Latvia to Introduce Mandatory ETA for Non-EU Travellers From September 2025

Starting September 1, 2025, Latvia will require many non-EU travellers to fill out an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before entering the country. This online declaration must be completed at least 48 hours before arrival.

What is the Latvia ETA?

The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is not a visa or a permit to live in Latvia. It’s a form you fill out online that asks for your personal information, travel plans, and other background information. Once submitted, travellers receive a confirmation email. Notably, Latvia’s ETA is a mandatory declaration, not an entry permit.

Also, failing to submit the ETA form or providing false information can lead to entry being refused or fines of up to €2,000.

Who Needs to Apply?

The ETA requirement applies to all third-country nationals who enter Latvia from September 01, 2025, and;

• Are not citizens of the EU, EEA, OECD, NATO, Switzerland, or Brazil
• Do not hold a visa or residence permit issued by Latvia

Important points:

• Holders of a Schengen visa issued by another country may still need the ETA.
• Travellers transiting through Latvia must also complete the form.

Key Exemptions

The list of who must fill out the ETA is long, but there are some exceptions:

• Stateless persons recognised under Latvian law
• Diplomats and those with international immunity
• Travellers entering before September 1, 2025 and still in the country
• Short stays for official or technical purposes

Special cases:

• Russian citizens must complete the ETA, even with an Estonian residence permit.
• Ukrainian citizens must apply if they do not hold a Latvian visa or residence permit.
• Non-Estonian citizens are exempt from filing for Latvia’s ETA.

How to Apply for the Latvia ETA

Travellers need to fill out the ETA form at least 48 hours before coming to Latvia. The online portal for this, eta.gov.lv, opens on August 29, 2025, at 11 p.m. local time.

In the form, travellers must include details such as why they are coming, where they plan to stay, their travel route, and extra information about official positions or public service. Mandatory required details for ETA include:

• Purpose of travel and planned stay
• Travel route
• Contact details
• Information about government service, military background, or political roles (applicable to travellers or relatives)

Why Latvia Introduced ETA

Latvia’s government says the ETA will help authorities identify high-risk travellers before arrival. Security services and border police will have direct access to the data.

Latvia ETA vs. EU ETIAS

It’s important not to confuse Latvia’s ETA with the ETIAS system, which the EU plans to launch in late 2026.

• Latvia ETA: National system, applies only to entry into Latvia, free to apply, and works as a mandatory declaration.
• ETIAS: EU-wide system, covers all 30 Schengen countries, costs €20, valid for up to three years.

For now, Latvia’s ETA will run independently of ETIAS. How the two systems will work together in the future has not yet been clarified.

Final Thoughts

This is a big change for travellers planning a trip to Latvia in the coming months. Filling out the new form is a simple but essential step before entry. Those who skip it or provide wrong information risk fines or being refused entry.