Visas

    Citizens from Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA and Vatican City do not require a visa to enter Latvia.
    Visas are issued for 30 days and extensions will be granted up to a maximum of 90 days in one calendar year; they will not be extended beyond this time! A 10- day visa for 12Ls (~ $20 US) is available at the airport. Your visa is (in most cases) valid for Lithuania and Estonia - as long as you do not leave the common Baltic visa space.
    If you decide to stay in Latvia for more than 90 days you need a residency permit. If you do not apply for one you risk expulsion from the country and gaining the dubious title, persona-non-grata.
    For assistance obtaining residency permits, special visas or work permits call the visa section of the Citizenship and Migration Board, Raina 5, tel. 721 94 24, fax 782 03 06 or Price WaterhouseCoopers
    For assistance obtaining residency permits, special visas or work permits call the visa section of the Citizenship and Migration Board, Raina 5, tel. 721 94 24, fax 782 03 06 or Price WaterhouseCoopers Valdemara 33, tel. 709 44 00, fax 783 00 55, riga.general@lv.pwcglobal.com

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Exchange rate information

     The money in Latvia is the "Latt," which is written "Ls." Also, there are 100 santimes inside every Latt. So -- Ls 4,50 = 4 Latts and 50 santimes. Don't forget that Europeans write 4,50... not 4.50 as in the USA ... !
     The Latt has been very stable since it replaced the Soviet rouble more than 6 years ago. The Latt moves only very narrowly between approx. Ls 0,54 = $1 USD to Ls 0,60 = $ USD, but has never changed outside this range. It moves partly when thousands of tourists arrive in Summer and they ALL want to change money. So, the rate is always a little better (for the tourists) during the Winter months.
     Note that almost all major hotels and restaurants accept credit cards these days. Latvia Tours, is the representative for American Express. They can issue traveler's checks and replace them, but they don't cash them here. Visit them at Kalku 8. Telephone (3717) 213-652, Most major banks are able to cash traveler's checks. We suggest that you set up a bank account at home (with a limited amount of Money) in it and bring a DEBIT card from that bank account. It can be used the same as a credit card (with a PIN number), to give you immediate cash.
     Latvians are serious about their currency, unlike Russia. Dollars are normally not accepted without being exchanged first. But it is easy in Riga. Any bank will exchange money. In Old Riga, some banks have windows open late hours. Some hotels will exchange money, such as the very-tall Hotel Latvia in the very center of Riga. (Look for a blue building, you'll find it.) And there are kiosks in many places. For example, near Hotel DeRome and McDonalds in Old Riga are two big kiosks that change money. Near the train station is a very big kiosk (near Interpegro). Inside the train station and airport you will find windows that change money. And, if you're desperate, some individual people want to change money.
     At customs, you will find things very easy. There are no limits now on bringing money in or out. Obviously, there are the normal controls you will find in the West. Transporting a nuclear military missile is NOT okay. Drugs are bad. Etc. But there is little difference from entering the USA for customs. The rude Soviet border guards from years past have now been replaced by friendly, helpful, normal people. They may be bored, but if you smile, they will smile back and be helpful. In fact, one time my group "lost" my U.S. passport in a mix-up, and the border guards helped me solve the problem, and let me enter despite the crisis.
     Because of economic situations, when dollars or Euros are converted into Latts, your buying power will be very great. So, your money will "go farther" in Latvia than at home. However, prices can surprise you: MOST things will be low-cost. Other things will be more expensive than at home. But, on average, your vacation will be much LESS-expensive than staying home.
     To think in U.S. dollars, you can simply DOUBLE the price in Latts in your head, and think that the price is a little less than that. For example, if a taxicab asks Ls. 2,50, this is LESS than $5.00 USD (actually approx. $4.30).
     But BE CAREFUL: Money of 2 Latts or less is in coin (metal). In the USA, a pocketful of coins can be maybe 90 cents. In Latvia, a pocket of coins can be $20 USD. So, bring a good coin purse and don't lose your coins! (Note: Bring two wallets and coin purses, so you can store away your money from home.)

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How to send money

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Banks

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