Airport Transit Visa (Type A)
Embassy required
- Maximum stay
- 1 days
- Processing time
- 15 calendar days
- Fee
- EUR 90
- Validity
- Maximum validity of 6 months; valid for the date(s) of transit only
- Entry
- Single entry
Required for nationals of the 12 countries on the common EU airport transit visa list (Annex IV of the Visa Community Code) when transiting through the international transit zone of Riga Airport without entering the Schengen area. The Type A visa allows a person to transit through the airport international zone without entering Schengen territory. Latvia follows the common EU airport transit visa list and does not impose additional national requirements. This visa only allows entry to the Latvian international airport transit zone; it does not permit entry to any other Schengen country's transit zone. Exempt if holding: a valid Schengen visa or national long-stay visa from any Schengen country, a valid residence permit from a Schengen member state, a valid visa from Canada, Japan, or the USA, a diplomatic passport, or having a family member who is a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerland.
Eligibility
-
Nationality
Required only for nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka.
Eligible countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Democratic Republic of the), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka
Documents you need
-
Passport
Blank pages required: 2; Validity months: 3
-
Photo
Count: 1; Specifications: One recent passport-sized photograph meeting Schengen visa photo requirements.
-
Travel insurance
Minimum coverage: EUR 30,000
-
Flight reservation
Provide flight booking or itinerary evidence when the route asks for travel plans.
Must be confirmed: Yes; Must show return: No
-
Application form
Use the official application form for this route and complete all required fields.
Form name: Transit visa application form; Form url: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/applying-visa
-
Visa fee payment
Accepted methods: ["credit_card", "debit_card", "bank_transfer"]; Amount: EUR 90
How to apply
-
Document gathering
Gather passport, photo, confirmed onward flight tickets, and any visa required for the destination country.
-
Online application
Complete the Schengen visa application form for airport transit via the Electronic Visa Application service.
-
Appointment booking
Book an appointment at the Latvian embassy or consulate.
-
Fee payment
Pay the visa fee of EUR 90.
-
Document submission
Submit all documents in person.
-
Biometrics
Provide biometric data if not recorded within the past 59 months.
-
Processing wait
Wait for processing, typically 15 calendar days.
-
Visa collection
Collect passport with the transit visa sticker.