CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES (A)

For citizens of the following countries: Albania (applies only to holders of biometric passports), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina (applies only to holders of biometric passports), Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominica, El Salvador, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) (applies only to holders of biometric passports), Grenada, Georgia (applies only to holders of biometric passports), Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Korea (South Korea), Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova (applies only to the holders of biometric passports issued in line with standarts of the ICAO), Monaco, Montenegro (applies only to holders of biometric passports); New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Palau, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia (applies only to holders of biometric passports, excluding holders of Serbian passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (in Serbian: Koordinaciona uprava)); Singapore, Solomon Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines, The Seychelles, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Ukraine (applies only to holders of biometric passports), United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Taiwan, Republic of China (applies only to holders of passports issued by Taiwan which include an identity card number), Special Adminstrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China:

• holders of a “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” passport;
• holders of a “Região Administrativa Especial de Macau” passport.

You may enter the Republic of Latvia without a visa and reside for 90 days within a 6 months period*. You will be requested to submit a residence permit application on the basis of your full time studies upon arrival to Latvia at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

Before the submission of the documents for a residence permit, within a month after your arrival, RTU will approve an invitation approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA).

You will be required to submit in OCMA following documents for the residence permit application:

• A definite sample form for a residence permit request: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/assets/images/Uztur%C4%93%C5%A1an%C4%81s/UA_anketa_2016.pdf.pdf;
• A photo;
• An agreement on studies in the Republic of Latvia (provided by RTU);
• A document confirming the prospective place of residence in the Republic of Latvia and the rights to stay there (provided by RTU if staying at RTU student dormitory);
• An evidence that you have sufficient financial means 5160 EUR/per one year (A LETTER  FROM THE BANK ON YOUR NAME; YOUR FULL NAME MUST BE WRITTEN AS IN THE PASSPORT, DATE OF BIRTH AND BALANCE OF YOUR ACCOUNT; THIS LETTER MUST BE SIGNED AND STAMPED BY BANK OFFICIAL! DEBIT or CREDIT card must be affiliated with the account for use abroad (letter is valid for three months).

Note: The documents for your residence permit application can be submitted in Latvian, English, French, Russian or German.

Note: Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) is not a notarial act. Unless there are international agreements in force that provide for a different procedure, all documents issued in other countries have to be legalized. Legalisation – Certification of Document Authenticity. Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) means verification of signature and seal of a document. It is performed by a Consular Officer in order the documents drawn up in one country were in force in another one. Legalisation also implies confirmation of the legal status and authority of the signatory.

Please find more information on legalization here: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/consular-information/document-legalisation

Tax duty fee applies to submit a residence permit application, find more information here: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/pricelist/

CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES (B) 

Applications of students from countries listed below are not accepted from June 1, 2019.

Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, South Sudan, Georgia (Abkhazia and South Ossetia), Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kenya, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Russia (Chechnya, Dagestan and Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia un North-Ossetia), Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Ukraine (Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Luhansk un Donetsk).

You require a residence permit and visa to enter the Republic of Latvia if your stay in the Republic of Latvia will exceed 90 days within a 6-month period.

After you have been accepted for studies at RTU, paid tuition fee for the first study year and a security deposit, RTU will prepare and post full admission package to the indicated address in your online application (Admission Letter, Agreement for studies at Riga Technical University, Visa Invitation Letter in Latvian language and Guarantee Letter in Latvian language).

After receiving admission package, you should submit following documents to a Latvian consular mission in a foreign country (http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/diplomatic-missions/):

• A definite sample form for a residence permit request: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/assets/images/Uztur%C4%93%C5%A1an%C4%81s/UA_anketa_2016.pdf.pdf
• Two recent photos;
• Originals of your educational documents (to be legalized);
• A signed study agreement (provided by RTU) you shall sign it as well;
• A statement on punishability issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country, it is valid for 6 months (to be legalized);
• An evidence that you have sufficient financial means 5160 EUR/per one year (A LETTER FROM THE BANK ON YOUR NAME; YOUR NAME MUST BE WRITTEN AS IN THE PASSPORT, DATE OF BIRTH AND BALANCE OF YOUR ACCOUNT; THIS LETTER MUST BE SIGNED AND STAMPED BY BANK OFFICIAL! DEBIT or CREDIT card must be affiliated with the account for use abroad (such letter is valid for three months);
• A valid travel document recognized in the Republic of Latvia;
• Tax duty fee applies to submit a residence permit application, for more information “click here”: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/pricelist/;
• A document verifying the anticipated place of residence in the Republic of Latvia (provided by RTU if will be staying at students dormitory).

