Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — Seafarer (Informational)Verified 2026-05-01Latvia Seafarer Visa (Schengen Type C) — Informational
The Latvia Seafarer Visa is a special Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) allowing seafarers to enter the Schengen area to board and disembark vessels. The shipping company / maritime agency in the Schengen Member State initiates the invitation with the seafarer's book details, ship name and flag, port of boarding/disembarking, and the Indian collaborating agency that presents the visa applications. This is a carrier-driven category — the shipping company is the lead party. SureshotVisa specialises in individual short-stay and student visas, not carrier-specific crew submissions.
Reply within 5 minutes · No obligation · 4.9★ from 83 verified Google reviews
Govt-Licensed
License No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024 · DM Patiala
4.9 ★ Google Rating
83 verified client reviews
Registered Company
CIN U52291PB2024PTC060508
Patiala, Punjab
In-person office · Walk in any day
Latvia's Employment (D) and Residence Permit (D) visas require Latvian-side approval before VFS submission: for Employment, the Latvian employer secures an OCMA-approved invitation backed by labour-market clearance from State Employment Agency; for Residence Permit, the OCMA must first issue a positive decision on residence permit rights (the applicant only walks into VFS after that decision is in hand). Indian travel-visa consultancies cannot substitute for OCMA's substantive decision-making. Seafarer visas are carrier-driven — the shipping company / maritime agency in the Schengen Member State initiates the invitation with seafarer's book details, ship name and flag, port and itinerary; SureshotVisa specialises in individual short-stay and student visas, not carrier-specific crew submissions. SureshotVisa handles Latvia's Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) visas — Tourist, Business, Cultural/Sports, Family/Friends, Medical Treatment, Airport Transit — plus the Student (D) Long-Stay visa, all end-to-end through VFS. For Employment / Residence Permit / Seafarer cases, please initiate with the Latvian employer / OCMA / shipping agency directly; we can advise on the India-side VFS step once you have the underlying approval.
Latvia — Schengen member · Embassy New Delhi · Hello Verify is MANDATORY before VFS
One Latvia visa = all 29 Schengen countries. But Hello Verify must come BEFORE VFS appointment.
All India applications are decided by the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia, New Delhi through VFS Latvia centres. India and Sri Lanka applicants cannot book a VFS appointment without first uploading their documents to Hello Verify and getting a confirmation slip — this is the single most-skipped step. For most categories, an OCMA invitation (from Latvia's Office of Citizenship & Migration Affairs at pmlp.gov.lv) is also mandatory and must be dated ≤6 months before application.
29 Schengen countries
Full Schengen member — Latvia visa unlocks the whole zone, not just Latvia.
Embassy New Delhi only
All India + Sri Lanka files decided by Embassy of Republic of Latvia, New Delhi.
10 working days (C) · 15 days (D)
Apply 2+ weeks before. Non-Delhi VFS centres add ~2 days for postal delivery to the Embassy.
The Hello Verify rule (India + Sri Lanka)
- Upload all visa-application supporting documents to Hello Verify for verification.
- Receive the Hello Verify confirmation slip — keep it; you must hand it to VFS at submission.
- Only then can you schedule the VFS appointment. Without pre-payment of VFS service charges (₹2,913) when scheduling, no slot is allotted. The slip is single-use — re-applying = redo Hello Verify.
VFS helpline: 022-67866025 · info.latviain@vfshelpline.com
Student visa applicants: all interviews are conducted via Video Conferencing — applicable across India. Separate ₹3,776 VC fee charged at appointment scheduling. Long-Stay D visas need €42,600 minimum insurance (vs €30,000 for short-stay) — note the higher coverage.
Note: SureshotVisa handles Latvia Tourist, Business, Cultural & Sports, Family/Friends, Medical Treatment, Airport Transit short-stay visas plus the Student (D) long-stay visa end-to-end through VFS. Employment (D) and Residence Permit (D) are informational only — those need a Latvian-side employer (with OCMA labour-market clearance) or an OCMA-issued positive residence-permit decision before VFS submission. Seafarer visas are carrier-driven (shipping company / maritime agency initiates) and informational on this site.
