As of 19 September, the entry of citizens of the Russian Federation into Latvia when crossing the external border of the European Union will be restricted, i.e. citizens of the Russian Federation - holders of Schengen short-stay visas - will be denied entry for non-essential purposes, such as tourism and leisure.
The restrictions do not apply to:
• Holders of a residence permit of the European Union, a country of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation, or a long-stay visa of a Schengen Member State;
• family members (spouses, grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, and dependent persons) of the nationals of the Republic of Latvia;
• family members of the nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation;
• employees of transport and passenger service providers, cargo or technical crew arriving in or departing from the Republic of Latvia in the performance of their duties;
• seafarers on their way to or returning from their workplace on board a ship;
• persons whose entry is related to humanitarian considerations;
• employees of diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation accredited or posted to the Republic of Latvia and members of their families;
• diplomatic couriers or ad hoc diplomatic couriers of the Russian Federation, persons travelling to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Latvia on a short-term mission to provide technical support;
• employees of diplomatic and consular missions of the Russian Federation who transit the territory of the Republic of Latvia to perform official functions and members of their families, as well as persons who transit the territory of the Republic of Latvia and go on a short-term mission to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the host country to provide technical support.
This procedure is being introduced in accordance with the decision adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers on 8 September 2022, which was taken in a coordinated manner by Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, in order to restrict the flow of Russian travellers already now in anticipation of collective EU action, thereby reducing security risks.
Prepared by:
Kristīne Pētersone
Chief Inspector of the Strategic Development and Public Relations Division of the State Border Guard
tel. 67075739, mobile 28364592
e-mail: kristine.petersone@rs.gov.lv