Latvia & the Latvians
Capital:Riga
Main cities:Riga,Jurmala,Daugavapils,Ventspills,Jekabpills,Liepaja
Population:approx:2,3 million
Languages spoken:Latvian(native language/official
other languages:Russian,English,German,Polish
In all, there are more than 1.5 million Latvians in the world. Around 90% of them live in Latvia, while others can be found in the USA, Russia, Australia, Canada, the UK and Germany, as well as Brazil, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia and Ireland. In fact, there is hardly a country in the world where Latvians haven't made their presence known, so that even if you never visit Latvia, you stand a good chance of meeting a Latvian somewhere else.
To enter into the Republic of Latvia the following documents are required:
- passport or identification card (identification cards as travel documents accepted only for citizens of EU, European Economic Zone and Switzerland)
- visa or residential permit (except citizens from the countries with whom Latvia has a non-visa agreement)
- health and life insurance (except for those holding diplomatic passports, members of foreign delegations, those who have received a permanent residential permit for staying in Latvia, foreign sailors who have been signed off ship and are on their way home and other exceptions according to Latvia's international agreements)
Procedure at the border crossing points
All visitors should stop at border crossings unless instructed otherwise by border police. Usually all that is required is a simple check of a person's identity but it might also involve inspection of valid travel documents, inspection of a vehicle and its documentation and examination of luggage.
TRAVEL IN THE SCHENGEN AREA
Travel in the Schengen area with a uniform or Schengen visa
A foreigner in possession of a uniform or Schengen visa, and not in violation of the conditions of its validity – i.e. the term of its validity, the allowed number of entries and total residence time in the Schengen area, and having observed the purpose of the visit as stated at the time of issuance of the visa, may enter and reside throughout the territory of the member states of the Schengen Agreement.
Travel in the Schengen area with a residence permit
Foreigners holding a residence permit issued by a member state of the Schengen Agreement, including Latvia, is able to travel to the territory of other members states of the Schengen Agreement for no more than three months out of the half year, if they are in compliance with the requirements of Article 5 of the Schengen Borders Code, and if the Schengen member state shall have entered the specific residence permit in the List of residence permits, referred to in Article 2(15) of Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Borders Code) and its updated versions (see the web pageAccess to European Union legal acts).
Latvian visas issued prior to Latvia's accession to Schengen
Latvian visas issued prior to Latvia's accession to the Schengen area, and which are still valid, have become visas with limited territorial validity, valid for entry into and residence in Latvia only.
The decision of the Council of Justice and Internal Affairs of December 6 of 2007 regarding the abolition of internal borders contains a provision, inter alia, that short-term visas valid until 30 June 2008, which the new member states of the Schengen Agreement shall have issued prior to their accession to the Schengen area, shall be valid for necessary transit through the territories of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, in accordance with the provisions of the Decision No. 895/2006/EK of 14 June 2006 of the EU Council and Parliament.
It is possible to cross Latvia's borders with other member states of Schengen Agreement (internal borders) at any point without a border check of the person.
Latvia's borders with non-member states of Schengen Agreement (external borders) continue to be available for crossing only at border control points and during specified working hours.
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