Rules Of Entering Latvia Changed For Belarusians

It will be necessary to inform about the purpose of visit and not only.

On Thursday, 3 April, the Latvian Seimas approved amendments to the Immigration Law and the Law on State Border in the final reading. The amendments require third-country nationals who do not have a visa or residence permit issued in Latvia to provide specific information about themselves, their relatives and the purpose of their trip before entering the country, Delfi writes.

Amendments to the Immigration Law, introducing a requirement for third-country nationals to provide information about themselves and the purpose of the visit, will come into force on 1 September this year.

The amendments were submitted to the Seimas by the Parliamentary Commission on National Security, emphasising that Russia and Belarus will not refuse to use citizens of friendly countries for intelligence and other malicious activities against the European Union and NATO member states.

Citizens of all countries, excluding member states of the EU, NATO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Brazil, will fall under the law. That is, we are talking primarily about Russia, Belarus and the CIS countries.

A fine of up to 2,000 euros can be imposed for failure to provide or providing false information.

‘However, the question remains open as to how, in conditions of free travel within the EU and Schengen area, such control will be implemented. It is possible if third-country nationals cross Latvia's land borders with Russia or Belarus. Checks are also carried out at the airport. However, Latvia's borders with Lithuania and Estonia are open and, theoretically, third-country nationals can travel, for example, from Hungary, through Poland to Lithuania and then to Latvia,’ the newspaper said.

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