Latvia
Get information, make an appointment, and submit your application
Apply for a visa for France
Visa applications submitted in Latvia are processed by the consular section of the French Embassy in Latvia, the only body entitled to make decisions concerning visas.
The Embassy of France in Riga may only accept long stay (over 90 days) visa applications for the following areas : visas for the European territory of France, which is part of the Schengen area, for the territory of Overseas Departments (Reunion, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Mayotte and French Guiana) and for Other territories of the French Republic located overseas (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, French Southern and Antarctic Territories) ;
Only long-term visas are issued to foreigners. Please allow at least two months from the submission of the application until the planned departure date.
A visa is waived for :
- citizens of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia for short stay and long stay in France, in territory of Overseas departments and Other territories of the French Republic located overseas ;
- "non-citizens" of Latvia and Estonia for short stay in France and in territory of Overseas departments and territories.
- other country’s nationals holders of a residence document issued by Latvian, Lithuanian or Estonian authority’s for short stay in France and in territory of Overseas departments and territories. Third-country nationals residing in Baltic states based on a valid residence permit or a national visa are not subject to a short-stay visa in France, as their document entitles them to stay in France or any other Schengen country for 90 days within a period of 180 days. Please note that no Schengen visas may be issued to foreigners pending the issuance of their residence permit in Latvia.
Whom should I contact?
The consular section of the French Embassy in Latvia welcomes visa applicants residing in Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania and accepts applications with an appointment (phone, e-mail).
Appointment waiting times
We recommend you to apply your file in advance.
Be informed that you are allowed to apply for visa 6 months before your date of departure.
What are the application fees?
A visa application will only be processed following the payment of the application charges. Payments can be made exclusively in cash, in Euros (EUR).
No cheques, cards or euro payments are accepted. This is a visa application processing fee, not the payment for the visa. A receipt is issued to the visa applicant, stating the paid amount.
No refund, including partial refund, is made if the visa application is rejected.
Book an appointment
We recommend you to apply your file in advance.
Be informed that you are allowed to apply for visa 6 months before your date of departure.
Embassy of France in Rīga
(appointment only)
| Monday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Tuesday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Thursday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Friday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
(appointment only)
| Monday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Tuesday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Wednesday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Thursday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Friday | 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Pratical information
Weekly closing on Saturdays and Sundays.
Appearance in person
Visa applicants must appear in person at the consular section in order to submit their applications.
Prepare your visit
The following conditions must be met before you visit the visa service:
- The validity of your passport. The expiry date must be at least 3 months following the expiry date of the requested visa;
- The application form, printed, dated, signed, bearing a recent identity photograph, meeting IS/IEC standards (pdf);
- List of supporting documents;
- Supporting documents as listed, in the order on the list and ticked on the list.
The above-mentioned documents must be submitted in two copies: one file containing the originals and another file containing A4-format photocopies.
- The visa fee in cash (EUR).
We would like to remind you that only visa service officials are entitled to request any complementary documents, and no external intermediaries are authorized in visa-related cases.
Biometric data collection
All visas issued by France are biometric visas.
All visa applicants over 12 years of age must appear in person when submitting their application.
The following biometric data are then collected: a scanned photograph and 10 fingerprints taken flat and digitally captured. Children younger than 12 are exempted from the collection of biometric data. The application must be submitted by one of the child’s parents or by a person having parental authority. The child must be present when the application is submitted. The child’s photograph meeting IS/IEC standards (pdf) is then scanned.
Public holidays / closures
Tracking your application
You can follow the progress of your request from your France-Visas account, under "My requests".
Collecting your passport
You can collect your passport yourself, or have it collected by an authorised third-party or courier service, from Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 a.m.
Official passports
Holders of official (diplomatic or service) passports are welcome without an appointment from Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 a.m..
Important: incomplete applications will not be processed.
Visas issued to holders of official passports in the context of their duties are free of charge.
Visas for studies: Campus France procedure
The Espace Campus France is an information and orientation service on studies in France and helps students to define their project and build a path of success. The ECF offers students a full range of services and tools throughout the development of their project.
- Information on studies in France;
- Documentary space;
- Online chat via email;
- Application for dematerialized pre-registration and assistance with the constitution of the file;
- Individual interview.
To access the Campus France procedure click here.
If you have any problems with your visa application, please contact the consular service.