical flights, arriving in or departing the Republic of Latvia while on duty;
- seafarers who need to get to or from their place of employment on board;
- persons whose entry is motivated by humanitarian concerns;
- employees and family members of Russian Federation diplomatic and consular missions accredited or sent to the Republic of Latvia;
- diplomatic couriers or ad hoc Russian Federation diplomatic couriers who present an official document indicating their status and the number of diplomatic mail packages;
- persons who go to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Latvia on a short-term business trip to provide technical support as well as employees of Russian Federation diplomatic and consular missions passing through the Republic of Latvia in transit for the performance of official functions, as well as their family members; as well as persons passing through the Republic of Latvia in transit and going on a short-term mission to provide technical support to the Russian Federation's embassy in the host country.
The procedure is implemented in accordance with the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers dated September 8, 2022, which was adopted through the coordinated cooperation between Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, in order to limit the flow of Russian travelers, thus reducing security risks, while waiting for collective action by the European Union.