Latvian Embassy for the U.S.- Address / Phone Number

Latvian Embassy in United States

Address: 2306 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington DC 20008
City: Washington (Standard time zone: UTC/GMT -5 hours)
Tel.: (202) 328-2840
Fax: (202) 328-2860
Working hours: Mondays 14.00 - 16.00, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10.00 - 12.00

The Administrative and Consular Section deals with all matters related to passports, visa and judicial affairs and also all administrative matters concerning the Embassy.

• Visas
• Passports
• Residence and Work permits
• Driving License
• Family and legal matters
• Elections
• Legalisation
• Legislation, etc.

In order to exchange or receive a new passport, the applicant must come in person, by appointment only to the Consular Department of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C.

The attendance hours are: Mondays: 14.00 - 16.00, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 10.00 - noon.

The new (European Union) passport is a personal identification and travel document, which will be up to par with European Union and Latvian standards. The new passport contains a microchip, which will include personal biometrics such as a digital picture and finger prints. Citizen passports issued after July 1, 2002, containing a scanned signature and picture, will be valid until the expiration date and do not have to be changed, unless they have expired.

Requirements for receiving Return Certificate (atgriešanās apliecība) - a single time travel document, issued for returning to Latvia. The Return Certificate is a temporary travel document, which assures the identity of a person under jurisdiction of the Republic of Latvia and replaces travel document (passport) issued by the Republic of Latvia. The Return Certificate gives its holder the right to cross the border of the Republic of Latvia one time only, when returning from abroad. The Return Certificate can be received if the person requesting it, while abroad, has lost his/her travel document issued by the Republic of Latvia (passport) or if the document has been stolen or has become invalid for further use. In extreme situations, the Return Certificate can be issued within 24 hours' time. The validity of the Return Certificate is 30 days.

After crossing the border of the Republic of Latvia, the person holding the Return Certificate must submit it to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs regional department, based on the last registered permanent residence place and must apply for a new passport of the Republic of Latvia.

On December 21, 2007 Latvia, along with the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia, joined the Schengen border-free zone. The Schengen agreement, which allows passport-free travel across the area, now embraces 24 nations. Those travellers requiring a visa for Latvia require a Schengen visa. A valid Schengen visa is valid for entry into the territory of Latvia.

Citizens of the United States traveling to Latvia must have a valid passport (that does not expire before the end of their visit), but do not require a visa for stays of less than 90 days within a six-month period. Other travelers may apply for a Schengen visa, which allows them to enter Belgium or another Schengen country and then to travel freely throughout the Schengen zone for a period not to exceed 90 days.

NOTE: Payment of fees can be done in the form of a money order addressed to: Embassy of Latvia. The Embassy can only take exact cash for payment in person and does not accept personal cheques, credit or debit cards.

The Embassy is closed on the following holidays:

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Good Friday, Easter and Easter Monday
• 1st May - Labour Day
• 4th May - Declaration of Independence Day
• 23rd June - Midsummer Eve2
• 4th June - John's Day
• 18th November - Latvian National Day
• 24th, 25th and 26th December - Christmas
• 31st December - New Year's Eve