From 11 to 25 February, only essential travel to Latvia is permitted; passenger transportation to and from the United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal is suspended.
In view of the increasing risks of the spread of the COVID-19 virus and in further efforts to restrict the disease, on 5 February, the Cabinet approved amendments to Cabinet Order No. 655 of 6 November 2020, Regarding Declaration of the State of Emergency. According to the current set of amendments, only essential travel to Latvia shall be permitted from 11 February to 25 February 2021.
As of 11 February, entry to Latvia from the European Union Member States and the European Economic Area Member States, the Swiss Confederation, and the United Kingdom through international passenger carrier services or by a private vehicle is permitted for urgent and essential reasons only:
- work;
- training, studies;
- family reunion;
- in order to receive medical services,
- transit,
- accompanying a minor,
- return to one’s permanent place of residence,
- attending a funeral.
In addition to showing that they have submitted their information at covidpass.lv, documents proving the purpose of entry will have to be presented to the State Border Guard or the State Police. The traveller will not have to present the documents if information that confirms any of the above-mentioned purposes of entry is already available in national information systems. For instance, information on the person’s place of residence can be checked in the Population Register during immigration control.
It will not be possible to complete registration with the covidpass.lv website without entering a self-certification that any of the above-mentioned reasons exist. The international carrier must make sure that the person has submitted this self-certification.
These particular measures and restrictions which have been instituted do not apply to persons crossing the border of Latvia in performance of duties and responsibilities related to their work as commercial carriers.
Entry to Latvia in a private vehicle is allowed for Latvian nationals, including nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area, the Swiss Confederation, the United Kingdom, and permanent residents of the European Union who have a residence permit in Latvia.
From 11 February to 25 February, all international passenger transportation, including passenger transportation for repatriation purposes, through airports, ports, and by buses has been suspended to and from the United Kingdom, Ireland and Portugal – the countries where the spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 mutation has been detected and the incidence of COVID-19 has rapidly increased as a consequence.
The epidemiological safety requirements currently in force still apply to those entering Latvia for the above-listed urgent and essential purposes.
As of 25 January 2021, travellers coming to Latvia will be asked to show proof of having a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test which has been made by taking samples with swabs from the back of the throat and nose. Travellers who have already contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus will need to show a doctor’s note attesting to this. [1] [1]
If a traveller to Latvia is unable to show a test result (printed or on an electronic device), or a note from the doctor, the traveller will not be allowed to board the plane, train, bus, ferry, or other means of transportation. The test result or the note from the doctor must be in English, French, Russian, or in an official language of the country from which they are beginning their trip to Latvia.
This requirement also applies to those arriving in Latvia in a personal vehicle. The negative COVID-19 test results must be indicated in the Covidpass.lv form, which will be checked by the State Border Guard and police officers.
Persons entering Latvia on a daily basis to perform their job duties or travelling to or from their place of work, and employees of commercial transport companies are exempt from the COVID-19 test requirement.
The requirement of a negative COVID-19 test result also does not apply to children under 11 years of age. For other exemptions, please see Paragraph 35.4 of the Cabinet Regulation No 360 “Epidemiological Safety Measures to Limit the Spread of Covid-19 Infection” issued on June 09, 2020.
After arriving from a country with a high incidence of COVID-19, a ten-day self-isolation is compulsory. Separate categories of persons – for example, medical staff and employees of educational institutions – must go into a 14-day self-isolation, which can end already on the 10th day.
[1] Latvian nationals travelling in a private vehicle are also permitted to enter Latvia even though they have a “positive” test result. The main requirement is that such individuals must have a document proving that the test has been taken. Nevertheless, travellers in private vehicles must take into account that they may encounter various national travel restrictions while in transit across each country along the route of their journey to Latvia
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