Latvia Visa Fees: Complete Guide

Key Takeaways

• As of January 1, 2025, Latvia raised most visa and residence permit fees, including short-stay, long-stay, and Golden Visa programs.
• Children under 12, diplomats, close family of Latvian citizens, and some humanitarian cases remain mostly exempt from application fees.
• Submitting applications electronically is cheaper, while embassy services and express processing now cost significantly more than before.

As of January 1, 2025, Latvia 🇱🇻 has made big changes to its visa and residence permit fees. These changes, announced by the Cabinet of Ministers, affect most people applying for a Latvia visa, residence permit, or the country’s well-known Golden Visa. In this guide, you’ll find all the important details about the new costs, who gets discounts, and the few who are now fully exempt.

To help you better plan, understand your options, and avoid hidden fees, let’s look step by step at what these updates mean for applicants, students, investors, and families as they prepare to visit, live, work, or study in Latvia 🇱🇻.

What Changed on January 1, 2025?

• The cost for both the short-stay (Schengen) and long-stay visas is now €90 for adults.
• Residence permit fees have gone up a lot, including higher charges for faster (accelerated or express) processing.
• Some discounts for children, family members, and certain countries remain, but fewer groups are now fully exempt.
• People applying at embassies outside Latvia 🇱🇻 now pay higher consular charges.
• The Golden Visa remains one of the cheapest ways in Europe to get residency by investment. However, professional and governmental fees for this program have also been updated.

These changes started after the government passed a new law in April 2025. All applicants and sponsors should be aware that fees are much higher than before. It’s now even more important to plan ahead, check you have the right documents, and make sure you use the correct payment method.

Latvia Visa Fees for 2025

If you want to visit, work, join family, or study in Latvia 🇱🇻, you’ll usually need either a short-stay (Schengen) visa or a long-stay national “D” visa. Here’s how the new prices look:

Short-Stay Schengen Visa (up to 90 days in 180 days):
– Adults (12 or older): €90
– Children (6–12 years old): €45

Long-Stay National “D” Visa:
– All adults: €90
– For urgent applications (less than three days before lawful stay ends): €180

Transit Visa:
– Usually similar to the Schengen short-stay fee, but check with the embassy, as it’s not always clearly listed.

Special Discounts for Some Countries:
If you’re a national of a country that has a visa facilitation agreement with the European Union, you pay less. For example:
– Ukraine 🇺🇦: Normal processing is €35, urgent is €70
– Albania 🇦🇱, Armenia 🇦🇲, Azerbaijan 🇦🇿, Belarus 🇧🇾, Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦, Georgia 🇬🇪, Serbia 🇷🇸, Montenegro 🇲🇪, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, Moldova 🇲🇩: All pay €35 for standard processing.

Who Can Still Get a Visa for Free?
Free visa applications are only allowed for a limited group now:
– Children under age 12
– Diplomats and others on official government trips
– Family members of Latvian 🇱🇻 citizens (usually spouses and minor children)
– Scientific researchers coming for special programs
– Refugees, people with humanitarian protection, or some very special humanitarian cases

In previous years, the list for discounts or free visas was much longer, but starting 2025, the government has made it stricter. You must check if you are truly eligible for these exemptions before starting your application.

Higher Residence Permit Fees

If you want to live in Latvia 🇱🇻 longer than 90 days, you need a residence permit. The government raised the cost for both first-time applications and renewals.

Here are the new fees for different processing times:

First-Time Residence Permit Applications:
– Standard (decision in 30 days): €160
– Accelerated (decision in 10 days): €280
– Express (decision in 5 days): €560

Renewal Fees:
– Standard renewal (30 days): €75
– Accelerated (10 days): €140
– Express renewal (5 days): €290

These prices mean that, for many people, it will cost a lot more to get or extend their right to live in Latvia 🇱🇻 than it did before.

