UAE residents apply for a Latvia Schengen visa at the VFS Global centres in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, for the Embassy of Latvia in Abu Dhabi. VFS has taken Latvian applications since February 2018. The visa fee is the standard Schengen €90.
Latvia has the lowest funds rule in Schengen: €14 per person per day for a stay of up to 30 days. If you are refused, you can appeal in English within 30 days.
Checked on 5 November 2026 against the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA, PMLP), the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Annex 18 of the EU Visa Code Handbook (July 2025) and announcements of the VFS centres. The Embassy of Latvia’s own website was temporarily offline when we checked. These rules come from your UAE residence; your passport decides whether you need a visa (Emiratis don’t).
Latvia at a glance
| Item | Latvia from the UAE |
|---|---|
| Where you apply | VFS Global, Dubai or Abu Dhabi |
| Who decides | Embassy of Latvia, Abu Dhabi (its consular area covers the GCC) |
| Visa fee | €90 adults, €45 ages 6–11, free under 6, plus a VFS fee |
| Funds | €14 per person per day for up to 30 days |
| UAE residence | Valid 3 months after you leave Schengen |
| When to apply | Up to 6 months before, at least 15 days before |
| Decision | 15 calendar days, up to 45 |
| Appeal | 30 days, in Latvian, Russian or English |
Latvia was not in the top 10 for refusals of UAE applicants in 2025.
How much money do you need?
| Length of stay in Latvia | Minimum funds (OCMA) |
|---|---|
| Up to 30 days | At least €14 per day, plus the cost of your accommodation |
| More than 30 days | At least Latvia’s minimum monthly wage for each month, €780 in 2026 |
| Host covers your stay | No proof of funds needed, if the approved invitation says so |
For a 7-day trip, €14 a day is only €98 (about AED 400). But if your hotel is not prepaid, you must also show money for it. The funds must cover your whole Schengen trip and your journey home, not just Latvia. A low daily figure does not mean a weak file: steady salary credits over 3 months still matter.
Documents you need
- Application form, completed and signed
- Passport issued within 10 years, with 2 blank pages, valid 3 months after you leave Schengen
- One recent photo, 35 × 45 mm
- UAE residence visa (Emirates ID for GCC citizens)
- Travel insurance of at least €30,000, valid in all Schengen states
- Return flight booking and hotel booking, or an approved invitation
- Bank statements for the last 3 months and an employer letter (or trade licence)
Download the current tourist checklist from VFS before your appointment.
Visiting someone: the OCMA-approved invitation
If a person or company in Latvia invites you, they apply to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) to approve the invitation. Once it is approved and entered in the invitation register, the embassy can see it. If the invitation says your host will cover your stay, you don’t need to prove funds. See Schengen invitation letters.
How to apply: step by step
- Confirm that Latvia is your main destination. Many Baltic trips combine Riga with Tallinn and Vilnius; apply where you spend the most nights.
- If you have a host, ask them to get the invitation approved by OCMA before your appointment.
- Download the current VFS checklist and prepare your file.
- Book and attend a VFS appointment in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Give biometrics and pay the fees.
- Wait for the embassy’s decision, normally within 15 calendar days.
If you are refused
- To whom: the Director of the Consular Department, Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Deadline: 30 days from when you are notified of the decision
- Language: in writing, in Latvian, Russian or English
- How: in person, by post, or electronically with a secure digital signature. You sign the appeal at the Latvian mission that refused you (Abu Dhabi) or at the Consular Department in Riga.
- Decision: within 30 days. You can then go to a Latvian court, whose ruling is final.
The refusal stays in force while you appeal. See the refusal letter explained.
Questions people ask
Where do I apply for a Latvia visa in Dubai?
At the VFS Global Latvia visa application centre. There is one in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi. The Embassy of Latvia in Abu Dhabi decides.
How much bank balance do I need for Latvia?
At least €14 per person per day for stays up to 30 days, plus the cost of accommodation and your trip home.
Can I appeal a Latvian visa refusal in English?
Yes. Write to the Director of the Consular Department within 30 days, in Latvian, Russian or English.
Is Latvia easier than other Schengen countries?
Its funds rule is the lowest, but the other requirements are the same as everywhere in Schengen. Apply to Latvia only if it is truly your main destination.
Related guides
- Which Schengen country to apply to
- Bank statement for a visa from the UAE
- Schengen visa from Dubai and the UAE
Sources
- Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA): Financial means and Approval of a written invitation
- Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Appeal against refusal of a visa
- EU Visa Code Handbook, Annex 18: Reference amounts (31 July 2025)
- TradeArabia: Latvia opens visa centres in the UAE with VFS Global (February 2018)
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com and it will be fixed and logged.