Processing
10 working days standard processing for Schengen Type C visas at the Embassy of Republic of Latvia, New Delhi
Stay Duration
Schengen short-stay (transit/boarding-tied)
Starting Fee
₹9,709
Apply At
12 VFS centres
Special Instructions — Read Before Applying
These requirements apply to ALL Latvia visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.
- 1Embassy of the Republic of Latvia, New Delhi processes ALL India + Sri Lanka applications. Single jurisdiction across India.
- 2HELLO VERIFY IS MANDATORY: India and Sri Lanka applicants cannot schedule a VFS appointment without first uploading documents to Hello Verify and obtaining a confirmation slip. The slip is single-use — re-applicants must redo the Hello Verify process.
- 3OCMA INVITATION RULE: For most Schengen short-stay categories AND all Long-Stay D Visa categories, an invitation approved by Latvia's Office of Citizenship & Migration Affairs (OCMA / pmlp.gov.lv) is mandatory. The invitation must be dated NOT LATER than 6 months before the application date.
- 4VFS service fees + Video Conferencing fee (where applicable for student visas) MUST be paid through the contact centre / online at appointment scheduling. Without pre-payment, no slot is allotted.
- 5Photo specification: 35mm × 45mm (3.5 × 4.5 cm), no more than 6 months old, white or off-white background, full face non-smiling, no sunglasses / hat / cap / head covering (except for religious or ethnic reasons with all facial features clearly visible).
- 6Travel medical insurance: €30,000 minimum coverage for Schengen Type C (plus 15-day 'period of grace'), €42,600 minimum for Long-Stay D Visa (90 days), covering urgent medical attention + emergency hospital + medical transportation + repatriation.
- 7Indian passport must be valid 3 months beyond intended Schengen departure, ≤10 years old, with at least 2 blank pages.
- 8Apply at least 2 weeks (14 days) before travel. Non-Delhi VFS centres add ~2 days for postal delivery to Embassy.
- 9Student visa applicants are interviewed via Video Conferencing — applicable across India. Bookable on Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri (operational day varies by centre — check before booking).
- 10Indian Income Tax Return (ITR) acknowledgments are mandatory: 2 years for short-stay, 3 years for Employment / Long-Stay D categories (Form 26AS + Form 16/16A + ITR-V).
Who Can Apply
- Sailors with valid seafarer's book and confirmed shipping-company contract
- Crew members on vessels boarding/disembarking at Riga or other Schengen ports
Not eligible under this visa:
- Crew members travelling outside scope of their carrier role — apply for appropriate Type C
Fees (in INR)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Schengen Short-Stay visa fee — adult (Type C) | ₹9,709 |
| Schengen visa fee — child (6–12 years) | ₹4,855 |
| Schengen visa fee — child below 6 years | ₹0 |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,913 |
Visa fees are set by the Embassy of Republic of Latvia in INR and are non-refundable in case of refusal. The applicable INR fee tracks the current EUR / INR exchange rate and may change without notice. All VFS service charges are inclusive of CGST 9% + SGST 9%. As of 9 July 2018, VFS service fees + Video Conferencing fee (where applicable) must be paid through contact centre / online when scheduling an appointment — without pre-payment, no slot is allotted. The VFS service fee is in principle non-refundable, even if the applicant doesn't attend the appointment. Helpline: 022-67866025 / info.latviain@vfshelpline.com.
Documents Required
Seafarer-Specific Documents (informational reference)
- !Employment contract / appointment letter (with employment duration)
- !Copy of seafarer's working contract / appointment letter to board the ship
- !Seafarer's book
- !Invitation from shipping company / maritime agency in Schengen Member State
Signed and sealed; must include: seafarer's name, place/date of birth, passport + seafarer's book number, validity dates, position on boat, name + flag of boat, port + dates of boarding / disembarking, itinerary into Schengen area, name + address of Indian collaborating agency, statement that the shipping company bears all responsibility (including repatriation).
