15 August 2026
Dear Applicants!
Please find below the process description on how to join the Verified applicant queue and book an appointment to submit your visa application in Latvia Visa Application Center (VAC).
Step 1. Create and activate your personal VFS account
Create a personal VFS account by providing the required information and entering the OTP (One-Time Password) sent to your email address. Activate your account using the activation link received by email, then log in to your account.
Please note that only verified email domains may be used to create an account at our website.
Step 2. Selection of VAC and visa category
After logging in, select the appropriate VAC and the required appointment visa category and sub-category.
Step 3. Completion of applicant details and Facial Verification
Complete all mandatory steps in the system, including entering your personal information by uploading the photo of the bio page of your passport and successfully completing the facial verification process. All information must be completed accurately to proceed with the appointment booking and your visa application submission.
Each applicant must book an appointment individually, except for family groups (spouses, minor children). In case of group registration of family members, one adult member of the group would need to pass the liveness check / facial verification process. Minor applicants (under 18 y.o.) are exempted from Facial verification.
Passport photo upload is required for every applicant. Please note that when visiting the Visa Application Centre on group appointment it is necessary to provide proof of family relationship.
Step 4. Verified applicant queue confirmation
Once all required steps have been completed, your application will be automatically added to the VFS Verified applicant queue. You will receive an email confirming your Verified applicant queue registration and providing your VFS Verified applicant queue registration number. Please keep this confirmation for your records.
Step 5. Waiting period
Based on slots availability provided to us by the Latvia Consular we shall release them to you.
Until appointment slots become available no action is required from your side. You will be notified by email once appointment slots are available to book.
Please note that if booking of an appointment for document submission becomes no longer relevant to you during the waiting period, you may cancel your queue application at any time via your online VFS account or contact us to assist you.
Step 6. Notification of available appointment slots
When appointment slots are released, you will receive an email from VFS informing you that appointment booking is open. You must complete the booking process within 72 hours of the time you receive this notification. The number of applicants invited to select a date and time will always correspond to the number of available slots.
Step 7. 72-Hour booking window
If you book your appointment within 72 hours, your booking will be confirmed. If no booking is made within this time frame, your data will be removed from the Verified applicant queue, requiring you to go through the Verified applicant queue registration again from step 2.
Step 8. Appointment confirmation
After successfully booking as per your convenient date, time and preferred city, you will receive an email with an Appointment Confirmation Letter attached indicating the date and time and other details of your application submission. Please ensure that you bring this confirmation with you on the day of your visit along with all other visa related documents to the Latvia Visa Application Centre.
If you need any further information or assistance, please reach out to us via the Contact Us page.
Important information to review before proceeding:
The Visa Application Centre warns applicants against seeking assistance or consultations from any unauthorized agents. We recommend avoiding such services and do not assume any responsibility for the information provided or services rendered by such agents. Applicants are also advised not to share their personal data with unauthorized persons. Please read the information below:
- All data must be entered accurately. If any inaccuracies or errors in the registration are identified during the verification process at the Visa Application Centre, your documents will not be accepted. Additionally, if no response is received during regular appointment verification checks at the phone number provided during appointment booking, your appointment will be cancelled.
- If required, computers with Internet access are available at the Visa Application Centres.
- Please note that technical restrictions have been implemented in the appointment system to ensure its proper functioning.
- Appointment rescheduling is not available.
12 August 2026
Dear Applicants,
We would like to inform you that the renewed VFS Global appointment booking system for the submission of Latvia visa applications will commence operations on 17 August.
Please note that all applicants who registered on the waiting list before 00:00 on 17 August will be automatically removed from the system as part of the launch process.
To secure an appointment slot for document submission, applicants will need to rejoin the waiting list through the VFS Global online system after 00:00 on 17 August.
We strongly recommend that applicants carefully follow the instructions published on the official VFS Global website and regularly check the status of their registration.
12 August 2026
Changes to the Visa Application Registration System at Latvia Visa Application Centers from 17 August 2026
Verified Waiting List
We are pleased to inform you that, effective 17 August 2026, the appointment booking process for visa application submission at the Latvia Visa Application Centers in Minsk and Vitebsk for all existing applicant categories and visa types will include registration through a Verified Waiting List.
Starting from this date, applicants who successfully complete all required registration steps will be added to the Verified Waiting List and will subsequently be eligible to receive an appointment booking opportunity.
What Remains Unchanged?
The following steps of the process remain unchanged:
- Creating and activating an account;
- Selecting the Visa Application Centre;
- Selecting the visa category and subcategory.
How Does the Verified Waiting List Work?
After successfully completing all required registration steps, including:
- Uploading the passport biodata page for automatic extraction of personal information (рlease note that registration is only possible with a valid passport for international travel);
-
Completing the identity verification process,
your application will be automatically added to the Verified Waiting List.
You will then receive:
- A confirmation email;
- A unique registration number for your application.
Once appointment slots become available, you will receive an email notification and will be able to select a convenient date and time for submitting your documents.
Booking Window
After receiving notification about available appointment slots:
- You will have 72 hours to select the date and time for submitting your documents;
- If an appointment is not booked within this period, your application will be automatically removed from the Waiting List.
Important Information
If, while waiting for an appointment opportunity, you no longer require a visa application appointment, you may cancel your Waiting List registration at any time through your VFS Global account.
