List of exceptions when entry into Latvia is prohibited, crossing the external border of the European Union

In accordance with the Paragraph 36 of the Cabinet Regulation No. 360 “Epidemiological Safety Measures for the Containment of the Spread of COVID-19 Infection”, from 10 June 2020, movement of persons and vehicles via border crossing points of external border of the European Union from/to the countries published on the website of the centre in which such spread of COVID-19 infection has been registered which may cause a serious threat to the public health is prohibited, except for freight carriage.

But there are also exceptions!

The above-mentioned prohibition shall not apply to:

• the nationals of the Republic of Latvia and their family members whose permanent place of residence is abroad, and also foreigners who, by crossing the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit, are returning to the country of their permanent place of residence;
• the nationals of the European Union, European Economic Area, and Switzerland and their family members, and also persons who are permanently residing in these countries in order to return to their country of residence, including in the Republic of Latvia, by crossing the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit;
• the citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and their family members;
• the employees and passengers of the transport and carriage of passengers service providers, the crews of freight or technical voyages who arrive in the Republic of Latvia or exit it upon fulfilling work duties;
• passengers on the following carriage:

1. carriage of passengers by military transport,
2. the carriage of passengers (not more than five passengers) with private and recreational vessels,
3. the occasional carriage of passengers where passengers cross the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit;

• seafarers who must reach their work place aboard a ship or must return from it;
• foreigners the need for bringing in of whom for the fulfilment of the commitments of merchants in Latvia has been certified by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia on the basis of the criteria referred to in the law;
• foreign diplomats and their family members who are crossing the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit for the performance of the official functions, and also holders of the diplomatic passport of the Republic of Latvia, the civil servants and employees of the diplomatic and consular service and their family members who return from their service country or who need to get to their service country;
• the nationals of Latvia who are the members of official delegations or who need to get to their work place within the framework of an intergovernmental project;
• full-time and exchange programme students if a higher education institution or college has issued a written certification on the matriculation of the student and the arrival in Latvia is required for the completion of a study programme;
• athletes and sports employees, and also representatives of international sports organisations whose arrival in the territory of the Republic of Latvia is connected with participation as an accredited person in an international sporting event organised by a sports federation recognised in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Sports Law or a member;
• foreigners whose arrival in Latvia for receipt of treatment (diagnostics and therapy) services within the framework of health tourism is coordinated with the Health Inspectorate, as well as to persons accompanying them (if the need for accompanying person is determined by the medical treatment institution or a person accompanies his or her child, and the arrival thereof in the status of accompanying person has been coordinated with the Health Inspectorate);
• culture employees whose arrival in Latvia is related to the provision of cultural services and organisation of public events and the groups of which have been determined by the Minister for Culture;
• athletes of the Latvian adult team, Latvian Olympic team or Latvian Paralympic team, and also Latvian team athletes starting in international leagues in Olympic, Paralympic, and technical sports and disciplines, and sports employees that provide services to them and the list of which is coordinated with the Ministry of Education and Science and who return to the Republic of Latvia after participation in the sports competitions abroad;
• the arrival of a foreigner as well as his or her family members (if the term of employment relationships is intended to exceed six months) in order for the foreigner to fulfil the duties of the senior researcher and researcher of the scientific institution upon invitation of the scientific institution that is a derived public person registered in the Register of Scientific Institutions, and such invitation is justified by the necessity to ensure the fulfilment of obligations of such institution when implementing a scientific research project;
• aircraft passengers who cross the territory of the Republic of Latvia in transit without leaving the airside and staying therein for not more than 24 hours if such persons can present a confirmation of a transit flight;
• passengers who depart from Latvia by carriage of passengers by air.

In addition, a separate exception regarding the crossing of the border may be made by the Chief of the State Border Guard or an official authorized by him, if it is in accordance with international law, the interests of the Republic of Latvia or is due to force majeure or humanitarian considerations. In this case, a request is submitted directly to the head of the border crossing point, which is planned to be crossed in order to receive written permission.