Kashlee KucheranLast Updated
Latvia has officially reopened for tourism and is now allowing visitors from fellow EU nations, as well as select third-party countries.
We have compiled two lists of everyone who can currently travel to Latvia below – countries within the EU, as well as third-party countries outside the EU.
Which countries are allowed to travel to Latvia?
On May 15th, Latvia reopened borders only to its neighbours Estonia and Lithuania. Then on May 21, Latvia expanded entry to most countries within the EU, however they still kept a 14-day isolation clause for all.
Currently, as of July 1st, Latvia is welcoming all EU/EFTA nations, as well as select third-party countries, but has rules for who can enter without testing/quarantines.
Latvia states that isolation upon entering/return is only required when arriving from a country with a 14-day cumulative rate exceeds 16 per 100,000 in population.
EU Nations That Can Travel To Latvia
(as of Oct 26)
Without quarantine:
- Greece
- Finland
- Estonia
- Norway
With Quarantine (as cases are over the rate of Latvia)
- All the rest of the EU/EEA/EFTA nations
Here are the third-party countries allowed to visit Latvia
(as of October 26)
Without quarantine:
- Australia
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Rwanda
- South Korea
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Uruguay
Is entry into Latvia based on physical location for the last 14-days, residency or nationality?
Latvia has said the lists are not based on nationality, but what ‘residency’ the traveler has. The traveler should be a resident of the one of the above countries to gain entry into Latvia.
Is there testing or quarantines upon arrival into Latvia?
Testing = no. There is no mandatory testing upon arrival or negative-PCR tests to submit upon arrival.
Quarantines = maybe. If you are coming from a country with a 14-day cumulative rate of less than 16 cases per 100,000 population, you do not need to quarantine.
Other Entry Requirements and Notes for Latvia
- Masks are mandatory in the Riga airport
- Inbound and outbound passengers could be subject to a health screening and temperature check
- Flights to and from approved countries may be cancelled if the cumulative case number rises above 25 per 100,000 population.
- As of October, masks are now mandatory in all public spaces
Have Flights Resumed to Latvia?
Yes, flights from all over the EU are flying directly into Riga multiple times daily. The most popular airlines are Air Baltic, WizzAir, and RyanAir.
At this time Riga does not fly directly to any of the approved third-party countries, but 1-stop layovers throughout the EU will get you to/from those destinations.
Can I Transit through airports in Latvia?
Latvia has stated they will allow transits where the travelers does not have to leave customs. Contact the airport to ask them your specific transit question.
Can the USA Travel To Latvia?
No, not at this time, not even with agreeing to quarantine. The USA is currently banned.
What’s Open in Latvia
Visitors to Latvia will find mostly everything is open but may have different hours or capacity rules. Restaurants, hotels, beaches, parks, museums, shopping centers and more are all open in Latvia.
Timeline of Latvia’s Reopening
March 17 – Latvia shut down all international passenger services
May 15 – Lativa reopened borders to just Estonia and Lithuania
May 21 – Latvia slowly began to open by first allowing visitors from the EU, EEA and Switzerland into the country. However, early arrivals were still required to isolate for 14 days.
June 3 – Latvia removes the 14-day isolation requirement for most EU nations
July 1 – Latvia accepts the recommendation of the EU and decides to allow 15 third-party countries entry
July 1 – Latvia states that isolation upon entering/return is only required when arriving from a country with a 14-day cumulative rate exceeds 16 per 100,000 in population.
Read More: See our complete guide of countries now reopen for international tourism, and which cruise lines have reopened for sailings.
Sources: Government of Latvia / Riga Airport / @edgarsrinkevics
Disclaimer: Latvia's reopening news is ever-changing and being updated constantly. We do our best to keep this article up to date with all the latest information, but the decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.
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Originally published July 5, 2020
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