Note: If a residence permit issuance has been confirmed by the OCMA (you will be receiving an email on the outcome of the residence permit application from the University), then you should obtain an entrance visa at a Latvian consular mission abroad: http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/diplomatic-missions/.

Note: If your residence permit has been approved but visa request rejected or your resident permit has been rejected, RTU will refund your study fee.

Note: The documents for your residence permit application can be submitted in Latvian, English, French, Russian or German.

Note: Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) is not a notarial act. Unless there are international agreements in force that provide for a different procedure, all documents issued in other countries have to be legalized. Legalisation – Certification of Document Authenticity. Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) means verification of signature and seal of a document. It is performed by a Consular Officer in order the documents drawn up in one country were in force in another one. Legalisation also implies confirmation of the legal status and authority of the signatory.

Please find more information on legalization here: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/consular-information/document-legalisation 

Tax duty fee applies to submit a residence permit application, find more information here: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/pricelist/ 

CITIZENS OF OTHER COUNTRIES (C) 

If you are a citizen of any other country not indicated in the previous lists:

You require a visa to enter the Republic of Latvia and a residence permit if your stay in the Republic of Latvia will exceed 90 days within a 6-month period.
After you have been accepted for studies at RTU, paid tuition fee for the first study year and a security deposit, RTU will prepare and provide visa invitation letter (in 10 business days) which will allow applying for D type (long term) entrance visa to the Republic of Latvia at a Latvian consular mission in a foreign country: http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/mission/

For visa application following documents will be required:

• D type visa application form (https://epak.pmlp.gov.lv/NVIS.EService001.WebSite/ApplicationInquiry.aspx);
• Visa Invitation letter (received from RTU when fees settled);
• Guarantee letter (received from RTU when fees settled);
• A copy of statement on punishability/criminal record issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country in which you have spent last 12 months, valid for six months (to be legalized/apostiled);
• An evidence that you have sufficient financial means 5160 EUR/per one year (A LETTER FROM THE BANK ON YOUR NAME; YOUR FULL NAME MUST BE WRITTEN AS IN THE PASSPORT, DATE OF BIRTH AND BALANCE OF YOUR ACCOUNT; THIS LETTER MUST BE SIGNED AND STAMPED BY BANK OFFICIAL! DEBIT or CREDIT card must be affiliated with the account for use abroad, valid for three months. Copy of the letter must be given for visa application!;
• Insurance covering the validity of visa;

When you arrive to Latvia you will have to submit an application for a residence permit (RP) to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA). Following documents must be prepared while still in your home country:

• Originals of your educational documents or notary approved copies of them (to be legalized/apostilled);
• An original statement on punishability/criminal record issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country in which you have spent last 12 months, valid for six months (to be legalized/apostilled);
• An evidence that you have sufficient financial means 5160 EUR/per one year (AN ORIGINAL LETTER FROM THE BANK ON YOUR NAME; YOUR NAME MUST BE WRITTEN AS IN THE PASSPORT, DATE OF BIRTH AND BALANCE OF YOUR ACCOUNT; THIS LETTER MUST BE SIGNED AND STAMPED BY BANK OFFICIAL! DEBIT or CREDIT card must be affiliated with the account for use abroad, valid for three months.

Note: The documents for your residence permit application can be submitted in Latvian, English, French, Russian or German.

Note: Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) is not a notarial act. Unless there are international agreements in force that provide for a different procedure, all documents issued in other countries have to be legalized. Legalisation – Certification of Document Authenticity. Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) means verification of signature and seal of a document. It is performed by a Consular Officer in order the documents drawn up in one country were in force in another one. Legalisation also implies confirmation of the legal status and authority of the signatory.

Please find more information on legalization: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/consular-information/document-legalisation

Tax duty fee applies to submit a residence permit application, find more information here: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/pricelist/ 

If you are admitted for studies at Riga Technical University, you are allowed to enter Republic of Latvia with a 90 day D type visa and submit an application for residence permit (RP) after arrival to Latvia.

