Sarah Pardi - September 9, 2025
Home > Travel Requirements, Policy & Authorization > New Travel Requirement for Latvia Has Gone Into Effect
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Latvia, a Baltic country in Northern Europe, is a longstanding member of the Schengen area. Last April, Latvian authorities announced a new travel requirement that will affect millions of travelers every year.
As of September 1st, 2025, this new requirement has gone into effect.
But what is it exactly? Do you need it for your upcoming trip to Latvia? We're going to share all of that and more.
In order to travel to Latvia, many travelers are now required to submit several pieces of information ahead of their trip. The process is entirely online through the official Latvia ETA portal and has to be done at least 48 hours before arrival.
The information you'll need to provide includes:
While many travelers will need to submit this information before traveling to Latvia, not all travelers will be required to.
Travelers are exempt from Latvia's new ETA requirement if they:
If none of the above apply to you, you need to supply your information to visit Latvia.
In addition to that, travelers who are heading to Latvia to perform official functions or give technical support are also exempt, so long as it is on a short-term basis.
Regardless, all travelers should check the official site before traveling to Latvia, just to make sure.
If you hold a valid Schengen visa that isn't from Latvia, you may still need to provide information before traveling if Latvia is one of your destinations.
On top of that, it is helpful to know that submitting your information to Latvia doesn't guarantee entry.
If you're required to provide information before traveling to Latvia, you will need to submit the information yourself unless you are a minor or have a real need for assistance. In that case, a guardian or adult, or a duly authorized person, must submit the information on your behalf.
Make sure you carve out enough time to fill out all of the required information since a family member won't be able to do it for you.
According to a press release from the Saeima (Latvia's Parliament), the region has seen an "increase in intelligence and hybrid threat risks" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In response, Latvia has been increasing its migration controls since February 2022. The new ETA requirement is just another way to help keep Latvia secure.
With the data obtained from this new requirement, Latvian authorities hope to be able to identify and prevent risks to both state and public security.
If you've heard of the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), you may be wondering if ETA is the same thing as ETIAS, or a branch of it.
The answer is no. Latvia's ETA is not the same thing as ETIAS.
ETIAS is a requirement for the entire Schengen area, and it is expected to launch in Q4 of 2026.
Latvia's ETA (not to be confused with the UK's ETA) is solely for entry into Latvia.
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