Europe

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Around 48,100 British tourists visited Latvia in 2010.  Most visits to Latvia are trouble-free. See General - Consular Assistance Statistics.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See our terrorism abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
Press reports and notifications to the Embassy have shown an increase in the cases of petty theft and robbery. When walking you should be alert to the threat of pickpocketing and other forms of theft. Always avoid unlit streets and parks at night, and be extra vigilant if walking alone.

In previous years (2007/8) a number of reports and complaints were made of foreign tourists, particularly in the Old Town, being charged extortionate prices for drinks or having fraudulent transactions debited against credit/debit cards. In some cases tourists were assaulted or forced to withdraw money from a cash point to pay for the bill. However in 2009 a great effort was made by Riga City Council in conjunction with foreign embassies to combat this problem and there have not been any reports of recent incidents. You should, however, remain vigilant. Seek recommendations for bars and clubs from trustworthy sources like your hotel or other holidaymakers. When paying by credit/debit card ensure the transaction is completed in your presence and be wary of attempts to make you re-enter your pin number.  Visitors are advised to not leave drinks unattended when in bars.  More advice on how to enjoy a safe trip to Riga can be found on the British Embassy in Riga’s website.

If you feel that you have fallen victim you should insist on calling the Tourist Hotline on +371 6700 1188 or the Tourism Police on +371 2645 2885.

Safety and Security - Crime - Taxis
You are advised to use a major taxi company such as Baltic Taxi (+371 2000 8500) or Rigas Taksometru Parks (+371 8000 13 13). They are generally able to tell you the type, colour and number of the car in advance. If you do pick up a taxi on the street or at the airport please ensure that you only use official registered vehicles. Such vehicles display yellow license plates. Even when using official taxis it is advisable to determine the approximate price of the journey before starting your journey as reports have been received of some taxis using meters which have been adapted to clock up higher rates. Some taxis operating from Riga airport can charge highly inflated prices.

Car theft occurs. Wherever possible use guarded car parks and keep valuables out of sight.

See our victims of crime abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Drivers should carry original vehicle registration documents, when crossing the border into Latvia (including for motorcycles). Those who do not have these documents will not be allowed to take their vehicle back out of Latvia.

Care should be taken when driving. In 2010 there were 218 road deaths in Latvia (source DfT). This equates to at a rate of 9.7 per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 3.1 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2010). There is a system called a Co-ordinated Accident Statement for use in case of road accidents when only two vehicles are involved in the accident, both vehicles are fit to continue the journey and there are no injuries to persons. Details of this are available from insurance companies. If you are not familiar with this protocol, or if the situation does not conform to the rules, then drivers should not attempt to move a vehicle, which has been involved in an accident, even if it is blocking the road, until the police give permission. In winter, equip your car for severe conditions.

Do not drink and drive. The legal limit is 0.05% (0.02% for drivers with less than two years of experience). Those found over the limit face a large fine and probable imprisonment. Using a mobile phone whilst driving is prohibited in Latvia unless using a hands-free device.

Winter tyres are required between 1 December and 1 March. Local law states that drivers must use their headlights at all times, including during daylight hours.  See our driving abroad page. 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 (including those on carrying liquids in hand luggage) are also being implemented in Latvia. For more details about this see airline security.


Safety and Security - Political Situation
Latvia country profile

You are subject to local laws.

You should not become involved with drugs. Possession of even very small quantities of drugs can lead to lengthy pre-trial detention and possible custodial sentences.

The consumption of alcoholic drinks in public is prohibited. Drinking in public may lead to detention and a financial penalty.

For identification purposes, you should carry a photocopy of your passport at all times. If possible your passport and other important documents should be left in hotel safes.

Travellers on public transport should be aware that on the spot fines will be imposed if found travelling without a ticket or with a ticket which has not been validated. Tickets can be brought from the driver or from shops/kiosks but must be validated by using machines sited within the bus/tram. Additional tickets should be purchased from drivers for large pieces of luggage and/or pets.

See our your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Latvia. For stays of up to three months your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay; you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service. For stays of longer than three months, contact the Embassy of the country to which you are travelling.

Entry Requirements - Visas
It is the responsibility of all British nationals to ensure that they meet the requirements of Latvian immigration laws.

You need a valid passport to enter Latvia.

British Citizen passport holders do not require a visa for stays of up to three months. British passport holders, whose nationality is shown as anything other than a British Citizen must contact the nearest Latvian Embassy to determine whether a visa is required for entry to Latvia.

Entry Requirements - Health Insurance
You are required to have health insurance on entering Latvia. This must include repatriation costs. Those who require visas for Latvia need to show policies upon arrival in Latvia (other than EU family members).

You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Latvian nationals. It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. See our EHIC page.

Tick-borne encephalitis is common to Latvia, especially in the summer months, although the first tick bites this year were registered at the end of April. This is earlier than is usual.

In July 2011 there were reports of an outbreak of Trichinellosis in Daugavpils, the source is believed to be the eating of undercooked pork. It is important to ensure that all food is cooked and prepared appropriately.

Ensure that you carry sufficient medication to account for delays to your travel. If you should need to replace prescription items, there is a list of doctors on the British Embassy website. It is advisable to check the availability of your prescription medicines with your doctor before travelling overseas.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 8,600 adults aged 15 or over in Latvia were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.7% of the adult population compared to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Latvia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the websites of the  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our travel health page.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. You are required to have health insurance on entering Latvia, which includes repatriation. Those who require visas for Latvia need to show policies upon arrival in Latvia, except for those travelling on EU Family Permit visas. See our travel insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

General - Issuing replacement passports
The British Embassy in Riga is unable to issue any form of travel document other than an Emergency Travel Document. For more details see the UK in Latvia website. UK passport applications from British Nationals resident in Latvia are handled by the British Passport Processing Centre in Düsseldorf, Germany. For more details see the UK in Germany website.

General - Travelling to Latvia in winter
Be prepared for extremely cold and possibly hazardous weather if you intend to travel to Latvia in the winter (October to March). There is likely to be snow on the ground and temperatures may drop to -25 degrees Celsius or below.

General - Customs Regulations
If you travel within the European Union (EU) you can bring an unlimited amount of most goods.  For example, you can bring in any alcohol, tobacco, meat and dairy products - as long as they are for your own use and transported by you. If you are bringing in alcohol and tobacco goods and the Customs officer may have reason to suspect they may be for a commercial purpose, an officer may ask you questions and make checks. This refers to travelling into Latvia and/or entering the UK. See the website of HMRC.  

General - Money
The currency in Latvia is the Lat. There have been controls of cash entering or leaving the EU, which apply in all Member States, since legislation was passed in 2007. Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to €10,000 or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc. This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU, nor to those travelling within the EU.

All major credit cards are accepted and there are plenty of ATM machines for withdrawing local currency using Cirrus and credit cards.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
Five British nationals received consular assistance in Latvia in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, which included assistance for three hospitalisation cases.