If You Apply at an Embassy:
If you are outside Latvia 🇱🇻 and apply at a Latvian embassy or consulate, you will have to pay extra charges for:
– Forwarding or scanning documents: €50 (up from €40)
– Residence permit related to work: €140 (up from €110)

These higher prices at embassies only apply if you are outside Latvia 🇱🇻, not if you submit your application from inside the country.

Invitation Number Request Fee:
For certain types of residence permits, you must first get an “invitation number.” This now costs €27.

Electronic vs. Paper Submission: Save Money Online

If you are asked to provide invitations or other supporting documents, submitting them online will save you money:
– Submit online: €10
– Submit by paper or in person: €17

So, where possible, use the government’s official website (latvija.gov.lv) to save on fees and help the process go quicker.

Residence Card Fees

After your residence permit is granted, you need to get a physical card that proves you are allowed to stay in Latvia 🇱🇻. This residence card usually costs about €15. However, you should check in case there are very small changes or local administrative costs in the year you apply.

The residence card is needed for both temporary and permanent residents. Carry it at all times as proof that you are staying legally in Latvia 🇱🇻.

Golden Visa Updates: 2025 Investor Route

Latvia 🇱🇻 continues to offer one of the most affordable Golden Visa (“residency by investment”) schemes in the European Union. This option allows you to invest in the country and get a residence permit for you and close family.

What Stays the Same:
– Minimum investment amounts have not changed in 2025. Depending on your chosen option (bank deposit, government bonds, real estate, or business investment), the amount ranges from €50,000 to €280,000.
– You also pay a government fee, starting at around €10,000, and, in many cases, a professional service fee of €20,000 to €25,000.

Example – Real Estate Route:
– Buy property for at least €250,000
– Pay the government a contribution (about €12,500 or more, rising with some properties)
– Cover transfer duties (about 2.25% of the property’s value)
– Add professional or legal service fees

As one investor guide explains, priced from only €80,000 (including professional services and required donation), “the Latvian Golden Visa remains the most affordable Residency By Investment program in the EU.”

These prices do not cover your day-to-day or living costs, nor do they include future taxes. You should always get advice from a licensed migration consultant before making any investment.

How to Pay Fees

Application, residence, and Golden Visa payments must be made as the embassy or migration office directs. This is often at your in-person appointment or directly after submitting your form online.

• Always get and keep a receipt or other proof of payment. You’ll need to include this to complete your application.
• Not all offices accept every type of payment (like cash, bank cards, or wire transfers), so check in advance with your embassy or the migration office.
• Failing to pay the correct fee, or failing to include your proof of payment, can lead to long delays—or even rejection of your application.

Summary Table: Main Latvia 🇱🇻 Immigration Costs from January 2025

Special reduced rates:
– €35 for nationals of Albania 🇦🇱, Armenia 🇦🇲, Azerbaijan 🇦🇿, Belarus 🇧🇾, Bosnia & Herzegovina 🇧🇦, Georgia 🇬🇪, Serbia 🇷🇸, Montenegro 🇲🇪, North Macedonia 🇲🇰, Moldova 🇲🇩, and Ukraine 🇺🇦 (urgent for Ukraine: €70).
– Still-free visas mostly for children under 12, close family of Latvian 🇱🇻 citizens, official government visitors, scientists, refugees, and certain urgent humanitarian cases.

Consular surcharges for documents sent from embassies are now 25% higher than before.

Submitting your documents electronically is cheaper than using paper forms.

What Do These New Rules Mean for Different Types of Applicants?

Tourists
– Now must pay €90 for a short-term stay in Latvia 🇱🇻, unless they come from a country with a special agreement or are a child under 12.
– Should check for the latest requirements before booking their trip.

Workers, Students, and Family Reunion Applicants
– All face higher first-time and renewal fees for their residence permit.
– Students, in particular, see higher upfront and repeat costs. Planning ahead for these larger application budgets is a must.