After you have paid tuition fee for the first study year and a security deposit, RTU will prepare and provide visa Invitation approved by the OCMA (in 10 business days) which will allow applying for D type (90 days) entrance visa.

Visa application process:

STEP 1 – Fill in online Visa application form that can be found here: https://epak.pmlp.gov.lv/NVIS.EService001.WebSite/ (indicate type D visa)

STEP 2

Print out and sign the completed application form and gather all supporting documents:

• Two photos (size 35mmx45mm) must be taken in last 6 months and it should be on white background;
• Passport containing at least two blank pages. Copies of the identification pages and the pages that contain information about previously issued visas;
• Invitation approved by the OCMA (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Latvia), you will receive it from RTU when first study year tuition fee and a security deposit fee has been settled;
• Proof of accommodation: a copy of proof of your intended residence in Latvia has to be submitted (A Guarantee letter (GARANTIJAS VĒSTULE) will be provided from RTU when first study year tuition fee and a security deposit fee has been settled);
• Study agreement copy to be submitted along with the documents (you will receive a signed scanned copy from RTU).
• Proof of sufficient financial means:
  • Original private bank account statement showing the history of transactions over the last three months period, duly stamped and signed by the bank, the balance of the account shall be 5160EUR or equal in another currency. Copy of the letter must be submitted along with visa application;
  • Income tax return acknowledgment for the last two assessment years (applicable only for citizens of India);
• Travel medical insurance valid for the whole Schengen area and covering the entire period of visa duration (90 days). The minimum coverage of 42,600 EUR including the costs of urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment in case of an illness as well as medical transportation and repatriation in the event of death. It is important that the insurance meets all the above requirements.

STEP 3

Visa submission appointment may be requested only through VFS (Visa Facilitation Services) Global. Once you will received a copy of Invitation from University, make a call to VFS Centre to book an appointment at VFS near you +91 022-67866025.

Locate the closest VFS branch http://www.vfsglobal.com/Latvia/India/

Following fees shall apply:

• tax duty fee for visa application reviewing 60.00 EUR (5100 INR) can be paid in cash or by bank card at VFS centre;
• service charge of Rs. 1737/- (inclusive of Goods and Service Tax –SGST @9% and CGST@9%) payable in cash or by debit/credit card. More info here http://www.vfsglobal.com/Latvia/India/visa-fees-at-glance.html

STEP 4

Embassy interview. Every student will be interviewed by the Latvian Embassy (New Delhi) via video call at VFS centre. This interview can take place at the time of file submission at the VFS centre or student may get a call from VFS at a later stage for the interview date and time.

Your application will be accepted only if all documents listed in the STEP 2 will be presented. Note that if you miss the appointment or you do not have all documents another appointment time will NOT be given.

If your visa decision is positive you may enter Latvia. Upon arrival you will have to submit an application for a residence permit (RP) to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA).

The following documents must be prepared while in your home country:

• A definite sample form for a residence permit request: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/lv/assets/images/Uztur%C4%93%C5%A1an%C4%81s/UA_anketa_2016.pdf.pdf;
• Originals of your educational documents or notary approved copies of them (to be legalized/apostilled);
• An original statement on punishability/criminal record issued (PCC) by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country in which you have spent last 12 months, valid for 6 months (to be legalized/apostilled);
• An evidence that you have sufficient financial means 5160 EUR/per one year (AN ORIGINAL LETTER FROM THE BANK ON YOUR NAME; YOUR FULL NAME MUST BE WRITTEN AS IN THE PASSPORT, DATE OF BIRTH AND BALANCE OF YOUR ACCOUNT; THIS LETTER MUST BE SIGNED AND STAMPED BY BANK OFFICIAL! DEBIT or CREDIT card must be affiliated with the account for use abroad, valid for 3 months.

Note: The documents for your residence permit application can be submitted in Latvian, English, French, Russian or German.

Note: Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) is not a notarial act. Unless there are international agreements in force that provide for a different procedure, all documents issued in other countries have to be legalized. Legalisation – Certification of Document Authenticity. Certification of document authenticity (legalisation) means verification of signature and seal of a document. It is performed by a Consular Officer in order the documents drawn up in one country were in force in another one. Legalisation also implies confirmation of the legal status and authority of the signatory.

Please find more information on legalization here: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/consular-information/document-legalisation

Tax duty fee applies to submit a residence permit application, fin more information here: http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/pricelist/