Latvia has decided that as of 00:01 on the 13th of December, in order to restrict the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, passengers entering Latvia from the following countries will be selectively screened:
Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Egypt, Poland, Italy, Norway, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia, Hungary, Spain, Russia, Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Malta, Ukraine, Georgia, and Switzerland.
The list will be adjusted according to the results of initial screenings and the development of epidemiological situation.
All screened passengers, including ones that are holding a valid vaccination, recovery, or testing DCC, or a negative result of a COVID-19 test performed before the flight to Riga, will be subjected to COVID-19 testing (PCR). Exemptions include transit passengers, children below 12 years old, aircrews, seamen, ones related to diplomatic and international affairs.
COVID-19 testing of passengers will be free of charge.
After the test, passengers will be asked to proceed to their residence for awaiting test results.
The said measures will be in force for at least two weeks, until 23:59 on 26 December 2021.
As from 2 December 2021, air travellers entering the Republic of Latvia, including persons who have an interoperable vaccination or recovery certificate, are offered to voluntarily undergo free-of-charge COVID-19 testing in the territory of Riga Airport. Testing points for arriving passengers are available at the following locations:
- For passengers entering from the Schengen Area – in the arrivals hall E, at the exit from the terminal;
- For passengers entering from outside the Schengen Area – in the arrivals area C before the border control.
Starting from November 26th, 2021 persons who visited South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi in the last 10 days, are not allowed to enter in Latvia. The restriction does not apply to Latvian citizens and EU long-term residents with a residence permit in Latvia.