23 March 2021
There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you have an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs, or are travelling to a destination that is exempt from the ban.
Our global travel advice remains at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Some destinations were already set at Do Not Travel prior to COVID-19 due to the extreme risk to your safety.
If you’re overseas and wish to return to Australia, be prepared for delays and read our advice on trying to get home.
When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival, unless you have an exemption or are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from a green zone destination. At this time, vaccination against COVID-19 does not change this quarantine requirement. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View State and Territory Government COVID-19 information for information about quarantine and domestic borders.
If you're staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. Follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you're safe.
Our network of embassies and consular posts around the world will provide you with up-to-date local advice and support throughout this difficult period. Be aware consular services may be limited due to local measures.
For the latest information, read and subscribe to our news and travel advice. Also see our COVID-19 information pages.
Call 112.
Call 113.
Call 110.
Call 112 for social welfare emergencies, such as domestic violence or child abuse.
Do not travel to Latvia.
Do not travel overseas due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Petty crime is common, particularly in Riga Old Town. This can include:
Hotspots for pickpockets include:
Pickpockets usually operate in groups.
Criminals may spike drinks in bars and casinos.
To protect yourself from spiking:
Reports of tourists being overcharged for drinks at restaurants and tourist pubs have declined. However, check drink prices before you order.
Credit card scams occur in places popular with tourists, such as:
Always keep your card in sight. Don't sign blank credit card slips.
Internet crime also happens, including online dating and financial scams.
Car theft is common, particularly in Riga.
To protect yourself:
Civil unrest is uncommon.
However, public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
If you're in an area where protests have happened:
More information:
While there have been no recent terrorist attacks in Latvia, they can still happen.
There's an ongoing threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have staged attacks in several European cities.
The Latvian State Security Service assesses Latvia's terrorist threat level as low.
Terrorism is a threat worldwide.
More information:
Latvia experiences extremely cold winters and heavy snowfall. This can affect major metropolitan areas.
Severe weather can delay transport and temporarily shut down infrastructure.
Flooding may occur in spring, from March to May.
If there's a natural disaster or extreme weather:
Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. A ban on overseas travel from Australia remains in place. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. Consider whether you may be in a vulnerable category for COVID-19.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medications available over the counter or by prescription in Australia are available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Latvia. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
COVID-19 remains a risk in Latvia and tight restrictions are in place to manage the spread of COVID-19. For information on Latvia's COVID−19 vaccination program, refer to Ministry of Health (in Latvian). You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
The state of emergency due to COVID-19 is no longer in force. However, restrictions remain in place. Details of restrictions can be found on the Latvian Government's COVID−19 website.
Public health measures are in place to help protect you and others, including the maintenance of social distancing, and the mandatory covering of the nose and mouth in all public indoor places, including transport.
To protect yourself and others from illness:
More information:
Tick-borne encephalitis and other tick-borne diseases are a risk in forest areas.
Ticks are active in spring to autumn, from March to November.
To protect yourself from disease:
If a tick bites you:
More information:
Hepatitis A is a major health concern.
Tuberculosis is an increasing risk.
Waterborne, foodborne, parasitic and other infectious diseases can also occur. Water contamination may be a problem in rural areas.
To protect yourself from illness:
Seek medical advice if you suspect food poisoning or have a fever or diarrhoea.
In large cities, the standard of public medical facilities is good. However in rural areas, public medical facilities may be more limited.
Most private medical facilities are well equipped. Services are of a similar standard to those in Australia.
You may need to pay doctors and hospitals up-front before they'll treat you.
If you become seriously ill or injured, you may need to evacuate to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties are severe for drug offences, including for possessing small amounts of drugs. Penalties may include long jail terms and heavy fines.
More information:
You can't drink alcohol in a public place, unless it's in a designated area. Authorities often issue fines to people for walking with open beer or wine containers.
Authorities also strictly control the export of:
If you're in doubt, check with local authorities. Before you buy an item, ask authorities whether you're allowed to export it.
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Latvian authorities recognise dual nationality.
For information on dual citizenship or to check your status, contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Latvia.
Travel on your Australian passport at all times.
More information:
Latvia doesn't have an embassy in Australia. If you do need a visa, you can apply for it through the Austrian Embassy in Canberra.
