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Schengen visa, applied for from the UK

Latvia visa from the UK for non-UK passport holders

If you live in the UK on a non-UK passport, you apply for a Latvia Schengen visa through VFS Global in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. The €90 visa fee is charged in pounds at the current rate, plus a £29.56 VFS service charge. Decisions take 15 calendar days and up to 45 in individual cases.

Checked against official sourcesLast reviewed · sources at the foot of the page
Consulate fee, adult. €45 for ages 6 to 11, free under 6.
€90
VFS Global service charge, paid at the centre.
£29.56
Standard processing after the appointment.
15 days
The earliest you can apply before you travel.
6 months

Who can apply from the UK

You can apply in the UK if you live here, in the Channel Islands or in the Isle of Man. Latvia asks for proof of your right to live in the UK with a share code, valid for at least 3 months after you return to the UK.

If you hold a UK visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), you cannot apply in the UK. Apply in your country of residence.

Latvia must be your main destination, judged by where you will stay longest. If your stays are equal, apply to the Schengen country you will visit first.

You can use any of the three VFS centres. Files lodged in Manchester or Edinburgh go through VFS London, which adds 2 days.

Documents for a Latvia visit visa

You provide

  • Passport Issued in the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, with at least 2 empty visa pages.
  • UK immigration status Your share code proving your right to live in the UK, valid for at least 3 months after you return to the UK.
  • Photo One colour photo, 35 × 45 mm, no older than 6 months.
  • Bank statements Proof of enough money for your trip: Latvia asks for at least €14 a day for stays of up to 30 days. Latvia does not say how many months to show; the EU's list for UK applicants asks for UK statements covering at least the last 3 months.
  • Job or study evidence Letters must be less than one month old, signed, on official letterhead and addressed to the embassy. Employees: an employment confirmation letter and payslips for the last 3 months. Self-employed: a letter and your Certificate of Incorporation from your independent accountant, the solicitor who registered the business or its bank manager. Students: a current enrolment letter.
  • If you are not working Unemployed or retired: a recent original letter from your Jobcentre or the Pension Service. If you receive no income support, a signed letter explaining your finances.
  • Invitation from your host Family or friend visits: an invitation approved by Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (quote its case number), an invitation confirmed by the Latvian Embassy in London, or an original signed and dated letter from your host with your name, dates and their address, plus a copy of their ID or passport. A host who is not an EU citizen adds a copy of their Latvian residence permit.
  • Spouse's documents If your spouse or partner supports you: your marriage or partnership certificate, their passport (original and copy), proof of their job and proof of their funds. Certificates issued outside the EU and not in English, Latvian or Russian need a certified UK translation.
  • Children's documents A full birth certificate naming both parents, written consent signed and dated by both parents, and copies of both parents' passport photo and signature pages. Add a sole custody order, death certificate or guardianship letter where relevant.

We provide

  • Application form Latvia's online visa application form, completed and signed.
  • Cover letter Sets out your dates, plans, who pays and your ties to the UK.
  • Return flight reservation A confirmed round-trip booking with your name and route, and a reservation number and contact email that Latvia can check.
  • Hotel booking Confirmed hotel reservations for your whole stay in Latvia, with a reservation number and details the embassy can check.
  • Travel medical insurance At least €30,000 of cover, valid in all Schengen countries for your whole stay.
  • VFS appointment We book your appointment through VFS's online portal, the only way to book. Each member of a family or group needs their own appointment.

Where and when to apply

Latvia takes UK short-stay applications through VFS Global in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before you travel.

VFS Global runs the Latvia visa centres as the embassy's outsourced service. The Embassy of Latvia in London decides, and covers people who live in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Appointments in London →Appointments in Manchester →Appointments in Edinburgh →

Worth knowing about this consulate

  • VFS charges a £29.56 service fee including VAT, and the visa fee in pounds at the current exchange rate. You pay by card or postal order, or in cash except in Manchester and Edinburgh. All fees are non-refundable.
  • Appointments are booked only through VFS's online portal. The contact centre cannot book for you or see when slots appear (notice of 8 December 2025).
  • Latvia checks your bookings, so flight and hotel reservations must include a reservation number, an email address and other details that can be verified.
  • Your job, study and money letters must be less than one month old, signed, on official letterhead and addressed to the embassy.
  • Files lodged in Manchester or Edinburgh go through VFS London before reaching the embassy, which adds 2 days to processing.
  • Optional VFS extras, including VAT: courier return within 7 days £17.95 or next working day £20, courier assurance £3.50, SMS updates £2.50, photos £10, early collection £14.96 and the Premium Lounge £75.

