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Latvia Visa for Canada Citizens 2026

Visa Free

Canadian citizens can visit Latvia and the rest of the Schengen Area visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period; from late 2026 travelers will also need to register via the EU's ETIAS travel authorization before departure.

Guide last updated September 29, 2026. Always verify with official sources before travel.

What you need

  • Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen Area, issued within the last 10 years
  • No visa for short stays — only a passport stamp on entry/exit
  • ETIAS (EU Travel Information and Authorisation System): being phased in for visa-exempt travelers including Canadians — check etias.com or the EU's official portal for the current mandatory start date before booking
  • Proof of onward travel, accommodation, and sufficient funds may be requested at the border
  • No biometric visa enrollment; the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) is being introduced and will capture fingerprints/photo at first entry
  • Travel health insurance strongly recommended (and required to be adequate under Schengen norms, though not checked for short EU-exempt stays)

Visa types

  • No visa is required for short tourism or business stays.
  • Visa-free Schengen short-stay: up to 90 days within any 180-day period, covering tourism, business meetings, and family visits, no fee
  • ETIAS authorization (once mandatory): a light pre-travel screening, not a visa, valid up to 3 years or until passport expiry, low fee
  • Work, study, or stays beyond 90 days require a Latvian national visa (type D) or residence permit, applied for at Latvia's embassy or a nearby Schengen consulate in advance

Entry conditions

  • Stay permitted: up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period, counted across the entire Schengen Area, not just Latvia
  • Employment is not permitted on a short-stay/tourist basis
  • Border officers may ask for proof of funds, return ticket, and accommodation
  • Extensions past 90 days are not routinely available for tourists; longer stays require a national visa or residence permit applied for before the 90 days lapse

Fees & processing time

  • Visa fee: none for the 90-day visa-free entry
  • ETIAS fee (once mandatory): a small fee (originally announced around EUR 7, waived for travelers under 18 or over 70), paid online
  • No VFS/BLS service fee for short-stay entry
  • Total cost estimate: EUR 0 currently, plus the low ETIAS fee once it becomes mandatory
  • Processing time: immediate at the border; ETIAS approvals are typically issued within minutes but can take longer if manual review is triggered

Tips for Canada travelers

  • Track your Schengen 90/180-day allowance carefully if visiting multiple Schengen countries on the same trip — the count is shared across the whole area
  • Apply for ETIAS as soon as it becomes mandatory for your travel dates — most approvals are fast, but a small share need extra review time
  • Carry proof of travel insurance and accommodation, especially for land border crossings from non-Schengen neighbors
  • Latvia is efficient and low-hassle for Canadian tourists — the main pitfall is Schengen day-counting when combining it with other EU stops
  • Keep an eye on Global Affairs Canada and the EU's official ETIAS site for the confirmed rollout date before finalizing travel plans

Official links & resources

Always confirm requirements with government or embassy sources before applying.

This guide is for information only. Visa policies change without notice. Travel Visa Stack is not an immigration authority. Always verify with official government or embassy sources before making travel plans.