Latvia student visa for Indian students: All you need to know

Latvia, nestled on the Baltic Sea, is a European Union country that is open to international students. In fact, it is ranked 2nd in the world for the ratio of students to the overall population¹. Interested in studying in Latvia? Learn more about what it takes and how to apply for a Latvian student visa.

📝 Table of contents
Application Process Requirements Documents Checklist Fees

For all countries, immigration is looked at on a case by case basis. So while this article can explain the visa process for students, it is in no way a replacement for advice sought from an immigration specialist or professional. In addition it is always best to contact the embassy or government website directly to stay updated on information in relation to immigration and visas.

🎓 Latvia student visa application

Students from India who have been accepted to an accredited Latvian education institution can apply for a student visa.

Student visas are typically categorized as long-stay visas which allow the student to enter into the country for 90 days. Once you enter Latvia as a student, you will need to apply for a residence permit with the Latvia Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA).

🎒 But the first step in the process is to apply to a qualifying Latvian school or university that accepts international students. This is especially important as the institution will be required to have OCMA provide you a letter of acceptance.

Once you have been accepted and enrolled at a Latvian educational institution, you can then start the student visa process.

For Indian students, this means that you will have to work with the Embassy of Latvia in India and VFS Global, a common third party visa provider for overseas visas for your student long-term visa, or “D-visa”. In addition, you will need to upload your documents to HelloVerify, a document authenticator service online. Learn more about the exact process in the next section.

Any student applicants are required to participate in either a video or in-person interview with VFS Global in order to have their application assessed.

What does having a Latvia student visa mean? Here is what you can and can’t do for a Latvian student visa²:

Do’s ✅	Don’ts ❌
Enter into Latvia on a student visa	Enter into Latvia without a student visa if you are enrolled at a Latvian school or university
Register with OCMA for a resident permit once you are in Latvia	Stay beyond 90 days in Latvia without a resident permit
Study in an academic program in Latvia	Apply for work in Latvia unless you have an employment or work permit
Submit your visa application at the VFS Global Centre in India and participate in the interview	Move ahead with your student visa application until you have received all your documents from the Latvian educational institution

Latvia is in the European Union, but you will be applying for a National Visa Type D visa.

✏️ Latvia student visa process

The Latvia student visa process is overall a 3 step process for Indian students. Here is how it works³:

Step 1: At home in India

1. Apply and enroll in a Latvian educational institution
2. Gather your documents, including your valid passport and certificates
3. Reserve your air travel tickets for Latvia
4. Complete the online application
5. Print and sign your application
6. Upload documents to HelloVerify
7. Receive confirmation of upload
8. Make an appointment with VFS Global Latvia

Step 2: VFS Global

1. Submit your full application to one of the VFS Global offices in India
2. Pay application fee at VFS Global office
3. Attend your appointed interview date and time with the Embassy of Latvia in India at the VFS Global Latvia Visa application centre
4. Track your application

Step 3: Latvia

1. Upon entering Latvia, present your issued Latvia student visa at border patrol
2. Within 90 days, enroll for a residence permit in Latvia at the OCMA office

📋 Latvia student visa requirements for Indian students

Ready to start your Latvia student visa application? Let’s make sure you have everything you need. Read on to check that you have the requirements in order.

📌 One of the major steps in the student visa process is submitting your application at a VFS Global office. Here is a list of their offices in India where you can submit a Latvia application⁴:

• New Delhi
• Chandigarh
• Jalandhar
• Mumbai
• Ahmedabad
• Goa
• Pune
• Chennai
• Trivandrum
• Bangalore
• Hyderabad
• Pondicherry
• Cochin
• Jaipur
• Gurgaon (Premium Lounge only)
• Kolkata

The VFS Global offices will accept your application and be the location to conduct your interviews, but the application overall will be assessed by the Embassy of Latvia in India.

🏫 Latvia student visa financial requirements

The student visa financial requirements for Latvia are going to be dependent on the educational institution you have enrolled in.

Different institutions may have differing requirements for what is an acceptable amount to show. University of Latvia for instance requires student applicants to show €500/ ₹44,562* per month of their program as evidence of meeting the financial requirement⁵. Check the details closely of the school or university you are enrolled in for the exact number you need.

