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Latvia

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
13,450
Top destination, 2023
Germany
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
2,213
UK visas issued, 2025
360
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
NationalityLVISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<LVLATVIA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
LV0<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Latvia need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaFree movement (EU/EFTA citizens)Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Latvia move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Germany4,978
  2. Netherlands1,714
  3. Sweden1,047
  4. Norway1,040
  5. Iceland667
  6. Denmark549
  7. Finland508
  8. Estonia418
  9. Switzerland412
  10. Belgium294
  11. Austria274
  12. Portugal256
  13. United States220
  14. Italy204
  15. France153

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

10k21k200020032006200920122015201820212023
10k21k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,890
20012,181
20024,271
20033,816
20044,804
20055,487
20065,590
20075,446
20086,137
200911,125
201015,363
201118,052
201220,920
201320,378
201420,077
201515,171
201613,217
201715,043
201815,449
201915,296
202012,194
202113,679
202214,419
202313,450
Share going to the top destination
37.0%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Latvia who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Russia38,075
  2. Ireland20,840
  3. Ukraine20,086
  4. Norway11,774
  5. Sweden11,474
  6. Belarus10,211
  7. Estonia6,143
  8. Lithuania6,029
  9. Denmark5,985
  10. Canada4,608
  11. Italy3,700
  12. Israel3,668

Living abroad by year

93k186k19901995200020052010201520202024
93k186k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990181,952
1995186,182
2000184,708
2005183,414
2010183,282
2015175,523
2020166,868
2024161,014
Living abroad, 2024
161,014
Change since 2000
-12.8%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
23.6%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Latvia by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. C1/D554
  2. B1/B2461
  3. J1292
  4. NATO2242
  5. F1151
  6. A261
  7. L155
  8. L237
  9. P137
  10. O135

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

1,4292,858201720182019202020212022202320242025
1,4292,85820172019202120232025
Data table
20171,569
20182,365
20192,362
20201,268
20211,243
20222,178
20232,296
20242,858
20252,213
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV18
  2. IR513
  3. IR19
  4. CR17
  5. E25
  6. E14
  7. IR24
  8. IW3
Immigrant visas, FY2025
67
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
7
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Latvia who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Latvia with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

2404802015201620172018201920202021202220232024
240480201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015480
2016390
2017360
2018360
2019320
2020220
2021260
2022250
2023240
2024240
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens170
  2. Employment-based preferences30
  3. Diversity visa lottery20
  4. Family-sponsored preferences10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)220
  2. Spouses and children150
  3. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)130
  4. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)90
  5. Specialty occupations (H-1B)70
  6. Other temporary workers20
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Latvia)
240
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Latvia)
250
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
27,650
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Latvia (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Latvia (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Work202
  2. Study78
  3. Family37
  4. Visitor34
  5. Other9

Visas issued by year

441882201020122014201620182020202220242025
441882201020132016201920222025
Data table
201012
201111
20127
20134
20145
20158
20164
20174
20185
201917
202044
2021882
2022382
2023323
2024327
2025360
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
285
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Latvia, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
202556520350
2024109510300
20231523510650
20223510515450
202153557510
202010405205
20192513525755
20181014015705
2017151502510510
201650130151355
2015101101512510
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Latvia, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

12242005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
12242005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–068
2006–077
2007–0810
2008–095
2009–103
2010–1110
2011–1224
2012–1320
2013–1416
2014–158
2015–169
2016–1711
2017–183
2018–199
2019–204
2020–214
2021–225
2022–2312
2023–2410
2024–2512
2025–266
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Specialist Skills3
  2. Labour Agreement2
  3. Core Skills1
Granted, 2025–26
6
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Latvia living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

1432852012201420162018202220242025
1432852012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201275
201375
201482
2015138
2016285
2017127
2018117
2019120
2022126
2023140
2024142
2025167
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services39
  2. Permanent Resident35
  3. Student31
  4. Spouse or Child of Japanese National29
  5. Dependent11
  6. Designated Activities9
  7. Long-Term Resident4
  8. Cultural Activities3
  9. Entertainer2
  10. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident1
Residents, December 2025
167
In work-related statuses
44
Share in work-related statuses
26.3%
Students
31
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Latvia

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Latvia, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Germany1100.0%
Spain1300.0%

Applications by year

31612009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
3161200920122015201820212024
Data table
200944
201061
201126
201213
201328
201430
201525
201628
201716
201816
201925
202020
20216
20222
20233
20242
Refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
Refusal rate, 2019
0.0%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Latvia in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark20255493419761050
Sweden20256093000606
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland202524417668
Austria202527920079
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark341
  2. Sweden3
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Latvia

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Latvia, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Austria1——
Azerbaijan1——
Belarus1—1
Canada1——
China1——
Czechia1——
Estonia1——
Finland1——
France1——
Georgia1——
Germany1——
Greece1——
Hungary1——
Ireland1——
Israel1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Kazakhstan1——
Lithuania1——
Moldova1——
Netherlands1——
Norway1——
Poland1——
Russia1——
Slovakia1——
Slovenia1——
South Korea1——
Spain1——
Sweden1——
Switzerland1——
Türkiye1——
Ukraine1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom1——
Uzbekistan1——
Countries
35
Missions
36
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Latvia, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

9601,9202000200320062009201220152018202120242025
9601,920200020052010201520202025
Data table
2000252
2001274
2002113
2003158
2004219
2005379
2006480
2007550
20081,920
20091,587
20101,257
20111,506
20121,499
20131,604
20141,553
20151,336
20161,235
20171,274
20181,237
20191,143
20201,088
20211,319
20221,294
20231,235
20241,338
20251,443
Remittances received, 2025
US$1,443 million
Share of GDP, 2025
3.0%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Latvia, 2021
2.1%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Latvia

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Latvia → Germany
  • Latvia → Netherlands
  • Latvia → Sweden
  • Latvia → Norway
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more