Many of us have friends, who live in different countries of the world. Though, due to Covid-19, currently it is difficult, but the citizens and non-citizens of Latvia may invite friends and relatives on a private visit without restrictions.
Today we answer the question: how to invite a friend or relative, living in a non-European Union country, to visit Latvia?
What is invitation?
That is a document approved by the Office, where the inviter assumes certain liabilities with regard to the foreigner, being invited by him or her to stay in the Republic of Latvia with a visa (both, Schengen C visa as well as long-term D visa). Invitation may be prepared by both, natural persons (for a private visit) as well as legal persons, including also for employment of foreigners.
How to prepare the invitation for a private visit?
If you with to invite a foreigner on a private visit, you have to prepare the invitation by using the e-service "Approval of the invitation or call for requesting a visa or residence permit in the Republic of Latvia" on the portal Latvija.lv.
This e-service provides a possibility to electronically submit the application for approval of the invitation or call, required for a foreigner to be able to request a visa or residence permit in Latvia. However, it cannot be used in the case, if a foreigner is invited, who plans to work in Latvia.
Can I invite a friend if I have a residence permit?
If you have received a permanent residence permit, then you can invite friends on private visits.
In turn, if you stay in Latvia on the basis of a temporary residence permit, then you do not have the right to invite friends to Latvia. In such a case it is possible to prepare an invitation only for invitation of your close relatives for a short-period visit, and kinship has to be proved by legalized documents.
If you with to invite a foreigner on a private visit, he invitation should be prepared by using the e-service "Approval of the invitation or call for requesting a visa or residence permit in the Republic of Latvia" on the portal Latvija.lv.
A number is allocated to the invitation and it is approved within 2 working days (the inviter electronically receives a notification), and it shall be used for requesting a visa.
Information about state fees in case of approval of invitations can be found HERE.
You can find more information about the procedure for approval of invitations HERE.
In case of uncertainties in relation to further stay in the Republic of Latvia, we recommend to contact by writing to the e-mail mn@pmlp.gov.lv.