Latvia Student Visa - Definitive Guide

To take part in a short term study, research, and so on in Latvia, most people from around the world would require a permit. Also known as the Latvia Schengen student visa, this is a short term Schengen category, and is issued for a duration of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. It can be issued as a single-entry type, double-entry type, or even with multiple entries.  

The mode of application for the study permit is online. However, similar to all other Schengen visas, the submission is done offline. Before you proceed with the application, you must ensure that you are eligible for this category. After this, you may proceed to make the application as follows - 

• Obtain all the necessary documents as per the embassy requirements.
• Visit the website of the Embassy of Latvia and fill in the Schengen application form. You must mention the purpose of the visit as “Study/research/training”. The form for all the Schengen short term permits is the same.
• Proceed to book the appointment for the application submission at one of the VACs located across India. You can do it online through their portal, or by phoning 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. 

Kindly note that if you have already provided your biometrics for a Schengen visa in the past 5 years, you do not have to submit them again. In this scenario, you may submit the application via a third party. Also, ensure that you submit the correct document and information. Submitting false information will lead to a Schengen visa rejection. 

To be able to apply successfully for the student permit, you must meet the following basic criteria. Failure to do so will most likely result in your application being refused. 

• You must be present in the country of your application. If you are an Indian resident in another country, you may be able to apply for the visa at the respective authority over there. 
• You must possess an Indian passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel. 
• Your primary motive behind the visit must be to indulge in study-related activities such as research, training, and so on for a short period. If you require to study for a longer duration, you must apply for a long term D category national visa. 
• You must have an invitation letter from the Latvian organization/educational institution inviting you.
• You must possess sufficient funds to cover your stay in the country.
• You can apply for the permit if

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

The following are the list of documents you must submit in order to obtain a Latvian student permit - 

• 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 - 

• 1. This should include the student’s basic details.
  2. It should clearly state the purpose and duration of the visit.
  3. It should mention the source of funds.
  4. It should be addressed to the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia.

• Invitation letter from the Latvian institution/ acceptance letter into an institution in Latvia
• Travel itinerary/documents - 

• 1. Detailed travel itinerary 
  2. Round trip flight tickets
  3. Proof of accommodation 
• Medical travel insurance coverage up to at least 30000 Euros
• Proof of student status such as degree transcripts, certificates, etc
• Financial documents 

Ensure that you carry all the original documents to the appointment centre. You will have to show these to the officials there. 

• Dimensions:  35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: White
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription are permitted
• Headgears are allowed only for religious reasons
• Facial hair is permitted

The time taken to process the application depends on several factors such as the volume of applications at the embassy, the number of entries, the stay duration and validity, as well as your previous travel history. In normal cases, it takes around 15 working days for it to be processed. In a lot of cases, this can take longer. As a result, you must apply for the permit well in advance. 

The total fees for the Latvian student permit are dependent on the number of entries, biometric charges, VAC service charges, and so on. It can also vary upon the foreign currency exchange rates. As a result, it is necessary that you check the exact amount before starting the application. 

After making the application, your application, along with your documents, will be sent to the embassy for processing. Please note that even though the application is made at a VAC, the processing is solely in the hands of the embassy. The VAC has no power regarding the processing. Once approved, you can either collect your passport back from the VAC directly, or you can have them mail it to you for an additional charge. 

The processing can take quite a while. In this period, you can check the status of your application by visiting https://www.vfsvisaonline.com/Global-PassportTracking and entering your reference number and date of birth. You may also opt for SMS notification services provided by the VAC. Alternately, you can have your respective visa agency do the tracking for you.

Once you receive the student part, you must keep in mind the following points - 

• Note the expiry date, number of entries mentioned on the sticker. Ensure that your trip is in accordance with this.
• You must travel to Latvia within 6 months of your visa issue date, or the respective date mentioned. If you do not, your permit will become invalid and you will have to apply for a new one.
• Always carry a copy of your travel documents such as passport and visa on you while you are in the country.
• While you are on this permit, you are not allowed to work or take part in other work-related activities. 
• You are not allowed to extend this permit.