UNIFORM OR SCHENGEN VISA

Uniform or Schengen visa is a visa that gives a foreigner the right to stay in Latvia and in other Schengen member states – Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Estonia, Island, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Spain, Hungary, Germany and Sweden - for a period indicated in visa sticker.

Uniform visa has three categories – A, B and C – depending on the purpose of the entry: A category visa is intended for crossing international transit zone at the airport of a Schengen member state, B category visa permits a foreigner to cross the territory of Schengen member states in transit while C category visa is issued if a foreigner wishes to visit one or more Schengen member states.

Short-term visa – C category

A uniform visa can be issued for a short-term visit in Schengen member states. It is a short-term visa which depending upon the purpose of the visit may be issued for one, two or multiple entries. Number of entries equals a number of times when a foreigner crosses a border between a Schengen member state and a non-Schengen state to enter Schengen area. A foreigner holding C category may stay in Schengen member states up to 90 days in a half-year period, after the first crossing of the border between a Schengen member state and a non-Schengen state.

Transit-visa – B category

Uniform visa may be issued for transit through Schengen member states. It is a transit visa that gives the right to cross the territories of Schengen member states one, twice or several times. The maximum time allowed to a foreigner to stay in Schengen member states during a transit is 5 days.

Airport transit visa – A category

Uniform visa may be issued to stay in an international transit zone at the airport of a Schengen member state. It is an airport transit visa that is required for nationals of several countries who need to change an airplane at the airport of a Schengen member state or whose airplane lands in the airport of a Schengen member state on the way from one non-Schengen member to another non-Schengen member state.

In principle an airport transit visa allowing to stay in an international transit zone is required for citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka or foreigners holding travel documents issued by the aforementioned countries. However there are several exceptions when an airport transit visa for citizens of these countries is not needed. About specific cases, please, consult the consular officer of the relevant mission.

LONG-TERM VISA – D category

Foreigner who needs to stay in Latvia more than 90 days in a half-year period depending on the circumstances should apply for a long-term visa (or a residence permit). A long-term visa is valid only for staying in Latvia. This visa is also valid to cross other Schengen member states in transit to arrive in Latvia.

VISA WITH A LIMITED TERRITORIAL VALIDITY – B or C category

If a foreigner needs to enter a Schengen member state but there are circumstances forbidding him to have a uniform visa valid in all Schengen member states, he may be granted a visa with a limited territorial validity. It means that visa is not valid for entering all Schengen member states, but only those indicated on the visa sticker. If it is said on a visa sticker that visa is valid only for Latvia, a foreigner is barred from entering other Schengen member states.

Visas with limited territorial validity may be issued for transit or a short-term visit in a Schengen member state that does not exceed 90 days in a half-year period.