Please note that all confirmed appointments for the second half of August (17-31 August) will remain valid and unchanged. No re-registration or further action is required
10 August 2026
Dear Applicants,
Please be reminded that family members of the following categories of persons may apply for a Latvian visa for the purpose of visiting relatives:
- citizens of Latvia;
- citizens of the European Union holding a residence permit in Latvia;
- persons holding a temporary or permanent residence permit in Latvia.
The following persons are considered family members:
- spouses;
- children;
- parents;
- grandparents;
- grandchildren;
- brothers and sisters.
Before submitting your application, please carefully review the list of required documents and the requirements for proving the family relationship.
23 July 2026
We would like to inform you that registration slots for applications at the visa application centers in Vitebsk and Minsk will be available for August on the following dates:
July 29 for the period from August 3 to 14
August 12 for the period from August 17 to 31
Please check regularly for availability on other dates, as previously booked applicants may cancel their appointments, and slots may become available again.
25 June 2026
We would like to inform you that registration slots for applications at the visa application centers in Vitebsk and Minsk will be available for July on the following dates:
June 24 for the period from July 1 to 17
July 15 for the period from July 20 to 31
Please check regularly for availability on other dates, as previously booked applicants may cancel their appointments, and slots may become available again.
21 May 2026
We would like to inform you that registration slots for applications at the visa application centers in Vitebsk and Minsk will be available for June on the following dates:
May 27 for the period from June 1 to 12
June 10 for the period from June 15 to 30
Please check regularly for availability on other dates, as previously booked applicants may cancel their appointments, and slots may become available again.
21 March 2026
We inform you that the number of available visa application slots will be temporarily reduced from April 1, 2026. Please check our website regularly for updates on when the next appointment period opens. We are making every effort to provide the most efficient service possible to applicants.
17 March 2026
We would like to inform you that registration slots for applications at the visa application centers in Vitebsk and Minsk will be available for May on the following dates:
- April 29 for the period from May 1 to 15
- May 13 for the period from May 18 to 29s
Please check regularly for availability on other dates, as previously booked applicants may cancel their appointments, and slots may become available again.
10 December 2025
Dear applicants,
we inform you that, starting February 1, 2026, when applying for a long-term visa, you must provide documents confirming your place of residence for the entire period of your stay in Latvia.
This requirement does not apply to applicants applying for a visa based on a decision by the Migration Service to issue a residence permit.
Detailed information is available on our website in the "Long-stay Visa" section.
17 October 2025
Dear applicants, we inform you that from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026, a restriction on non-scheduled passenger transportation across the borders with Russia and Belarus will be introduced. This restriction will apply to all carriers, regardless of the country of registration of the legal entity or vehicle.
This restriction does not apply to scheduled passenger transportation organized in accordance with intergovernmental agreements and Latvian legislation.
17 October 2025
We inform you that, starting October 15, Latvia will introduce a paid electronic queue for crossing the country's external border. According to the new procedure, drivers must register in the online booking system before arriving at the border.
The requirement to register in the electronic queue does not apply to bicycles, horse-drawn carriages, and EU passport holders.
14 October 2025
Important Notice – Appointment Booking
VFS Global does not charge any payment for making an appointment through our official website. Applicants are advised to remain cautious of any third-party companies or individuals requesting additional fees for booking appointments.
22 September 2025
Dear applicants, we inform you that, effective October 1, 2025, the Latvian Consulate will change the requirements for the content and submission procedure of visa invitations issued to cargo carriers applying for a Schengen visa (Category C) based on an invitation.
The invitation, signed electronically by an authorized company representative, must be sent to the Latvian Consulate in Vitebsk by email to [email protected].
More detailed information can be found on our website in the Visa Information section.
17 September 2025
We inform you that from 1 September 2025, third-country nationals who do not have a Latvian visa or residence permit in Latvia must complete an electronic tourist declaration 48 hours before crossing the border. More detailed information can be found on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, where a list of categories of persons exempt from completing this declaration is also published.
10 January 2025
Dear customers!
Please be informed that from January 3rd, 2025 the prices for Additional Services available at the Visa Application Centres of Latvia will be set in Euro. Additional Service Fee is to be paid in Belarusian rubles according to the exchange rate of the servicing bank on the day of application.
13 December 2024
We inform you that all data must be entered absolutely correctly. If, when checking the registration at the Visa Application Centre, inaccuracies or errors are found in the data specified during registration, your documents will not be accepted at the Visa Application Centre. If, when checking the entry, no response is received to the phone number specified during registration, the entry will be cancelled.
11 November 2024
We inform you that from 12.11.2024 old-style questionnaires will no longer be accepted. You can find the current questionnaire forms on our website.
14 October 2024
We hereby inform you that from 15.10.2024, when submitting documents for the purpose of obtaining a Residence Permit of Latvia, it is necessary to provide a completed questionnaire, a military ID (original) and a work book (original).
2 July 2024
Dear Customers,
We ask you to provide reliable data in the questionnaires, fill out all the appropriate fields, and answer each question in detail. Those questionnaires that do not meet the requirements of the Latvian Consulate will not be accepted.
23 April 2024
Dear Customers,
We kindly ask you to mention your actual contact information (phone number, email) during appointment journey as you may be contacted before the submission of documents to confirm your booking.
7 January 2024
We hereby inform you that from 01/03/2024 documents will be accepted at the Visa Centers in Minsk and Vitebsk