Moving to Latvia

Most information has been sourced from the website Study in Latvia, a public national body in charge of promoting Latvia’s higher education to international students, managed by the State Education Development Agency in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science. Please consult the website for a more detailed overview of higher education in Latvia.

Student visa and immigration

No visa is needed for EU/EEA students, but it is recommended to register with local authorities to receive a residence permit.

Accommodation 

Most universities in Latvia have their own dormitories or hostels, others help with housing search. Here are the average monthly costs related to student accommodation in Latvia:

• Dormitories or student hostels: 70€ - 120€
• Solo flat rent: 250€ - 350€
• Shared flat rent: 100€ - 200€
• Utilities: 100€ - 170€
• Internet: 12€ - 15€

Cost of living in Latvia

Living in Latvia as a student is relatively affordable compared to other European Union countries but can vary greatly between different cities and your lifestyle.

Average living costs in Latvia are within the range of 450-700 €.

Food

Latvia offers a wide variety of places to eat out, from American fast food to chic and expensive restaurants. A quick meal in the city centre can cost between 5€ and 9€ while an average restaurant meal can range from 15€ to 40€.

Entertainment

In Latvia there are a plenty of ways to spend leisure time for a reasonable price: a cinema ticket can cost between 5€ to 15€, rock concerts are already accessible for the price of 8€ to 35€ and a monthly gym membership can lie between 30€ and 50€.

Health insurance

For registration purposes, citizens of the EU, EEA countries or Switzerland may use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This document certifies that the holder is a resident of one of the aforementioned countries and is covered by the social insurance system of their country.

The card ensures the right to receive acute or emergency health care.

Transportation

You can travel around cities by:

• Public transport: Riga has 9 tram lines, 20 trolleybus routes and 54 bus routes. Public transport operates from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. and night services are available on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Bicycle: Cycling is becoming more and more popular in Latvia. Bike lanes are commonly accessible in Riga and other student cities.
• Taxi: All licenced taxi cabs have special yellow number plates. In Riga, local taxi apps Bolt and Yandex Go are usually more affordable than regular taxis.
• Car sharing: If you have EU member state or international driver’s licence, you can also use CarGuru or CityBee car sharing services. Prices depend on duration, kilometres droven and other factors. Petrol is included in the price.
• Electric scooters: Commuting with electric scooters is quite common among students in Riga and Bolt is the most used service.

Students have discounts on public transport in Latvia.

Leisure

Latvia offers plenty of entertainment activities including cafes and restaurants, music festivals, creative quarters and other venues and events.

• Culture: Latvia is rich in cultural heritage, folklore, and customs. Opera, museums, theatres, musical and dance events are easily accessible for all.
• Nature: Latvia is perfect for green tourism, including relaxing at the seaside, walks in the woods, swimming in blue lakes, hiking in nature parks or adventures in bogs.
• Outdoor activities: Travelling by bike, long-distance hiking, water-, wind- and winter-sports can all be enjoyed in Latvia.
• Architecture: Latvia has a unique heritage to offer for architecture fans, from elegant Art Nouveau to old wooden architecture, classical palaces and manors, and medieval churches.
• Music festivals: Many music festivals are held in Latvia during summer outside the capital, including on the beach in Liepaja, in hilly Sigulda and other beautiful towns and outdoor venues.
• Riga Creative Quarters: Check out neighbourhoods in Riga where creative energy flows and small shops, cafes and creative initiatives work side by side.
• Sport: Ice hockey, skeleton racing, and basketball enjoy immense popularity in Latvia, with national teams and individual athletes consistently earning medals at World Championships or the Olympic Games.

More information on leisure activities in Latvia here.

Work

International students are allowed to work in Latvia during studies but be aware that there are some restrictions depending on your study level.

Full-time Bachelor’s students have the right to work

• for up to 20 hours per week (part-time) during studies.

Full-time master's or doctoral students have the right to work

• 40 hours per week(full-time) during the study break.

There are exceptions if you have different kind of visa or residence permit.

Find out more about immigration law here

Sites for job searching:

• https://www.cv.lv/en/
• https://www.yourmove.lv/
• https://visidarbi.lv/en/

Student card

The student card does not only confirm your student status, but it also entitles you to all kinds of student discounts. Accepted Student cards in Latvia are the ISIC (International Student Identity Card) and student identity cards provided by education institutions.

Students with special needs

Access to higher education with disabilities

Latvian Universities and HEIs provide help and support to students with disabilities and other needs (health, psychological) both in matters related to education and integration in the academic environment. Universities and HEIs usually have a designated person or office in order to provide the adequate support. 

Good to know!

Business hours

Shops are usually open Monday to Friday 8/10 a.m.-6/8 p.m.. Some have reduced working hours on weekend. Stores located in shopping centres are open on weekends. Most food shops stay open until 10pm and are also open on Sunday. Central offices of banks are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Smoking and drinking

The legal age for drinking and smoking age is 18. Smoking is prohibited within 10 m from the entrances of institutions of national and local government, as well as at the public transport stops. Sale of alcoholic drinks is prohibited in all the territory of Latvia from 22:00 to 8:00 o’clock. It is prohibited to carry open bottles or cans of alcoholic drinks in public places.

Driving in Latvia

A driver's licence issued by any of the EU member states is valid in Latvia. The maximum speed limit in built-up areas is 50 km per hour and outside of built-up areas, 90 km per hour. Dipped headlights during the day are compulsory all year long! Winter tires are compulsory from 1 Dec until 1 March, but spiked tires are prohibited from 1 May until 1 Oct. Drivers are prohibited from speaking on the phone while driving, except when using a hands-free system.

Useful Resources

Bookmark this link to always find useful information about studying and living in Latvia.