In order to strengthen State security and improve the efficiency of State border guarding, from 1 September 2025 thirdcountry nationals, who have not been issued a visa or residence permit in Latvia, will be obliged to submit certain information regarding themselves, their relatives (if any) and the purpose of travel to the State threat prevention information system eta.gov.lv. before entering Latvia. Amendments to the Immigration Law were adopted by the Saeima on 3 April 2025.
Information for immigrants:
• The circle of persons subject to the duty to provide information is precisely defined in Section 4.4, Paragraph one of the Immigration Law – foreigners who are not citizens of the European Union, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Economic area State, the Swiss Confederation or the Federative Republic of Brazil and who do not have a visa or residence permit issued by the Republic of Latvia will be obliged to provide information. This obligation also applies to those who only transit through Latvia;
• At least 48 hours before arriving in Latvia, information must be submitted online at eta.gov.lv. After submitting the data to the website (eta.gov.lv), the person will receive automatic confirmation to the specified electronic mail address of receipt of the data. In order to enter Latvia, a person does not have to wait for a separate permit.
• Information may be used by national security authorities to identify and prevent national and public security risks. In cases where these risks are identified, the competent State authorities will use the existing legal instruments to address the threat posed, including limiting the person's access to Latvia.
• The information must be provided to the traveller himself and not on behalf of another person;
• If the person's plans change before the trip, the new information must be submitted at least 48 hours before entering Latvia.
Information to be provided:
- purpose of travel (entry);
- the planned time and place of stay;
- travel route;
- contact information;
- elected positions held by one or his or her relative;
- Election candidacy;
- the status of an existing or former official of the State or local government;
- Service in the Armed Forces, Special Service, border Guard, Customs or Interior, Justice or Foreign Affairs (also Diplomatic) Service;
• The foreigner is provided with administrative responsibility for the failure to submit the requested information and for the provision of incomplete or false information;
• The new entry procedure does not apply to persons with diplomatic immunity, persons who arrive in the short term for the performance of official functions or for the provision of technical support;
• From September 1, Latvia does not have to submit an entry questionnaire to nonEstonian citizens, but it is mandatory for Russian citizens, even if they have been issued a residence permit or EU long-term resident status in Estonia.
• Similarly, the entry form does not need to be filled out by stateless persons who were granted this status by one of those mentioned in the provisions of Section 4.⁴, Part One of the Immigration Law.
• For Ukrainian citizens – if they do not have a visa or residence permit issued by Latvia, the obligation to submit information shall be the same as for other citizens of the relevant third countries;
• Persons who entered Latvia by September 1 and are in Latvia are not obliged to submit relevant information.