Latvia Business Visa - Definitive Guide

To perform business in Latvia, people from most countries would require a permit. Nationals of other Schengen countries and the visa-exempt nations can enter freely and stay in the country for 90 days. The Latvia Schengen business visa is issued as single-entry, double-entry, or even multiple-entries and is valid for a duration of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. 

The process of applying for the business permit is done using an online application form. However, document submission has to be done in person. Before starting the process, you must ensure that you meet all the eligibility conditions for this particular category. Following this, you can proceed to make the application as follows- 

• Acquire all the necessary documents required by the embassy.
• Visit the website of the Embassy of Latvia and fill in the Schengen application form. You must mention the purpose of the visit as “business”. The form for all the Schengen short term category is the same.
• Proceed to book the appointment for the document submission at one of the VACs located across India. You can do it online through their portal, or by calling the respective VAC.
• Visit the appointment centre with all the documents, application confirmation letter, and fees. You will also have to submit your biometrics here. 

Please note that in case you have already submitted your biometrics for a Schengen visa in the past 5 years, the same data can be copied and you do not have to submit them again. Also, ensure that you submit only genuine documents. Submission of fake documents or false information can lead to automatic visa rejection. 

To be able to apply for this category, you must be eligible for it. If you are not eligible for this category, you must not make an application as this can lead to a visa refusal which can affect your future travel. The following are the conditions you must satisfy -

• You must be living in the country you are making the application. If you are residing in a residence permit in any foreign nation, you may apply it to the embassy there.
• You must possess a valid passport for at least 6 months validity from the date of entry.
• Your primary purpose of the visit must be to take part in business-related activities such as trade fairs, MICE, etc.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your expenses during the entire stay in the country.
• You must apply for the permit only if -

• 1. Latvia is your only destination, or
  2. Latvia is one of your multiple Schengen destinations, in which case you will be spending the majority of the time here, or, 
  3. Latvia must be your port of entry. 

As per the requirements, the following are the list of documents you must carry to the appointment centre. You must carry only originals of these documents. 

• A valid passport- 

• 1. It must have at least 2 blank pages.
  2. Passports older than 10 years are not allowed.
  3. It should be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
  4. Old passports, if any, are to be attached.

• A covering letter from the sending company - 

• 1. This should include the visitor’s basic details.
  2. It should clearly state the purpose and duration of the visit.
  3. It must be on the company letterhead and must contain the seal. 
  4. It should be addressed to the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia.

• Invitation letter from the Latvian organisation/company stating complete details of the visit, or entry tickets to trade fairs, conferences, etc
• Travel itinerary/documents - 

• 1. Detailed travel itinerary 
  2. Round trip flight tickets
  3. Proof of accommodation -

• Financial documents -

Financial documents such as bank statements of the past 3 months, Passbook copy, ITR, etc.

• Dimensions:  35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured 
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be recently captured - within last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral facial expression
• Glasses: Prescription glasses only
• Headgears - only for religious reasons
• Facial hair - permitted

The time taken to process this Schengen permit is dependent on a number of factors that include the number of entries, stay duration, the volume of applications at the embassy, your previous travel history, and so on. In normal cases, it takes around 15 days for the processing. However, this can increase significantly depending on the factors mentioned. As a result, you must apply well in advance. 

The fees for the permit depends on the number of entries, the biometric charges, as well as other service charges. They can also vary depending upon the foreign exchange rates. The embassy can change the fees without prior notice. As a result, you must check the exact amount before starting your application. 

Post submission, the application is sent to the embassy for processing. Even if you submit at a VAC, they have absolutely no power over the processing. The processing is done solely by the embassy. If your application has been approved and stamped, you may collect it from the VAC in person. You may also have it delivered to you via mail for an additional charge.

You may check the status of your application while you wait for a response from the embassy. You can do this by visiting https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-PassportTracking  and entering the reference number and your date of birth. You may also contact the travel agency you have applied through.

Once you are in possession of the business permit, you must keep in mind the following points, 

• Be aware of the expiry date, duration of stay, as well as the number of entries mentioned on the visa sticker. Your visit and stay must abide by these. 
• Ensure that you travel to Latvia within 6 months of the issue date, or as mentioned on the sticker. Beyond this date, you will not be allowed to travel as the permit will become invalid.
• While you are travelling within Latvia, carry a copy of your travel documents on you. 
• While you are on a business visa, you cannot work or take part in paid activities. However, you are allowed to engage in other activities that fall under the general Schengen short term category such as visiting friends, take up voluntary charity work, etc.
• You will not be able to extend the business permit in normal conditions.
• You can move freely within the Schengen zone with this. However, if you have received an LTV (Limited Territorial Validity), you will only be allowed to visit the countries that are mentioned on the sticker.