Latvia’s Saeima on 3 April passed a law requiring citizens of countries outside the EU, NATO and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to provide detailed information about the purpose of their visit before each entry into the country. According to Latvian public broadcaster LSM, only those with a visa or residence permit issued by Latvia (and not any EU country) will be exempted.
Among the information that will be required are the purpose of the trip, duration, place of stay and route. It will also be necessary to provide information about previous and current employment (one’s own and immediate family members’) in state bodies and law enforcement agencies and about military service.
During the discussion of the law, the Seimas did not hide the fact that it is primarily directed against citizens of Russia and Belarus. The norm will be applied from 1 September, with a fine of up to €2,000 for violation.
The full text of the law has not yet been published. It remains unclear whether it is necessary to provide data only when entering through the external border or when entering from other EU countries.
The Latvian authorities’ policy towards citizens of Russia and Belarus after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is one of the toughest in the EU. Latvia stopped issuing short-term tourist visas, reduced the grounds for obtaining a residence permit, restricted entry to its territory from outside the Schengen zone, as well as the possibility of buying immovable property in the country.