Alright, so let me tell you about this little adventure I had recently. I needed to get myself a Latvian passport, and man, was it a process. I started out like anyone else, just poking around online, trying to figure out the best way to go about it. Turns out, you can either go to the Citizenship Office in Latvia or deal with one of their embassies.
I thought about hopping on a plane to Latvia, but then I was like, “Nah, too much hassle.” Plus, I stumbled upon this info that Latvian citizens can actually get their passports at Latvian embassies, which seemed a bit more convenient for me at the time. Then I dug a little deeper and found out there’s a whole step-by-step procedure for getting a Latvian passport in 2024, with a list of documents you gotta submit and some legal stuff about citizenship. They even mentioned the production time and cost, which was pretty helpful.
So, I zeroed in on the embassy route. It’s available for folks residing outside Latvia. I learned that you gotta apply for a new identity document like a passport or a personal ID card (they call it eID) at these diplomatic missions. And, here’s a kicker, it’s mandatory for Latvian citizens from the age of 15 to have a valid passport.

I also found out some cool perks. Apparently, if you hold a Latvian passport, you get visa-free access to 115 countries and can get an e-visa for another 50! And since the start of 2021, it’s gotten even better. A dual Latvian passport lets you travel easier, cheaper, and to more countries—around 130 with visa-free or visa-on-arrival agreements.
Now, getting an appointment was the next hurdle. I learned there are two ways to book a passport appointment online, depending on how fast you need it. They have online appointments available for new passport applications.
Here’s how my journey went down:
- First, I spent hours just browsing, trying to find reliable info on getting a Latvian passport. I felt like I was going in circles for a while.
- Then, I weighed my options between going to Latvia or using an embassy. I chose the embassy route because it seemed less of a headache.
- Next, I gathered all the necessary documents. Let me tell you, there were quite a few, and it took some time to get them all in order.
- After that, I booked an appointment online. It wasn’t as straightforward as I hoped, but I managed to secure a slot.
- During the appointment, I submitted my application and all the documents. The staff were helpful, guiding me through each step.
- Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I got my Latvian passport. Holding it in my hands was such a relief. It’s pretty cool to have, not gonna lie.
And yeah, that’s my story. It wasn’t easy, and it definitely tested my patience a few times. But in the end, I got what I needed, and now I can travel to a bunch of countries without much fuss. It’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me.