Student visa & permits in Latvia
Student visa, residence permit, registration, fees, deadlines and document guidance for studying in Latvia.
Read the complete Latvia study abroad guide.
Visa & Immigration
For stays requiring a Latvian residence permit, the university normally begins by arranging the official invitation and the student then follows the OCMA/PMLP procedure. A long-stay type D visa, where required for entry, costs EUR 90. Current OCMA processing fees for a temporary residence permit are EUR 160 for the standard 30-day track, EUR 280 for 10 working days and EUR 560 for 5 working days, before document/card-production charges that may also apply.
The official necessary-subsistence amount for standard cases is EUR 780 per month from 1 April 2026. The same OCMA guidance lists EUR 234 per month for a minor child. Treat the OCMA page as the live authority because the required amount can be amended.
Document timing matters: OCMA guidance gives proof of subsistence and intended accommodation a three-month validity. Health insurance for the residence process must meet the applicable Latvian requirements, including the minimum cover stated by OCMA. Prepare time-sensitive evidence close enough to submission that it remains valid through the filing step.
Source: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/necessary-subsistence-0
Residence Permit
Latvian law allows a full-time higher-education student's temporary residence permit to cover the study period plus four months. After approval, follow OCMA instructions for biometrics, the residence document, address information and any supporting insurance documents.
A temporary residence permit whose validity exceeds one year is generally subject to annual registration under the Immigration Law, subject to statutory exceptions. Do not translate that into a universal 'renew 45 days before expiry' rule: registration and renewal are different steps, and the relevant date depends on the permit and OCMA instructions.
Calendar the card/permit validity and any registration deadline as soon as the document is issued, and start the next application early enough to avoid a gap in legal stay.
Source: https://likumi.lv/ta/en/id/68522-immigration-law
Common questions
What should international students know about visa in Latvia?
D visa EUR 90 where required; standard-case subsistence EUR 780/month from 1 April 2026; key evidence is time-limited.
What should international students know about residence in Latvia?
Study permits can cover the study period plus four months; temporary permits valid over one year are generally registered annually.