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🇦🇪United Arab Emirates
🇱🇻LatviaAE-LV

United Arab Emirates to Latvia visa requirements

UAE ordinary passport holders can travel to Latvia visa-free for tourism, staying up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. No Schengen visa or ETIAS is required as of 2026-06-19, but Latvia requires eligible third-country travellers to submit an Electronic Travel Declaration at eta.gov.lv at least 48 hours before arrival. Latvia is a full member of the Schengen Area. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists the United Arab Emirates among countries whose citizen passport holders may enter Latvia without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, so holders of UAE ordinary passports do not need a Schengen visa for short visits. The passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure date and issued within the previous 10 years. Travelers should be ready to show proof of accommodation, return travel, and sufficient funds at the border. Latvia also requires third-country nationals who do not hold a Latvian visa or residence permit and are not exempt to submit an Electronic Travel Declaration on eta.gov.lv at least 48 hours before arrival, including transit; it is not a visa and travellers do not wait for a separate permit after submitting. The Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 and records non-EU short-stay travellers' passport, biometric and entry/exit data at Schengen external borders instead of manual passport stamps. ETIAS is not in operation as of 2026-06-19 and no ETIAS application is required now. It is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026; once applicable, most adult visa-exempt nationals including Emiratis will need a EUR 20 online travel authorisation valid up to three years or until passport expiry, with fee exemptions for applicants under 18 or over 70.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-06-19
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Policy alertWatch this route for rule changesSave this passport and destination for email summaries and optional browser notifications.Subscribe →UAE (Golden Visa)Living in United Arab Emirates as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-06-19
Visa type
Visa-free short stay (Schengen visa exemption)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
per entry
Entries
Multiple entries within the 90/180 allowance
from issue date
Visa fee
EUR 0 (no visa fee; ETIAS EUR 20 once applicable)
consular fee only
Processing time
Latvia Electronic Travel Declaration at least 48 hours before arrival; EES registration at the border
standard track
Validity
Passport valid 3+ months beyond departure, issued within last 10 years
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Confirm your eligibility
Verify you hold a UAE ordinary passport. Emirati ordinary passport holders enter the Schengen Area, including Latvia, visa-free for short tourist stays.
· UAE ordinary passport· Schengen visa exemption
/02
Check passport validity
Ensure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure from Schengen and was issued within the last 10 years.
· 3-month validity· Issued within 10 years
/03
Submit Latvia's Electronic Travel Declaration
Unless you hold a Latvian visa/residence permit or another listed exemption, submit the declaration at eta.gov.lv at least 48 hours before arrival in Latvia, including transit. You do not wait for a separate permit after submitting.
· eta.gov.lv· 48 hours before arrival
/04
Confirm ETIAS status before you fly
As of 2026-06-19 ETIAS is not in operation and no ETIAS action is required. Check travel-europe.europa.eu close to late-2026 or later trips; once ETIAS becomes applicable, apply online before departure.
· ETIAS not yet required· Re-check before travel
/05
Prepare supporting documents
Gather proof of onward/return travel, accommodation, travel insurance, and sufficient funds. Border officers may request these even without a visa.
· Return ticket· Proof of funds
/06
Track your 90/180 day count
Calculate prior days spent anywhere in Schengen in the last 180 days so your stay does not exceed 90 days. Use the EU short-stay calculator if unsure.
· 90/180 rule· Schengen-wide count
/07
Pass border control on arrival
At Riga or any Schengen port of entry, present your passport for inspection and EES biometric registration; state your purpose of visit as tourism.
· EES biometrics· Tourism purpose
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

