Latvia Visa Invitation Letter – Complete Guide for Schengen Visit Visa

Planning to visit Latvia to see family, attend a business meeting, conference, or official event? For most visit visa cases, you will need a formal invitation letter approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA / PMLP) in Latvia. At AtoZ Serwis Plus, we help hosts in Latvia and applicants abroad prepare correct, OCMA-ready invitations and complete the full Schengen visa file.

What is a Latvia Visa Invitation Letter?

A Latvia visa invitation letter is a formal document issued by OCMA (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde – PMLP) that invites a foreign national to visit the country for a specific purpose and for a specific period. Once approved, OCMA issues an invitation number that the applicant uses when applying for a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) or a national long-stay visa (Type D) at the Embassy of Latvia or VFS Global visa centre.

The invitation confirms:

• Who the inviter is (a private person, company or institution in Latvia).
• Who the invited foreigner is (personal and passport details).
• The purpose and duration of the visit.
• Where the visitor will stay.
• Who will cover the expenses?

Why is an Invitation Letter Required for a Latvia Visa?

Latvia, as a Schengen Member State, follows the unified rules of the EU Visa Code. An OCMA-approved invitation is important because it:

• Confirms a genuine reason for travel (family, business, conference, official visit).
• Proves you have a place to stay in Latvia.
• Shows that a local Latvian host can vouch for you.
• Supports your financial documents, especially where the inviter covers costs.
• Helps officers confirm that Latvia is your main destination in the Schengen area.

Tourism-only trips without a host do not require an OCMA invitation — a confirmed hotel booking is used instead.

Who Can Issue an Invitation in Latvia?

Under Latvian rules, an invitation to OCMA can be filed by:

Private Individual

• An adult citizen of Latvia or a non-citizen of Latvia.
• An adult foreigner with a valid permanent residence permit in Latvia.
• A citizen of an EU / EEA Member State or Switzerland residing in Latvia with a registration certificate or permanent residence certificate.
• A person granted alternative status or temporary protection in Latvia for family reunification.
• The lawful representative of an unaccompanied minor with refugee or alternative status, for family reunification.

Company / Business

• A registered Latvian legal person (company, NGO, institution).
• A foreign legal person with a registered authorised representative in Latvia.

Government Authority

• A Latvian governmental institution (ministry, agency, university) issuing an official invitation for conferences, state visits, or academic programmes.

Types of Invitations in Latvia

Private Invitation

For family visits, relatives, friends, partners, weddings, or personal events. Filed electronically with OCMA by the Latvian host.

Business Invitation

For meetings, negotiations, training, trade fairs, conferences, or contract work. Must include company details, purpose, and travel dates.

Official Invitation

For state-level visits, academic exchanges, research, cultural programmes, or government-funded events. Issued by a Latvian public authority.

Invitation Types Comparison (Latvia)

What Information is Included in the Invitation?

When filing with OCMA, the inviter must provide:

• Applicant details: full name (Latin alphabet, as in passport), nationality, gender, date and place of birth, place of residence abroad, occupation.
• Purpose and duration of stay in Latvia.
• Expected place of stay (address in Latvia).
• Expected embassy / VFS centre where the visa will be requested.
• Financial arrangements – whether the inviter or applicant covers expenses.
• Proof of relationship (for family invitations, if required).
• Signature of the inviter (electronic or secure e-signature for legal entities).

Required Documents

Applicant (Visa Applicant) Documents

• Valid passport (valid at least three months beyond the intended departure from Schengen; with at least two blank pages).
• Signed printout of the Schengen visa application form (completed online).
• Two recent passport photos (35 x 45 mm, white background, not older than 6 months).
• OCMA-approved invitation number (for family, business or official visits).
• For tourism: confirmed hotel booking covering the entire stay, with Latvia as the main destination.
• Travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area, covering the full trip.
• Flight itinerary/return ticket.
• Proof of financial means – at least EUR 14 per day for stays up to 30 days, or at least EUR 780 per month (minimum monthly wage) for longer stays, unless the inviter covers expenses.
• Proof of ties to home country (employment, business, family).
• Cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit.

Host (Inviter) Documents Filed with OCMA

• Copy of passport / ID (citizen, non-citizen) or residence permit (foreigner).
• For EU / EEA / Swiss citizens residing in Latvia: registration certificate or permanent residence certificate.
• Proof of accommodation for the foreigner.
• Proof of financial means of the inviter to cover expenses (salary statements, tax records, bank statements).
• For companies: registration details, authorised signatory, secure electronic signature.
• For official invitations: authority letterhead and institutional confirmation.
• Relationship documents (for close-family invitations, if requested).
• State fee payment receipt (paid to the State Treasury).

