B: Renewing or applying for a Latvian passport or E-ID CARD
Renewing your Latvian passport
If your current Latvian passport or e-ID card has expired or is about to expire, then you can renew this through the Latvian Embassy in Washington D.C. Unfortunately, the Consulate of Latvia in Vermont cannot issue passports or e-ID cards.
To apply for a new passport, you need to make an appointment with the Embassy to have your bio-metric passport photo and fingerprints taken. Once this is done, it can take up 8 weeks for the passport to be issued and sent to you. A new passport costs EUR 70 for those between 20 and 64 years of age; for those under 20 years of age and over the age of 65, the cost is EUR 55. If you also need a Latvian State e-ID card as well as the passport the fee is EUR 75 (EUR 60 for those 62 years or older or under 20 years of age). Shipping of the passport/e-ID card by FedEx costs EUR 25.
Alternatively, you can also have your passport (and e-ID card) renewed if you are in Riga. Passports in Riga can be issued within 2-4 business days (a rush fee may apply).
Note, the Latvian Embassy in Washington D.C. can only issue a new passport to Latvian citizens who are residing in the United States legally (i.e. have a valid visa, Green Card, or other form of legal residency status). If you have an expired passport and are not here on a legal basis, the Embassy will not be able to issue you a new passport. Note also, if you hold a non-citizens passport issued by the Latvian government, this can also be renewed in person at the Embassy in Washington D.C. However, non-citizen passports cannot be renewed for those people who have already acquired a U.S. passport, or passport from another country. Please visit the Latvian Embassy website for more details.
All passport applications and renewals require an appointment and visit to the Embassy in Washington D.C. because all new passports include bio-metric data.
The Consular section’s mobile passport station from Washington D.C. does visit large U.S. cities like New York and Boston, but only once a year (typically in the late summer/early fall). Please visit the Embassy’s website for more information - click here.
Embassy of Latvia
2306 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
Tel 1.202.328.2884
Fax 1.202.328.2860
Email consulate.usa@mfa.gov.lv
www2.mfa.gov.lv/usa
How do I know I have a valid Latvian passport?
The latest new (European Union) passport currently issued by Latvia is a personal identification travel document that contains a microchip, including personal bio-metrics such as a digital picture and fingerprints.
Citizen passports issued after July 1, 2002, containing a scanned signature and picture, will be valid until the expiration date and do not have to be changed, unless they have expired.
All citizen passports (blue color) issued before July 1, 2002, containing a glued photograph, as well as passports without an expiration date (beztermiņa), will not be valid for international travel beginning July 1, 2008. You will not be allowed to travel with such a document.
Latvian citizen's passports issued between July 1, 2002 and November 19, 2007 with a validity of 50 years, and Latvian non-citizen's passports issued between April 10, 1997 and November 19, 2007 with validity of 50 years are not valid for international travel as of November 1, 2010.
Non-citizen passports (violet color) are valid until the expiration date and do not have to be changed, unless they have expired. Please note, that if you had a non-citizen’s passport from Latvia and have now acquired U.S. citizenship, you are no longer permitted to retain non-citizenship status with Latvia. In this case you must inform the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of your new U.S. citizenship status within 30 days of acquiring the citizenship of another country.
I need to have my current Latvian passport certified as a valid document
If you hold a current Latvian passport, the Embassy in Washington D.C. will be able to assist you with an official certification that it is current and a valid document issued by the Republic of Latvia.
Updated travel information and alerts from the Consular Department in Riga - click on the image above
Mobile Passport Station visits
The mobile passport station visits selected major U.S. cities once a year, including New York and Boston.
More information on upcoming visits and cities can be found here.
Did you know you can apply for a Schengen Visa via VFS Global? They are processing applications on behalf of the Embassy of Latvia in Washington D.C..
For more information, click here.