Notes by passport

Pakistani passport holders

  • Latvia carries out an additional assessment for Pakistani citizens (Cabinet Regulation No. 554, list in force from 30 January 2026). You fill in an extra questionnaire and submit it with your application.
  • VFS phones you to arrange a separate video-conference interview on another day at its London, Manchester or Edinburgh office, for an extra £35. Processing can take up to 45 calendar days, so apply early.
  • Pakistan is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Latvian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Pakistani national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Latvia confirms otherwise.

Bangladeshi passport holders

  • Latvia carries out an additional assessment for Bangladeshi citizens (Cabinet Regulation No. 554, list in force from 30 January 2026). You fill in an extra questionnaire and submit it with your application.
  • VFS phones you to arrange a separate video-conference interview on another day at its London, Manchester or Edinburgh office, for an extra £35. Processing can take up to 45 calendar days, so apply early.
  • Bangladesh is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Latvian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Bangladeshi national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Latvia confirms otherwise.

Nigerian passport holders

  • Nigeria is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Latvian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Nigerian national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Latvia confirms otherwise.

Sri Lankan passport holders

  • Sri Lanka is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Latvian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Sri Lankan national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Latvia confirms otherwise.

Ghanaian passport holders

  • Only changing planes at a Latvian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Ghanaian national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The EU exemption for UK residents names the Biometric Residence Permit, and all BRPs have now expired, so with an eVisa plan on needing the transit visa unless Latvia confirms otherwise.

Gambian passport holders

  • EU restrictions on The Gambia (Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1781) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

Somali passport holders

  • EU restrictions on Somalia (a Council decision of 25 June 2026) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

Guinean passport holders

  • EU restrictions on Guinea (a Council decision of 10 July 2026) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

How a Latvia application runs, day by day

  1. Day 0Eligibility and checklistA yes, a no or a “not yet, because”.
  2. Days 1–5File builtYou send documents on WhatsApp; we do the rest.
  3. VariesAppointment waitWe watch releases daily and book the first that fits.
  4. 15 daysConsulate decisionFingerprints at VFS Global, then we track the file.
  5. DonePassport backThen we confirm your real flights and hotel.

What it costs, and who you pay

Separate payments to separate people. Only ours is set by us, quoted in writing before you commit.

Consulate visa feePaid to the consulate. €45 for children aged 6 to 11. Not refundable if refused.
€90
VFS Global service chargePaid at the centre. Extras are optional.
£29.56
Fast Travellers, file and appointmentEverything from eligibility to decision, quoted in writing before you commit.
Fast Travellers, urgent or after a refusalAdds a daily slot search and a refusal review, quoted in writing before you commit.

Latvia visa questions from UK residents

Can I apply for a Latvia visa on a BRP?

BRPs have been replaced by eVisas. Latvia asks for a share code proving your right to live in the UK, valid for at least 3 months after you return to the UK.

Where do I apply for a Latvia visa in the UK?

At VFS Global in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. The Embassy of Latvia in London decides.

How long does a Latvia visa take from the UK?

A decision is normally made within 15 calendar days and can take up to 45. Pakistani and Bangladeshi applicants should allow up to 45 days because of an extra assessment and interview.

How much is a Latvia Schengen visa from the UK?

€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11, charged in pounds at the current rate. Children under 6 pay nothing. VFS adds a £29.56 service fee.

Do I need an interview for a Latvia visa?

Only if your nationality is on Latvia's additional assessment list, which includes Pakistan and Bangladesh. VFS phones you to arrange a video-conference interview at one of its offices, which costs £35 extra.

Can I apply for a Latvia visa on a UK visitor visa or ETA?

No. If you hold a UK visitor visa or an ETA, you apply in the country where you live.

Will my passport be stamped when I enter Latvia?

No. Since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System records your entries and exits digitally instead of stamping your passport. As a visa holder, the system stores a photo of your face taken at the border; your fingerprints are already on file from your visa application.

Can I visit other Schengen countries on a Latvia visa?

Yes. A Schengen visa covers all 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180, as long as Latvia is your main destination.

Where these facts come from

Fees and rules are checked against official and visa-centre pages. Last reviewed . Rules change: we confirm everything again before you pay.

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