IMPORTANT INFORMATION
There are two ways of submitting the documents for requesting or registering a residence permit:
- by post (visiting Post office)
- electronically by approving the application and documents appended thereto with a secure electronic signature (eParaksts).
In order to take care of the safety and health of customers and employees, as well as to limit the risks inherent to gatherings of people, the OCMA has decided that the services will be provided for customers by pre-appointment only, thus disabling the provision of services on a first-come, first-served basis.
Regulations on visas and residence permits for international students in Latvia vary depending on their country of citizenship.
CITIZENS OF EU/EEA
Citizens of the European Union (EU)/ European Economic Area (EEA) have the right to reside in Latvia without a residence permit or visa, but they have to apply for a registration card in the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) in Latvia.
CITIZENS OF NON-EU/EEA
Citizens of Non-EU/EEA require a visa and/or a residence permit to enter the Republic of Latvia:
- If you intend to stay in Latvia for less than 90 days and your country of citizenship is on the list, you can generally enter Latvia without a visa.
- A residence permit is necessary if you are willing to reside in the Republic of Latvia for a period of time exceeding 90 days within half a year counting from the first day of entrance.
- Pursuant to Article 22 of the Visa Code, an in-depth examination is carried out of applications lodged by the nationals of the following states.
For detailed information on applying for a residence permit, we strongly recommend that you consult the information provided by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
The temporary residence permit is issued only to full-time (day) students.
In order to issue a residence permit, you need to pay tuition fee for the first study year at the Baltic International Academy (BIA). After that, BIA International Students Department will prepare the documents to apply for a temporary residence permit.
You can find the list of documents required to obtain a residence permit here!
IMPORTANT!!! Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus citizens, when submitting an application for a visa or residence permit, must attach a questionnaire and the documents specified in it (this requirement does not apply to cases when a temporary or permanent residence permit is being registered).
If you have any questions, please contact us by email –