Documents Comparison – Applicant vs Host

Step-by-Step Process – Latvia Invitation + Visa

1. Confirm the purpose and dates between the applicant and the Latvian host.
2. Host registers in Latvija. The LV portal opens the e-service "Approval of an invitation for requesting a visa or residence permit".
3. The host submits the invitation application electronically, signed with a secure electronic signature, together with supporting documents.
4. Host pays the state fee to the State Treasury (account LV37TREL1060140918500).
5. OCMA reviews the file and issues a decision — within 2 working days for standard cases, up to 5 working days for employment-related invitations, or up to 10 working days if additional checks are required.
6. OCMA issues an invitation number (no paper invitation is required at the embassy — the number is verified in the system).
7. Applicant books an appointment at the Embassy of Latvia or the relevant VFS Global visa application centre.
8. Applicant submits the Schengen visa application in person, with the invitation number, passport, photos, insurance, and financial proof.
9. Biometric data (fingerprints) collected, unless already provided to a Schengen mission within the last 5 years.
10. Embassy issues a decision and returns the passport through VFS or directly.

Step-by-Step Process – Latvia

Schengen Visa Requirements for Latvia

When applying for a Schengen visa for Latvia, you must also meet the general criteria:

• Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond departure from Schengen, with 2 blank pages.
• Travel medical insurance valid across all Schengen Member States, covering the full trip.
• Proof of accommodation (OCMA invitation or hotel booking).
• Proof of sufficient funds (EUR 14/day or EUR 780/month).
• Proof of onward or return travel.
• Clear purpose of travel and strong ties to the home country.
• A clean travel and visa history (no previous overstays or refusals).
• Latvia must be your main destination — the country where you spend the most days.
• Applications must be lodged no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 calendar days before travel.

Processing Times

Table 3: Processing Time – Latvia

Apply early: at least 6–8 weeks before planned travel.

Cost of Latvia Invitation Letter & Visa

 Cost Breakdown – Latvia

Documents submitted to OCMA are accepted in Latvian, English, French, Russian or German. However, all submissions and explanations by the inviter must be in Latvian — AtoZ Serwis Plus can assist with drafting in Latvian.

Common Reasons for Latvia Visa Rejection

1. OCMA invitation was not properly approved, or the invitation number was not verified.
2. Incomplete financial proof (less than EUR 14/day or EUR 780/month).
3. Purpose mismatch between invitation, cover letter, and itinerary.
4. Weak ties to home country (no stable employment, family or assets).
5. Previous Schengen violations (overstays, visa misuse, refusals).
6. Host issues – unclear legal status, unclear address, or insufficient income.
7. Insurance problems – low coverage, incorrect dates, or not Schengen-wide.
8. Suspicion of misuse – invitation appears arranged solely to obtain a visa.
9. False or inconsistent documents – leading to refusal and possible ban.
10. Latvia is not the main destination – more days planned in another Schengen country.
11. Inviter has been banned by OCMA (for previous false information — OCMA can ban a person from inviting foreigners for up to 1 year).

Tips to Increase Approval Chances

• Ensure the OCMA invitation is filed early and approved before your appointment.
• Match dates, addresses and purpose across all documents.
• Show regular income and stable employment or business.
• Demonstrate strong home-country ties (family, property, job).
• Make sure Latvia is the longest-stay destination in your trip.
• Take Schengen-wide insurance with adequate coverage.
• Book realistic flights and accommodation aligned with the invitation.
• Be honest and consistent at the interview.
• Have a well-drafted cover letter that clearly explains your visit.
• Use a professional review of your documents before filing.

Validity of the Latvia Invitation

• OCMA invitations are typically valid for the period requested in the application.
• For visa-application purposes, invitations are usually considered recent if issued within the last 6 months.
• The travel dates in the invitation must match your planned journey.
• If your plans change significantly, a new invitation may be needed.

Invitation vs Hotel Booking (for Latvia)

Many applicants combine both — for example, an invitation from a relative in Riga plus hotel bookings for a few days in other Schengen cities.

How AtoZ Serwis Plus Can Help

We support both Latvian hosts (filing with OCMA) and applicants abroad (visa documentation):

• OCMA Invitation Support: Guidance on eligibility, drafting in Latvian, e-filing via Latvija.lv, and state-fee payment.
• Documentation Guidance: Applicant and host document checklists, financial proof preparation, and relationship documents.
• Visa Filing Assistance: Online Schengen form, VFS Global appointment booking, and cover-letter drafting.
• Pre-Departure Help: Insurance guidance, travel checklist, Schengen entry rules, and do's-and-don'ts briefing.
• Business Invitations: Company-registration checks, authorised signatory guidance, contract and trade-related paperwork.

Disclaimer: An OCMA-approved invitation does not guarantee visa approval. The final decision rests with the Embassy of Latvia or the competent consular authorities.