Accreditation procedures for tourism companies with diplomatic and consular representations of the Republic of Latvia

Accreditation is the process of assessment of a tourism company as a result of which the company obtains the status of an accredited company having the right to lodge visa applications with a representation on behalf of travellers.

On 15 May 2009, came into effect the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Procedure no 4 for taking decisions at the diplomatic and consular representations of the Republic of Latvia about the accreditation of tourism companies under the Common Consular Instructions with regard to visa provisions.

When applying for accreditation with a representation, the company lodges an application signed by the chief executive of the company and specifying the following:

1.1. the name of the company, its registration number, its legal and operational address, the telephone number, and, if the company has them, also the address of a website or e-mail.

1.2. name and surname of the chief executive of the company, and contacts of the responsible official, specifying the name, surname and position;

1.3. a short description of the company (branches, number of employees, profile of activities in the tourism sector, the list of countries where tourism services are being offered);

1.4. acknowledgement to the effect that the company is aware of the requirements of these procedures;

1.5. information about the diplomatic and consular representations of the Schengen states (hereinafter – Schengen representation) where the company has been accredited, its accreditation refused or revoked; 

2. The following documents must be attached to the application:

2.1. a copy of registration certificate issued by competent institutions, alongside with presenting the original or a copy attested by a notary (if such are required by legislation of the country where the representation is accredited);

2.2. licences proving the right of the company to provide tourism services, alongside with presenting the original or a copy attested by a notary (if such are required by legislation of the country where the representation is accredited);

2.3. a copy of by-laws (if such are required by legislation of the country where the representation is accredited);

2.4. a copy of the tax payer's registration certificate, alongside with presenting the original or a copy attested by a notary, or a statement from a competent institution on taxes paid (if such are required by legislation the country where the representation is accredited);

2.5. a copy (-ies) of co-operation agreements with a company in Latvia

2.6. a sample of a document (e.g., a voucher) issued by the company and verifying the purpose of the travel

2.7. a letter of authority, drawn up according to the representation's sample, for each employee of the company or a list of persons authorised by the company who have the right to lodge visa applications and sign the document specified in Paragraph 10.6, as well as signature samples of such persons.

3. Within 10 working days following the receipt of all the said documents, the representation takes a decision on an accreditation of, or a refusal of an accreditation to the company and notifies the company accordingly in writing. Where the provisions of these Procedures are not met, the letter on a refusal to grant an accreditation specifies the reason for the refusal and advises the company on its rights to re-submit accreditation documents after the reasons for the refusal have been eliminated.

4. A representation carries out re-accreditation on bi-annual basis, starting from the day of granting an accreditation.

5. An accreditation is refused or a representation takes a decision on revoking an accreditation, where a company:

5.1. has intentionally provided false or misleading information;

5.2. no longer complies with accreditation requirements specified hereunder;

5.3. has ceased to operate in providing tourism services;

5.4. has failed to meet its obligations under an agreement with a recipient of tourism services (a tourist);

5.5. before re-accreditation, has not lodged any visa applications with the representation;

5.6. has facilitated illegal immigration;

5.7. when accredited with another Schengen representation, had its accreditation revoked or annulled due to a violation;

6. An accreditation is revoked and struck off the list without warning and without rights to submit documents for restoring accreditation within a year from the day of revoking the accreditation, should it be established that the company:

6.1. has intentionally provided false or misleading information;

6.2. has failed to meet its obligations under an agreement with a tourist;

6.3. has facilitated illegal immigration;

6.4. when accredited with another Schengen representation, had its accreditation revoked or annulled due to a violation.

7. Where it is established that the company no longer complies with the accreditation requirements specified hereunder, the company is warned in writing, by indicating the drawbacks found and the time period for eliminating those. Where any violations are found, the company is struck off the list until the time when the drawbacks have been eliminated. If the drawbacks are not eliminated within the indicated period, the representation takes a decision on revoking the accreditation and notifies the company in writing, also indicating that the company is entitled to the restoration of accreditation by submitting documents under routine procedures.

8. Where there are changes in the company information specified in Paragraph 2, or the company has ceased providing tourism services, it must notify the representation in writing, within three days time.