The evidence needed to support the financial requirement, however, is the same across all educational institutions. You will need to show all of the following⁶:

• Original private bank account statements for the last 3 months, plus
• A stamped and signed balance confirmation letter from the bank
• Indian income tax return acknowledgements for the past 3 years (Form 26AS, Form 16/ 16 A and the ITR-V).

If your study in Latvia will be supported by your family, your family member will be called a “sponsor”. You will need to show the documents above for said sponsor or family member, and:

• A notarized declaration of sponsorship
• Proof of professional status of the sponsor, like an employment contract and payslips for 3 months
• If self-employed, the company’s registration certificate, and 3 months of bank statements signed and stamped by the bank

**All INR prices shown are converted at the mid-market exchange rate of EUR €1 = ₹89.12 as of May 25, 2021

🖇️ Documents required for Latvia student visa

Here are the documents you will need to submit alongside the Latvia student visa application⁷:

• A valid passport with a minimum expiry date of 3 months beyond the prospective date of departure from Latvia, and with at least 2 blank pages
• The long-stay application form from the website
• 1 photo that is at 35mmx45mm taken at least within the past 6 months
• Invitation letter from the Latvian school or university approved by OCMA
• A copy of the signed study agreement
• Academic transcript, certificates or diplomas from your Indian schools or college
• A copy of proof of accommodation in Latvia (typically accommodation is provided by the university or college)
• Evidence of meeting the financial requirements
• The notarized declaration of sponsorship if applicable
• Ticket reservation for air travel to Latvia
• Travel medical insurance
• HelloVerify confirmation slip from document upload
• Visa fee payment

⚕️Health insurance coverage for a minimum of €42,600 is required for all student visa applicants. The Embassy of Latvia has provided a list of approved health insurance providers in India.

⏱️ Latvia student visa processing time

Processing time can take 10-15 business days in India. If you are applying at a VFS Global office that is outside of New Delhi, the processing time increases by approximately 2 business days.⁸

✔️ Latvia student visa checklist

The Latvia student visa process in India is completed online and in person with VFS Global once you have been accepted into a Latvian educational programme.. Your application will be assessed and issued by the Embassy of Latvia in India, but you will need a residence permit once you arrive in Latvia. Here is a quick checklist on everything you will need for a visa application:

• A completed online application form printed and signed by the applicant
• One photo
• A valid Indian passport
• Invitation letter from the Latvian institution approved by OCMA
• A copy of the signed study agreement
• Evidence of meeting the financial requirements by you or your sponsor
• Notarized declaration of sponsorship if applicable
• Proof of academic history in India
• Travel Medical Insurance
• Air ticket reservation
• HelloVerify Confirmation Slip
• Visa fee payment
• Appointment with VFS Global for application submission
• Interview at VFS Global with Embassy at Latvia officials
• Payment of VFS Global fees

Certain items such as the air travel tickets are required for a successful application, however the Embassy of Latvia or VFS Global are not responsible for your tickets in the event your visa is refused. It is recommended to get refundable airline tickets.⁹

💶 Latvia student visa fees

There are 2 main fees you will come across when you apply for a Latvia student visa:

1. Latvia visa processing fee
2. VFS Global’s service charge

The Latvia student visa application fee is €60/₹5,400 for single or double entry. This can be paid in cash or by debit/credit card.

VFS Global has a service charge of ₹2,397, and can similarly be paid in cash or by debit/credit card.

There are additional fees that may be required of student applicants in India by VFS Global. These include:

Fee	Cost
Video Conferencing Fee	₹3,108
Mandatory courier fee	₹551

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there is likelihood that your interview may be conducted through video conferencing rather than in person.

All fees are non-refundable, even if your visa application is refused.¹⁰

Latvia student visa fees in Indian Rupees

Let’s break down how much you can expect to pay for a Latvia student visa in Indian Rupees.

	Fees in Indian Rupee
Visa Application	₹5,400
VFS Global Service Charge	₹2,397
Video Conferencing Fee	₹3,108
Mandatory courier fee	₹551
Total	₹11,456

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Sources:

1. Latvia student population
2. Latvia Student Visa
3. Latvia student visa process
4. VFS Global offices in India
5. University of Latvia
6. Financial Requirements
7. Documents
8. Processing time
9. Airline tickets
10. Fees

All sources checked as of 2 June, 2021