- ○Flight reservation if applicable + covering letter from Indian shipping/maritime agency with list of applying seafarers
! = mandatory · ○ = optional / if applicable
🗺️ Step-by-Step Application Process
Shipping company / maritime agency initiates the invitation
Done by the airline / shipping / maritime employer's authorized person in the Schengen Member State.
Indian collaborating agency presents the visa applications
The shipping company indicates in the invitation the Indian agency that will present applications.
Crew member / agency completes Hello Verify + VFS appointment
Standard Latvia VFS flow — informational only on this site.
Download Official Forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
📋 How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens VFS Switzerland page
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Latvia Schengen / Long-Stay Visa Online Application Form
Online form via VFS Latvia India. Print and sign before VFS appointment.
Hello Verify Document Upload Portal (MANDATORY for India + Sri Lanka)
All Latvia applicants from India and Sri Lanka MUST upload visa-application supporting documents to Hello Verify FIRST and obtain a confirmation slip. Without the slip, VFS cannot schedule an appointment. Single-use — re-applicants must redo the Hello Verify process.
Latvia Office of Citizenship & Migration Affairs (OCMA) — Invitation Portal
OCMA (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde) is the Latvian government body that approves invitation letters for Schengen short-stays and decides residence permits for D visas. Invitations must be dated ≤6 months before the visa application date.
VFS Application Centres
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the seafarer visa informational?+
Why doesn't SureshotVisa process Latvia Employment / Residence Permit / Seafarer visas?+
This page is for information only
SureshotVisa does not process this visa category. For other Latvia visa types we can help with — Tourist, Visitor, Business, Student, or Family Reunification — see the related visa types below.
Other Latvia Visa Types
Latvia Tourist Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Apply for a Latvia Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C) from India through VFS. Hello Verify is mandatory before VFS appointment. Riga, the Baltic coast, Sigulda forests, and Jūrmala beach.
Latvia Business Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Latvia Business Visa (Schengen Type C) for Indian professionals — meetings, scientific / educational / professional events, agreements, estate negotiation in Latvia. OCMA invitation required.
Latvia Cultural, Sports & Religious Events Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Latvia Cultural Visa (Schengen Type C) for journeys undertaken for cultural, sports or religious events and for film crews. OCMA invitation required. Riga Song Festival, EuroBasket, Latvia film locations.
Latvia Family and Friends Visit Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Latvia Family and Friends Visit Visa (Schengen Type C) for Indian travellers visiting Latvian-resident family or friends. OCMA invitation required. Travel period less than 90 days.
Latvia Medical Treatment Visa (Schengen Short-Stay, Type C)
Latvia Medical Treatment Visa (Schengen Type C) for Indian patients seeking treatment at Latvian hospitals — Riga's Stradins University Hospital, dental clinics, rehabilitation centres.
Latvia Airport Transit Visa (Schengen Type A)
Latvia Airport Transit Visa (Schengen Type A) for nationals required to obtain it (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, others) when transiting through Riga Airport. Indian citizens generally do NOT need this.
Latvia Student Visa (Long-Stay D Type)
Latvia Student Visa (Long-Stay D Type) for Indian students enrolled at OCMA-accredited Latvian education institutions. ₹9,709 fee + ₹3,776 Video Conferencing fee. €42,600 insurance. All applicants interviewed via VC.
Latvia Employment Visa (Long-Stay D Type) — Informational
Latvia Employment Visa (Long-Stay D Type) for Indian workers with confirmed Latvian employment + OCMA-approved labour clearance. Informational only — Latvian employer initiates with OCMA / State Employment Agency.
Source & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Latvia website and Embassy of Latvia. Last verified 2026-05-01. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.