How to Apply to Universities in Latvia: Requirements, Deadlines and Portals
By Muntasir • Published Aug 04, 2026 • Updated Aug 08, 2026 • Guides, Study in Europe, Country & City Guides, Admissions & Applications
There is no single application portal for Latvia. You apply directly to each university, and each one sets its own deadlines and requirements. Expect to submit your diploma, proof of language skills and pay a small application fee before you get an admission decision.
📩 Apply directly through the university's own admission office
🎓 Your foreign diploma goes through a recognition check
💶 Application fees run around 30-100 EUR depending on the university
⏱️ Deadlines are set per university, not nationally, so check early
EU/EEA citizens do not need a student visa, non-EU citizens do
Where to apply
Latvia does not run one central application system for international students. You choose your program and university through the Study in Latvia portal, then apply directly on that university's own admissions page. Each institution runs its own process, so requirements and deadlines differ from one to the next.
The application process step by step
Choose your program and university based on subject, teaching language and tuition fee.
Submit your application with your documents through the university's admission office or online system.
Wait for document recognition. The university checks whether your foreign qualification meets Latvian entry requirements.
Sit any required entrance exam or interview. Competitive programs, especially medicine and dentistry, often test subject knowledge or language skills.
Sign your study agreement and pay the tuition fee or first instalment once you receive an offer.
Apply for your visa or residence permit if you are a non-EU citizen, or register your stay if you are an EU/EEA citizen.
Contact your chosen university directly for the exact steps, since admission procedures vary by institution, according to Study in Latvia .
Recognition of your foreign diploma
Latvia's Academic Information Centre (AIC) is the national ENIC-NARIC body responsible for assessing foreign qualifications against Latvian standards. Universities usually handle this check as part of your application, comparing your secondary school certificate or prior degree against local requirements. Some programs require you to request an academic recognition statement from AIC yourself before you apply.
What to expect from an entrance exam
Not every program requires a formal entrance exam, but competitive fields do. Medicine and dentistry programs often test biology and chemistry knowledge or run an interview alongside a language check. Business and humanities programs run interviews or motivation letter reviews more often than written exams. Check your specific program page for the exact format, since this varies widely between universities.
Verify the university is accredited before you apply
Confirm your target university and program appear on the state register of accredited institutions maintained by Latvia's Ministry of Education and Science before you submit any documents or pay a fee. This protects you from enrolling in a program that will not get your degree recognized later.
Documents you need
Secondary education certificate for bachelor's applicants, or a bachelor's degree for master's applicants.
Official transcript showing your grades, including specific subjects some programs require, such as biology and chemistry for medicine.
Proof of proficiency in the program's teaching language, set by the individual university rather than one national test.
A valid passport copy.
Certified translations of documents not issued in Latvian, English or Russian.
Deadlines
Latvia has no single national deadline. Each university publishes its own dates for programs starting in September, and popular or limited-place programs, such as medicine, tend to close earlier than general bachelor's programs. Start checking your target university's admissions page in winter or early spring for the intake you want, and confirm the exact date directly with them.
Application fees
Universities charge a small non-refundable application or registration fee. At Riga Stradiņš University this runs 100 EUR, reduced to 30 EUR for Latvian citizens, according to RSU . Medicine and dentistry applicants there pay an extra 1,800 EUR registration administration fee once accepted. At the BA School of Business and Finance, the registration fee for EU/EEA, Swiss and UK applicants is 30 EUR, according to BSA . Fees vary by university, so check the exact figure before you apply.
EU/EEA vs non-EU applicants
If you hold an EU/EEA, Swiss or UK passport, you do not need a student visa to study in Latvia. You still need to register your stay with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs if you plan to stay longer than 90 days. If you come from outside the EU/EEA, you need a national D visa or a temporary residence permit before you enroll, applied for at a Latvian embassy or consulate in your home country.
After you receive an offer
Once a university accepts you, sign your study agreement and pay your first tuition instalment to secure your place. From there, non-EU students apply for their visa or residence permit, while EU/EEA students plan their move and register their stay after arrival. Sort out accommodation and, if you need one, health insurance before your semester starts, since term begins in September for most programs.
Common mistakes to avoid
Waiting until summer to start your application for a September intake with an earlier deadline.
Sending uncertified translations when the university asks for certified ones.
Skipping direct contact with the admissions office when your situation does not match the standard process.
Booking a flight or signing a lease before your study agreement and, if needed, your visa are confirmed.
Assuming one university's process matches another, when in fact each institution runs its own rules from start to finish.