Travel documents
- For Latvian citizens – a passport or identity card (eID)
- Latvian non-citizens – passport
A Latvian citizen’s identity card may be used as a travel document when travelling to Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia (formerly Macedonia), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Latvian non-citizens must always carry a passport when travelling abroad. A non-citizen’s identity card is not a travel document.
Before travelling, contact the relevant country’s diplomatic or consular mission in a timely manner to find out the required passport validity period for entry into that country.
When travelling between Schengen countries, border guards, airport staff and passenger transport operators are not obliged to check travellers’ identity documents; however, national law enforcement authorities, including the police, may require such documents to be presented upon request. We therefore recommend travellers to always carry a valid identity document whenever they intend to cross the Latvian border.
Other documents required for travel
Entry visa or electronic travel authorisation
A visa is required to enter a foreign country, unless the relevant country has established a visa-free entry scheme. Please contact the relevant country’s diplomatic or consular mission in a timely manner for detailed information about the visa application procedure and the necessary documents.
Some foreign embassies accredited to Latvia are not actually located in Latvia, so obtaining a visa may take longer than expected.
An electronic travel authorisation is required to enter certain countries, such as Australia and the USA.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and travel insurance
The EHIC entitles the cardholder to receive emergency medical treatment in EU and EEA countries and Switzerland, under the same extent and conditions as local residents. However, when travelling abroad, it is also strongly recommended to take out a travel insurance that covers the costs of repatriation to your home country in the event of serious illness or death.
Without an insurance, all costs relating to medical care or repatriation must be borne by the traveller or their relatives.
Documents required when travelling with children
Please ensure that you have the necessary travel documents for any children or other minors under your guardianship who are travelling with you. Find out what documents are required if a minor is travelling without an adult. For further information, contact the State Border Guard, the relevant foreign diplomatic and consular mission and the passenger transport operator.