13 items
Personalized checklist
United Arab Emirates -> Latvia · Visa-free short stay (Schengen visa exemption)
0 / 13 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredUAE ordinary passport valid 3+ months beyond departure
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
required
RequiredPassport issued within the last 10 years
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
required
RequiredReturn or onward travel ticket
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
required
RequiredProof of accommodation (hotel booking / host invitation)
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
required
RecommendedProof of sufficient funds for the stay
Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances
recommended
RecommendedTravel medical insurance (recommended, not mandatory for visa-exempt visitors)
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
recommended
RequiredLatvia Electronic Travel Declaration submitted at eta.gov.lv at least 48 hours before arrival, unless exempt
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
RequiredStay within 90 days per 180-day Schengen window
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
RequiredETIAS authorization only once ETIAS becomes applicable after its expected last-quarter 2026 start
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
conditional
RequiredBe prepared for EES biometric registration at the border
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
ConditionalOfficial application form or online application
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
Visa-free routes usually do not require a visa form; submit any arrival card or authorization if required.
RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary
Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it
Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.
RecommendedTravel medical insurance
Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates
Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.
Official sourcesLatvia MFA - Visa-free country list (published 2023-04-21, updated 2026-03-26)Latvia MFA - Electronic Travel Declaration (published 2025-08-29, updated 2026-05-19)European Commission - Visa policy (dated 2025-06-23)
Application link included: Latvia MFA - Visa-free country list (published 2023-04-21, updated 2026-03-26)
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Schengen short-stay visa feeEUR 0Not applicable - UAE nationals are visa-exempt for short stays
Latvia Electronic Travel DeclarationEUR 0Submit at eta.gov.lv at least 48 hours before arrival unless exempt; not a visa or separate permit
ETIAS travel authorization (future)EUR 20Online; not required or collectible as of 2026-06-19. Free for under-18s and over-70s once applicable
EES border registrationEUR 0Biometric registration at the Schengen external border, no charge
Passport renewal (if needed, ICP UAE)AED 100-150Only if your passport does not meet validity rules
Total estimate0 — 0incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Latvia Electronic Travel Declaration
Submit at least 48 hours before arrival
Submit online at eta.gov.lv unless you hold a Latvian visa/residence permit or another exemption. It is not a visa and no separate permit is awaited.
Visa-free entry at border
Immediate on arrival
No Schengen visa needed; passport checked and biometrics registered (EES) at the Schengen border.
ETIAS online application (future)
Usually minutes; exceptional cases up to 30 days
Most ETIAS approvals should be near-instant once ETIAS becomes applicable after its expected last-quarter 2026 start, but some cases can take longer.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
EU-UAE visa waiver agreement
The UAE is on the EU Annex II visa-exempt list under the 2015 short-stay visa waiver, allowing Emiratis visa-free Schengen entry.
High
/02
Latvia is a Schengen member
Latvia applies the common Schengen short-stay rules, so the UAE visa exemption covers entry to Latvia.
High
/03
Short tourist stay within limits
Tourism for up to 90 days in any 180-day period falls squarely within the visa-free allowance.
High
/04
Latvia Electronic Travel Declaration
Latvia requires non-exempt third-country nationals to submit an online declaration at least 48 hours before arriving in Latvia, even where no Schengen visa is required.
Medium
/05
ETIAS not yet in operation
As of 2026-06-19 ETIAS has not gone live, so no ETIAS travel authorisation is required yet.
Medium
/06
Purpose limited to non-paid activities
Visa-free entry covers tourism and short business visits, not paid work or stays beyond 90 days.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-06-19
Reviewed by Claude Code
Second-pass review: re-verified the evidence chain against official sources; key facts confirmed and checked-date refreshed.
2026-06-19
United Arab Emirates to Latvia route re-verified
Confirmed visa-free short-stay status for UAE ordinary passport holders via Latvia MFA and EU sources. Added Latvia Electronic Travel Declaration, checked-date, ETIAS current status/EUR 20 future fee, and EES full-operation wording.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do UAE citizens need a visa to visit Latvia?—
No. Holders of a UAE ordinary passport can enter Latvia and the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism or short business visits.
How long can I stay in Latvia without a visa?+
Do I need ETIAS to travel to Latvia now?+
Do I need Latvia's Electronic Travel Declaration?+
How long must my passport be valid?+
What documents might border officers ask for?+
Can I work in Latvia on a visa-free entry?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the United Arab Emirates passport

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