Employers and Businesses
– More paperwork and higher costs make hiring workers from abroad slower and more expensive.
– As quoted by a migration firm, “these added layers of compliance will necessitate more robust documentation…potentially elongating hiring timelines.”
– Employers must budget extra time and money now.

Investors
– The Golden Visa still has one of the lowest minimum investment levels in the EU, but other fees are up.
– You need to carefully calculate all costs, not just the headline price for the property or investment, but also extra fees and any service charges.

Frequently Asked Questions About Latvia’s 2025 Immigration Fees

Q: Do children still get a free visa?
A: Yes, but only those under 12 years old. Children aged 6–12 pay a reduced fee. Over 12, normal adult rates apply.

Q: Is it cheaper to apply online?
A: Yes. If you submit invitations or documents through the electronic portal, the fee is just €10, versus €17 for paper.

Q: What if I apply from overseas?
A: Expect to pay higher fees if you apply at a Latvian embassy or consulate outside Latvia 🇱🇻. The embassy will charge extra for sending or checking your documents.

Q: Does the Golden Visa fee include everything?
A: No. The main Golden Visa investment must be made (for example, buying real estate or investing in bonds) plus you pay government and professional fees, but day-to-day costs and any taxes are extra.

Q: What happens if I pay the wrong fee?
A: Your application might be delayed or rejected. Always follow the embassy’s instructions, save your payment receipt, and submit on time.

Helpful Tips and Recommendations

With all these fee increases and tighter rules, it’s more important than ever to:

• Plan your Latvia visa, residence permit, or Golden Visa application well in advance of your intended trip.
• Double-check if you still qualify for any exemptions or fee reductions—don’t assume you will.
• Use electronic application methods to save on fees and time wherever possible.
• Ask about payment methods before your appointment or submission.
• Employers and students should expect longer wait times and higher upfront costs.

VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that many applicants are caught off-guard by the price jumps and fewer free options, especially those renewing status or relying on embassy services abroad.

You should always double-check the latest requirements and fees directly with the Latvian Office of Citizenship & Migration Affairs. Only official government instructions can confirm the exact rules that will apply to your unique case.

Final Thoughts

Increased Latvia visa and residence permit fees mean all would-be visitors, workers, family members, students, and investors must prepare for higher state charges in 2025 and beyond. Fewer people will qualify for free or reduced fees. So plan ahead, check every step, ask questions, and keep all your payment and submission documents safe.

Remember that immigration rules can change. Before you pay anything, always confirm what’s needed with a trusted official source, or speak to a professional who can guide you through Latvia’s 🇱🇻 updated process for visas, residence permits, or Golden Visa programs.

This summary offers a good starting point for anyone facing Latvia’s new 2025 immigration costs. However, you should get tailored advice for your personal situation. For your safety and peace of mind, talk to an immigration expert or a lawyer, especially for complex or high-value applications.

Disclaimer: The details above cover Latvia 🇱🇻 visa, residence permit, and Golden Visa fees as of January 1, 2025, based on official government announcements. Always check official sources or with your local embassy before beginning any application, as regulations and rates can change at any time.

### Learn Today
Golden Visa → A residency-by-investment program allowing individuals to obtain residence by making a significant financial investment in Latvia.
Residence Permit → Official permission from the Latvian government allowing a foreign national to live, work, or study in Latvia longer than 90 days.
Schengen Visa → A short-stay visa that permits travel within Latvia and other Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days.
Visa Facilitation Agreement → A treaty between Latvia (or the EU) and certain non-EU countries, allowing reduced visa fees or streamlined processing.
Consular Surcharge → An additional fee charged by embassies or consulates for handling documents or applications made from outside Latvia.

### This Article in a Nutshell

Latvia overhauled its immigration fee structure for 2025. Applicants now face higher costs for visas, residence permits, renewals, and expedited processing. Fewer groups qualify for free or reduced fees. Digital submissions cost less, while embassy and express services come at a premium. Advance planning and careful document checks are now essential.
— By VisaVerge.com