Latvia (Travel Restrictions, COVID Tests & Quarantine Requirements)

This page was last updated on 16 December, 2021.

 

At a Glance

Travel Restrictions

Entry For Vaccinated Travelers: Partially Allowed
Vaccination Requirements: Persons who can provide a certificate issued in the EU, EEA countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, stating that the person has received full vaccination (i.e. 15 days have elapsed since the completion of a full vaccination course or fifteen days after a single dose of vaccine (registered by the European Medicines Agency or equivalent regulators or recognized by the World Health Organization) received no later than 180 days after a laboratory-confirmed episode of SARS-CoV-2 infection as determined by SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA) and what vaccine he/she were vaccinated with (exemption from self-isolation only applies to vaccines registered by the European Medicines Agency or equivalent regulators or recognised by the World Health Organisation);
Tourist Entry: Partially Allowed
Testing: Negative PCR test for some countries
Quarantine Required: Depends
Quarantine Details: Self-isolation for 10 days required for some travelers.

Local Restrictions

Lockdown in Effect: Partial
Events: Banned
Transport: Operational
Shopping: Open
Restaurants and Bars: Delivery/Takeout only
 

Detailed Travel Advisory

Published 15.12.2021
1. Passengers who in the past 10 days have been in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe are not allowed to enter.
– This does not apply to nationals and residents of Latvia.
2. Passengers are not allowed to enter.
– This does not apply to:
– nationals and residents of Latvia;
– family members of nationals and of residents of Latvia;
– passengers arriving from Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or Vatican City (Holy See);
– passengers arriving from Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Jordan, Korea (Rep.), Kuwait, Macao (SAR China), New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom or Uruguay;
– passengers who reside in Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Rep.), Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or Vatican City (Holy See);
– passengers with a diplomatic passport traveling on duty and their family members;
– merchant seamen.
3. Passengers must have:
– a COVID-19 EU digital green vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 15 days before arrival; or
– a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before departure from the last embarkation point; or
– a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken at most 48 hours before departure from the last embarkation point; or
– a COVID-19 EU digital green recovery certificate issued at least 11 days and at most 180 days before arrival; or
– a COVID-19 vaccination certificate issued in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom or USA showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 15 days before arrival; or
– a COVID-19 recovery certificate issued in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom or USA issued at least 11 days and at most 180 days before arrival.
– This does not apply to:
– passengers younger than 12 years;
– passengers with a diplomatic passport traveling on duty and their family members;
– merchant seamen;
– passengers who in the past 10 days have been in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe.
4. Passengers who in the past 10 days have been in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before departure from the last embarkation point.
5. Passengers entering or transiting through Latvia must complete a “COVIDpass” before departure at www.covidpass.lv. This will generate a QR code which must be presented before departure and upon arrival.
6. Passengers could be subject to a COVID-19 PCR test upon arrival.
– This does not apply to:
– passengers younger than 12 years;
– merchant seamen.
7. Passengers could be subject to self-isolation for 10 days. More information is available in the latest “List of countries with 14-day COVID-19 morbidity rates” which can be found at https://www.spkc.gov.lv/lv/valstu-saslimstibas-raditaji-ar-covid-19-0
– This does not apply to:
– passengers with a COVID-19 EU digital green vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 15 days before arrival. They must not be arriving from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe;
– passengers with a COVID-19 EU digital green recovery issued at least 11 days and at most 180 days before arrival. They must not be arriving from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe;
– passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate issued in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom or USA showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 15 days before arrival. They must not be arriving from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe;
– passengers with a COVID-19 recovery certificate issued in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom or USA issued at least 11 days and at most 180 days before arrival. They must not be arriving from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa or Zimbabwe.

 

Detailed Tourist Information

Non-essential travel to Latvia is permitted for those arriving from EU and Schengen member countries, as well as arrivals from low-risk third countries.

Vaccinated and recovered travelers from any country may enter as well, if they have the EU green certificate or a certificate issued in US, Australia, Israel, New Zealand and Canada.

Latvia ban travel to and from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zambia. The travel ban will not apply to Latvian citizens or permanent residents of the EU with a residence permit in Latvia.

Holders of the EU green certificate, and vaccinated arrivals from the US, Australia, Israel, New Zealand and Canada, are exempt from quarantine and testing.

In order to be considered “fully vaccinated” for purposes of travel to Latvia, travelers must:
– have had the full course of vaccine (1 shot of the Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine, or 2 shots of Astra-Zeneca, Moderna or Pfizer vaccines) and it must have been at least 14 days since your last vaccination.
– show a U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Vaccine Card, interoperable digital EU certificate (either in an electronic smart device or printed out) or a vaccination certificate issued in the EU, the EEA countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.

Travelers who have not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19 and who are arriving in Latvia from the U.S. or other countries with a high risk of COVID may not enter Latvia unless:
– They have a purpose of travel considered “essential” based on this list: Epidemiological Safety Measures for the Containment of the Spread of COVID-19 infection; and
– They present a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival in Latvia; and
– They undergo a second COVID-19 test within 24 hours after arrival at their own expense; and
– They self-isolate for a period of 10 days after arrival in Latvia.

Most arrivals to Latvia are required to present a negative PCR test, no older than 72 hours.

Anyone testing positive upon arrival, will be required to quarantine in a government-approved hotel, at their own expense.

Anyone arriving to Latvia from countries not considered low-risk, will be required to self-quarantine for 10 days.

Permitted arrivals are required to fill a contact form (https://covidpass.lv/en/)
 

Lockdown Details

Latvia declared a state of emergency until January 11,  2022 and introduced a strict lockdown from October 21 – November 14, 2021.

During this period only essential businesses may operate from 6 AM until 7 PM (grocery stores, hygiene stores, pharmacies, veterinarians, bookstores, flower shops, optics stores, gas stations, pet food, press outlets and telecoms sales/service), other businesses are suspended during this period.

Service providers such as beauty salons, cinemas, entertainment venues, cultural institutions, libraries, sport gyms, etc. are closed.

All public events, including meetings, are banned.

Restaurants are permitted to provide takeaway and delivery orders from 6 AM to 7 PM. No indoor dining permitted.

Curfew will be enforced from 8 PM – 5 AM. During these hours, a person is only permitted to be outside with a justification, such as a– medical emergency, travel from/to work, or travel to an airport, bus or train station, etc.

A self certification form about purpose of travel needs to be presented at the request of State or Municipal Police:  https://www.vp.gov.lv/lv/pasapliecinajums-un-parvietosanas-ierobezojumi. 

No private gatherings are permitted, with the exceptions of funerals and baptisms.

No more than 20 guests may gather for an outdoor funeral ceremony, excluding the service providers. No more than 10 individuals from no more than two households may gather for a baptism, excluding the individuals performing the baptism.

No travel restrictions are introduced during this lock-down period.

On September 1, new regulations for travelers entering Latvia went into effect. The new regulations permit vaccinated travelers who can present either a US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) paper vaccine certificate, an interoperable digital EU certificate (either in an electronic smart device or printed out) or a vaccination certificate issued in specific other countries including the EU, the EEA countries, Switzerland or the United Kingdom to enter Latvia for nonessential purposes without a negative COVID test or requiring self-isolation.

Please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the full announcement.

Regulations for travelers over the age of 11 who have not been vaccinated or do not have proof of vaccination remain the same.

Regular flights are available out of Latvia; however, flight schedules remain limited and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
 

Sources

https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/LVA
Data Source: covidcontrols.co