ETIAS for Latvia
ETIAS is required for visa-exempt travellers entering Latvia, an EU and Schengen member state, once the scheme becomes mandatory in late 2026.
Latvia is a full member of both the European Union and the Schengen Area, having joined the EU in 2004 and lifted internal Schengen border checks in 2007 for land and sea travel and in 2008 for air travel. This means the same ETIAS travel authorisation used everywhere else in Schengen also applies here. There is no separate "Latvian ETIAS" — once approved and tied to your passport, it covers short visits to Latvia exactly as it covers Germany, France, or any of the other Schengen countries.
Getting to Latvia
Most visa-exempt travellers arrive through Riga International Airport (RIX), the largest and busiest airport in the Baltic states and the main hub for national carrier airBaltic, with direct connections to dozens of cities across Europe and beyond. Riga's historic Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is easily reached from the airport by bus or taxi in around 20–30 minutes. Travellers can also arrive by ferry at the Riga Passenger Terminal, which has seasonal sea links to Stockholm, or overland from neighbouring Lithuania and Estonia, both fellow Schengen members with open borders. Latvia's eastern borders with Russia and Belarus, by contrast, are external Schengen borders with full passport and document checks, since neither country belongs to the Schengen Area.
Do I need ETIAS for Latvia?
Yes. Visa-exempt travellers — for example, citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or Japan — will need a valid ETIAS to enter Latvia once the system becomes mandatory, expected in the final quarter of 2026. The requirement applies the moment you cross into any Schengen country, including Latvia, whether it is your first stop or a later one on a wider European trip. EU/EEA citizens and holders of long-stay Schengen visas or residence permits do not need ETIAS.
How much does ETIAS cost for a trip to Latvia?
The ETIAS fee is the same €20 regardless of which Schengen country you are visiting, including Latvia, and it is waived entirely for applicants under 18 or over 70 at the time of application. Once approved, the authorisation is valid for three years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, covering unlimited entries to Latvia and the rest of the Schengen Area within that period, provided you stay within the standard 90-days-in-any-180-day limit.