To enter Latvia, you must have a valid health insurance policy. Your cover must include any health-related expenses during your stay, including the cost of flying you home.
If you don't have adequate insurance, authorities may ask you to buy a policy when you arrive.
All travellers must present a negative COVID (PCR) test issued within 72 hours of arrival in Latvia. Some exemptions exist, such as for children under 11 years of age. If you have recovered from COVID-19 in the last three months, you'll need to present a medical certificate confirming you’re not currently infectious.
If you’re entering Latvia from outside the EU, EEA, Switzerland and the UK, you’ll also need to pay for and take another COVID-19 test immediately on arrival. If you test negative, you’ll need to self-isolate for 10 days in your place of residence. If you test positive, you must quarantine at your own expense in an approved hotel. For further information see the Latvian Government's regulations.
You can enter Latvia but you'll be required to self-isolate for 10 days unless you’re coming from a low-risk country. Further details are available here. The list of countries permitted entry will be reviewed regularly based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in listed countries, and could change at short notice. If you're arriving from a country (or have been in a country in the previous 14 days) where the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 cases in 100,000 of population over the previous 14 days is 50 or above you're required to self-isolate for 10 days on their arrival in Latvia.
These countries are marked in red and yellow in the table of comparative epidemiological data on the Latvian Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website (Latvian). This means that if you’re an Australian already overseas and are travelling from another country with a higher COVID-19 risk, you may either be denied entry to Latvia or required to carry out self-isolation for 10 days. Further details on self-isolation are on the Latvian Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website (Latvian).
If you intend to travel to Latvia you're required to complete and submit an electronic form no earlier than 48 hours before entering Latvia. More information can be found on the Latvian Government’s COVID-19 webpage.
Airlines operating from Riga Airport are gradually reintroducing services. Be aware that flights are less frequent than before the pandemic and may be subject to change or be cancelled.
Australians seeking to return home can enter Latvia to depart from airports in Latvia, or transit to airports in neighbouring countries.
If you remain in Latvia, find out about visa regulations in place and follow the advice of local authorities.
The Latvian Government has reinstated the 2+2 rule, meaning no more than two (2) individuals from different households within two metres of others when indoors in public spaces.
The use of face masks is required in public places, particularly in areas where it is difficult to follow social distancing guidelines such as grocery stores and public transportation.
COVID-19 measures may change overtime, but strict compliance with hygiene and social distancing rules remains essential at all times.
More information:
For more information about visa requirements, refer to the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Authorities may ask you to verify your identity while you're in Latvia. Always carry:
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
The local currency is the Euro.
Latvia is a member of the European Union (EU). If you're travelling between Latvia and any non-EU country, you must declare amounts over 10,000 euros or equivalent. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.
You'll have to pay a fine when you enter or leave Latvia if you:
You don't need to declare currency if you're travelling between EU countries.
If you plan to drive in Latvia, you are required to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP). Get your IDP before you leave Australia.
Driving can be dangerous. Hazards include:
You're 2 times as likely to die in a motor vehicle accident in Latvia as in Australia.
Learn the local road rules, including:
If you've been driving for less than 2 years, the blood alcohol limit is 0.02%. For everyone else, the limit is 0.05%.
Penalties for driving over the limit can include:
More information:
To reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading, passengers must wear a mouth and nose mask, such as a face mask, respirator, scarf, while on public transport. Bus drivers may refuse boarding to passengers who do not have the appropriate cover.
Public transport, including buses and trains, is generally reliable and safe.
Use official, well-marked taxis. These display yellow license plates.
More information:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Latvia's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 112.
Call 113.
Call 110.
Call 112 for social welfare emergencies, such as domestic violence or child abuse.
English-speaking operators are available.
The Riga tourist police unit has a 24-hour hotline in English. To report a crime, call 2 203 3000 or 67 181818.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Australia has a Consulate in Latvia headed by an Honorary Consul. The Consulate provides limited consular assistance. It does not provide visa and immigration services or passports. For full consular services, contact the Australian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
Teikums Teodors
Gustava Zemgala Gatve 74
Riga LV-1039
LATVIA
Telephone: +371 29 509100
Email: AU.HonConsul.Riga@gmail.com
Klarabergsviadukten 63, 8th Floor
111 64 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 0 8 613 2900
Email: reception.stockholm@dfat.gov.au
Website: sweden.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australian Embassy, Sweden
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.