Latvia is essentially a safe country to travel to and most of the problems you can encounter can easily be avoided by following normal precautions and using common sense.
Safety
Latvia is essentially a safe country to travel to, but caution should be exercised as in Norway and other European countries. Most problems that can be encountered can easily be avoided by following normal precautions and using common sense.
Norwegian citizens staying in Latvia for a shorter or longer period are encouraged to register at www.reiseregistrering.no. Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance.
The biggest security threat to holidaymakers is linked to ordinary crime of profit, such as pocket theft and scams at nightclubs, etc. The Embassy recommends travelers to follow the precautionary principle. This is especially true in connection with city traffic at night.
Prejudice against LGBT people exists and harassment can occur.
The Latvian road network is of very varying quality, and there are relatively high traffic accidents. Travelers are required to exercise caution in traffic.
Terrorist attacks and natural disasters can occur everywhere, but the danger is considered low in Latvia.
The embassy is aware that several Norwegians and other tourists have previously experienced unpleasant events when they have been out on the town in Riga evening and night time. Examples of events that have occurred are disproportionately large cash bills, loss of valuables, and various forms of card fraud. These events have most often occurred at nightclubs and both women and men have been behind.
Should you be exposed to something criminal, consider reporting the relationship. It is recommended to check with their insurance company what is required to take out travel insurance. The tourist police can assist in such cases and can be reached at telephone number +371 67181818.
In the event of a crisis or emergency, it is encouraged to contact the Embassy:
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Kalku iela 15
Riga, LV 1050
Phone: +371 6781 41 00
E-mail: emb.riga@mfa.no
Outside the embassy opening hours, the public can contact the UD’s 24-hour operating center on tel: + 47 23 95 00 00 or by e-mail: UDops@mfa.no.
Entry
Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Norwegian citizens do not need a visa when entering Latvia.
The embassy asks travelers to be aware that passports are the only international identity card for Norwegians. Therefore, always carry a passport, even when traveling in the Schengen area. Without a valid passport, you will be denied access to flights by the airlines upon departure from Latvia. Emergency passports can be used.
For stays beyond three months, apply for a residence permit by contacting the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Health
Local public hospitals and emergency rooms may have lower standards than in Scandinavia. The standard of services provided by GPs and dentists is good. There are no private hospitals aimed at foreigners, but there are several private medical centers in Riga that provide good outpatient treatment.
Norwegian citizens should bring a European health insurance card. The card covers most medical treatments, but only if emergency medical treatment is required, and not for the cost of return.
No special vaccines are required when entering Latvia. Public health is generally poorer than in Scandinavia and according to the Institute of Public Health there is a high incidence of resistant tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in Latvia. Several vaccines are recommended for permanent residents. More information can be found on the website of the Public Health Institute.
Practical information
The time difference to Norway is + 1 hour.
National telephone code: + 371. (allcitycodes)
General emergency number is (+371) 112 (police, fire, ambulance)
Power: 220 volts.
Communication: Fast internet and stable telephone network.
Local currency: EUR
Bank card: Visa and MasterCard are accepted in most places (especially in the larger cities). ATMs are widespread in cities and towns.
Normal business hours for shops, bank, public offices:
Banks 10:00 – 17:00, offices: 09:00 – 17:00, shopping centers: all days 10:00 – 20:00, groceries: every day 08:00 – 22:00: 00.
National Holidays: January 1 – New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Day, May 1 – Public Holidays, May 4 – Announcement of Latvia’s Independence, Pentecost, April 23-24. June – Sanctuary Eve/day, November 18 – National Day of Latvia – Declaration by the Republic of Latvia, Christmas Day, Christmas Day
The official language of Latvia is Latvian. Together with Lithuanian, Latvian belongs to the Baltic group of Indo-European languages. Latvian is the mother tongue of approx. 60 percent of Latvia’s 1.9 million inhabitants. About 30 percent of the Latvian population has Russian as their mother tongue. A majority of Latvian residents speak both Latvian and Russian.
English is constantly gaining ground as the first foreign language. Many Latvians also speak German. Scandinavian languages are popular foreign languages at both upper secondary and university level.