As of September 1, 2025, third-country nationals entering Latvia without a Latvian-issued residence permit will be required to complete an electronic pre-arrival form at least 48 hours before arrival, according to the State Border Guard.
The form must be completed online at eta.gov.lv. Travelers who fail to comply risk fines of up to €2,000.
Who Must Complete the Form
The new requirement applies to individuals traveling with a Schengen visa or a residence permit issued by another EU member state.
Exemptions cover citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area, NATO, OECD, Switzerland, and Brazil, as well as nationals of countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, Israel, and Mexico.
However, Ukrainian citizens are not exempt under the new rules.
Diplomats, individuals arriving for official functions, and technical support personnel are also excluded from the requirement.
Information Required
Applicants must provide detailed information, including:
Purpose of travel
Planned time and place of stay
Travel route
Contact information
Any elected political positions held by themselves or relatives
Election candidacy history
Status as a current or former government or municipal official
Service in armed forces, border guard, customs, or diplomatic institutions
Travelers who entered Latvia before September 1 are not obliged to submit the form retroactively.
Security Measures
Authorities say the system is designed to “strengthen state security and improve the efficiency of state border guarding.”
More information can be found here.
