The Ministry of Foreign urges everyone to refrain from travelling unless it is absolutely necessary.
As of 12 October, 2020, all persons who intend to enter Latvia must fill in an electronic confirmation form on the Covidpass.lv website. Electronic confirmation must be completed not earlier than 48 hours before crossing the Latvian border.
From 25 January, 2021 all international arrivals to Latvia must present a negative result of a molecular PCR (polymerase chain reaction) COVID-19 test (done with nasal and throat swabs). The certificate must be issued no earlier than 72 hours before. Those who during last 3 month have recovered from COVID-19 must present a doctor’s note confirming that they have had COVID-19 and that currently they are not infectious.
Passengers who are unable to present proof of a negative COVID-19 test – either printed out or in their smart device – or a doctor’s note, will be denied boarding. The negative test result or the doctor’s note must be in English, French, Russian or in the official language of the country where the traveller’s journey begins. Persons who have been to the countries that are not an EU or EEA member state, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, during the past 14 days, must take another COVID-19 test at their own expense immediately upon their arrival in Latvia.
This requirement also applies to those arriving in Latvia in a personal vehicle. The negative COVID-19 test results must be indicated in the Covidpass.lv form, which will be checked by the State Border Guard and police officers.
More information can be found here.
After arriving from a country with a high incidence of COVID-19, a 10-day self-isolation is compulsory for all travellers. Separate categories of persons – for example, medical staff and employees of educational institutions – must go into a 14-day self-isolation, which can end already on the 10th day.
Persons who have been to the countries that are not an EU or EEA member state, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom during the past 14 days, may go into self-isolation at their place of residence if the result of the test taken after their arrival in Latvia is negative. In other cases, they must isolate themselves in a hotel, and hotel costs shall be covered by travellers themselves. Detailed information on the procedure and exceptions from these requirements are laid down in subparagraphs 56.4 - 56.5 of Cabinet Regulation No 360 (in Latvian).
Some individuals arriving in Latvia from a trip abroad will not be required to show their negative COVID-19 test result, or medical certification confirming they cannot spread the disease, and these include the following:
- children eleven years of age and younger,
- employees of companies which provide transport and transport services including sailors and members of the merchant marine, who are on the way to or from their places of work, passengers in transit who do not leave the specially designated transit zones, and members of the diplomatic corps,
- people who are living in border regions of Latvia that cross the border on a daily basis for purposes related to their employment, education, or similarly important reasons, and who are able to show proof of that particular reason for travelling.
For other exemptions, please see Paragraph 35.4 of the Cabinet Regulation No 360 “Epidemiological Safety Measures to Limit the Spread of Covid-19 Infection” issued on June 09, 2020.
As of 11 February, entry to Latvia from the European Union Member States, the European Economic Area Member States, the Swiss Confederation, and the United Kingdom through international passenger carrier services or by a private vehicle is permitted for urgent and essential reasons only:
- work;
- training, studies;
- family reunification;
- to receive medical services;
- transit;
- accompanying a minor;
- return to one’s permanent place of residence;
- attending a funeral.
Either of these reasons must be indicated on the covidpass.lv website. The international carrier must make sure that the person has submitted this self-certification.
Documents or other reliable proof confirming the purpose of entry indicated on the covidpass.lv website will have to be presented to the State Border Guard or the State Police on demand.
The traveller will not have to present the documents if information that confirms any of the purposes of entry is already available in national information systems, e.g., the Population Register.
As of 15 February, crossing the border into Latvia must be done within 12 hours of registering at “covidpass.lv”. Employees of transportation companies including truck drivers and technical personnel involved in the transport, must cross the border within 72 hours of their registration at covidpass.lv. Exceptions apply to passengers on international carriers that are in transit; such passengers have 48 hours to cross the border from the time of registering at covidpass.lv Concerning other possible exceptions, please refer to Article 35.7 of the Regulations No. 360 of 9 June 2020 on epidemiological safety measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 infection.
Third country nationals holding a residence permit in Latvia cannot enter Latvia through border crossing points at the external border unless their purpose of entry corresponds to any of the purposes of entry listed in sub-paragraphs 37.1., 37.2., 37.3., 37.5., 37.6., 37.7., 37.8., 37.9., 37.10., 37.11., 37.12., 37.13. and 37.15. of Cabinet Regulation No 360 “Epidemiological Safety Measures to Limit the Spread of Covid-19 Infection”.
Epidemiological statistical data regarding the European Union and third countries on the incidence of COVID-19 cases is being updated every Friday on the website of the Latvia’s Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Rules for self-isolation, social distancing, international passengers carriers and categories of people allowed to cross the Latvian external borders from third countries are provided by the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers No.360 Epidemiological Safety Measures for the Containment of the Spread of COVID-19 Infection, adopted on June 9, 2020.
Useful links:
Cabinet of Ministers
Ministry of Health
Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
State Border Guard