Visa and residence permit

BIA / Visa and residence permit

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

From March 23rd, 2020 until the end of emergency situation, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs will stop customer service in all divisions. All previous appointments for submission of documents will be cancelled.

Foreigners residing lawfully in the Republic of Latvia until 13 March 2020 and whose legal residence period has expired after 13 March 2020 may continue to reside in the Republic of Latvia during the state of emergency without obtaining a new residence permit or visa and retaining the right to employment, if it is established by the said residence permit or visa.

Foreigners wishing to continue to reside in the Republic of Latvia with a residence permit must submit the documents requesting or registering the residence permit electronically, confirming the application and the attached documents with a secure electronic signature or sending by post.

For additional information, please use e-mail mn@pmlp.gov.lv.

OCMA informs, that there will be published an important information on the availability of services in urgent and emergency cases on the official website.

Regulations on visas and residence permits for international students in Latvia vary depending on country of their citizenship.

CITIZENS OF EU/EEA

Citizens of European Union (EU)/ European Economic Area (EEA) have the right to reside in Latvia without a residence permit or visa, but they have to apply for a registration card in the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) in Latvia.

CITIZENS OF NON-EU/EEA

Citizens of Non-EU/EEA require a visa residence and permit to enter the Republic of Latvia:

  • If you are intending to stay in Latvia for less than 90 days. If your country of citizenship is on the list (https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/visas-and-invitations/list-countries.html), you generally can enter Latvia without a visa.
  • A residence permit is necessary if you are willing to reside in the Republic of Latvia for a period of time exceeding 90 days within half a year counting from the first day of entrance.

For detailed information on applying for a residence permit, we strongly recommend you to find the information provided by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/residence-permits/)

The temporary residence permit is made out only for students of day (full) time department.

In order to issue a residence permit, you needs to pay tuition fee for the first study year at the Baltic International Academy (BIA). After that, BIA foreign student department will prepare the documents to apply for a temporary residence permit.

List of the documents to be submitted to receive a residence permit, you can find here!

If you have any questions, please contact us by email – visa@bsa.edu.lv