United States
Latvia
Latvia visa for US citizens
Entry requirement
US citizens do not need a visa for Latvia: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at mfa.gov.lv
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Latvia: visa decisions in the United States
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 139 | 119 | 20 | 14.4% | 37.8% |
| 2024 | 150 | 108 | 35 | 24.1% | 29.6% |
| 2025 | 120 | 99 | 19 | 16.0% | 38.4% |
In 2025, Latvia’s embassy and consulates in the United States (Washington D.C.) received 120 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 99. 16.0% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 24.1%: the rate fell by 8.2 points, a clear improvement for applicants. Applications fell by 20% compared with 2024 (150).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 4.9% of the applications lodged in the United States that year, from 0.4% at the consulates of Greece to 20.5% at those of Sweden. Latvia’s consulates worldwide refused 12.3%. Latvia was the 27th most applied-for Schengen state in the United States.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in the United States, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Latvian citizens travelling to the United States
LatviaUnited States Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United States visa for citizens of Latvia
Travel advice for Latvia
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
US citizens planning a trip to Latvia can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates Latvia at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 31 March 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Latvia (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Latvia (updated 13 October 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long US citizens can stay in Latvia
US citizens may stay in Latvia for up to 90 days. Days in Latvia count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Latvia and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of US citizens in Latvia count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Latvia’s neighbours for US citizens
Lithuania and Estonia admit US citizens visa-free. Russia requires US citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Latvian citizens travelling to the United States
Before flying to the United States, Latvian citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 90 days are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Latvia?
US citizens do not need a visa for Latvia: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can US citizens stay in Latvia?
US citizens can stay in Latvia for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Latvian citizens need a visa for the United States?
Before flying to the United States, Latvian citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 90 days are allowed.
Can US citizens enter Latvia visa-free?
Yes, US citizens can enter Latvia without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.