United States to Latvia visa requirements

US ordinary passport holders can visit Latvia visa-free for tourism, business meetings, or other unpaid short visits for up to 90 days in any 180-day Schengen period. Latvian MFA guidance also says US citizens may remain in Latvia for up to another 90 days under the Latvia-US bilateral visa-waiver arrangement after using the Schengen allowance, but that extra time is Latvia-only and does not reset Schengen days. ETIAS is not required yet; it is expected in Q4 2026 and will cost EUR 20 for most adult applicants. Latvia is in the Schengen Area, and United States ordinary passport holders are visa-exempt for short stays of up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across all Schengen countries combined. Latvian MFA guidance for US citizens adds a Latvia-US bilateral visa-waiver option: after the Schengen 90/180 allowance expires, a US citizen who is not employed or involved in paid activity may stay in Latvia for up to another 90 days without leaving Latvia. That additional period applies in Latvia only, does not create a fresh right to travel elsewhere in Schengen, and repeated entry into Schengen countries including Latvia is possible only after a 90-day interval after leaving the Schengen area. Travelers should carry a passport valid for at least three months beyond planned Schengen departure (the U.S. State Department recommends six months for Latvia), with one blank page and issued within the previous 10 years. Border officers may ask for proof of funds, return/onward travel, accommodation, purpose of visit, and health/travel insurance. The Entry/Exit System (EES) began operating in Latvia on 12 October 2025; full EES implementation across the participating European countries took effect on 10 April 2026, so non-EU short-stay travelers provide passport data, fingerprints, facial image, and entry/exit dates at the external border. ETIAS is not yet operational; EU and U.S. guidance expect it in the last quarter of 2026, when most US adults will need a EUR 20 authorization before travel. Paid work requires a visa with employment rights, and residence or other stays beyond the visa-waiver routes require the relevant Latvian visa or residence permit.