Latvia Imposes Visa Restrictions on Russian and Belarusian Citizens

Latvia's Cabinet of Ministers has enacted visa and entry restrictions for citizens of Russia and Belarus through Cabinet Regulation No. 123, signed in Riga and valid until 31 December 2026. This regulation, issued under Section 4(12) of Latvia's Immigration Act, outlines specific conditions under which nationals from both countries may have their visa applications accepted.

Russian citizens are generally barred from obtaining a standard short-stay visa, but exceptions exist for family members of Latvian citizens or EU nationals, individuals with existing Latvian residence permits, and those entering for humanitarian reasons. Belarusian citizens face similar restrictions, although they can apply for long-term visas without categorical barriers.

The regulation allows for case-by-case consideration of visa applications from both Russian and Belarusian citizens based on Latvia's international obligations and national security interests. This new regulation replaces the previous Cabinet of Ministers Order No. 599, which governed Russian entry into Latvia since 9 September 2022.