In order to reduce threat to public order and internal security, the Cabinet has adopted Regulation No 123 “Regulations regarding restrictions on the acceptance of visa applications from third-country nationals and their entry into the Republic of Latvia”.
In accordance with the Regulation, the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Republic of Latvia accept visa applications from the citizens of Belarus in following cases:
- persons applying for a long-term visa;
- persons applying for a short-stay visa of a Schengen Agreement member state who are:
- family members (spouses, parents, grandparents, children, sisters, brothers, grandchildren, minor children of spouses and dependent persons) of the nationals of Latvia;
- family members of the nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or the Swiss Confederation (under Cabinet Regulation No. 675 of 30 August 2011, “Procedures for the Entry and Residence in the Republic of Latvia of Citizens of the Union and their Family Members”);
- persons whose entry is related to humanitarian considerations;
- family members (spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, minor children of spouses and dependent persons) of nationals of Belarus with residence rights in the Republic of Latvia;
- employees, crew members of freight and passenger transport service providers, crews of freight or technical voyages arriving in or departing from the Republic Latvia while performing their job duties;
- seafarers on their way to or returning from their workplace aboard ship.
Each visa application is assessed in detail on a case by case basis to obtain proof that the person falls within any of the above listed categories. Where the purpose of entry is related to humanitarian considerations, the visa applicant must present documents confirming the purpose of entry and kinship.