Latvia Becomes The 26th Nation To Remove All Entry Requirements

April 3, 2022 Madrid

Latvia became the 26th nation to remove all entry requirements as of April 1, 2022. The country joins a growing list of nations—including various European and Caribbean nations—to remove all COVID-19 entry requirements for all travelers worldwide.

All travelers entering the country:

Don’t need to be vaccinated
Don’t require testing
Don’t undergo quarantine, and
Don’t need to fill out passenger locator forms

The list of nations without entry requirements is as follows:

Mexico
El Salvador
Norway
Slovenia
Iceland
Bahrain
Jordan
Ireland
Hungary
Romania
Saudi Arabia
Montenegro
Curaçao
England
Maldives
Aruba
Mongolia
Moldova
Gabon
Yemen
Costa Rica
Sweden
Poland
Denmark
Grenada
Latvia

The Latvian Government Statement

In a statement, the Latvian government announced an abolition of proof of vaccination, COVID-19 testing, and passenger locator forms to enter the nation.

The Latvian government said: “As of April 1, the requirement to present an interoperable vaccination or disease certificate or a negative Covid-19 test certificate for entry into Latvia has been abolished,”

“This requirement will henceforth only apply to migrants from high-risk countries, but is not currently defined by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (SPC).” Currently, there are no countries on the ‘high-risk’ list.

The Current Internal COVID-19 Restrictions In Latvia

Although Latvia has scrapped all COVID-19 entry requirements, there are still some COVID-19 restrictions within the country, although most have been removed. Latvia is still concerned with masks on transit and in high-risk areas, but they have been removed outdoors, as well as indoors for things like shops and restaurants.

The Latvian government still mandates masks on all public transport (other than taxis)
Travelers have to wear masks in social care homes, hospitals, and medical institutions
Travelers have to wear a medical face mask or an unvalved respirator with a safety level of FFP2 – FFP3 or KN95. However, masks aren’t mandatory for children under 7 and people with medical conditions
The Latvian government will fine travelers 50 Euros for failing to wear a mask

However, proof of vaccination isn’t mandatory to enter services or venues—including bars, museums, and cafes. Individual venues can ask for proof of vaccination, but the government isn’t making this mandatory, unlike in some nations.

There are no curfews or social distancing laws in place, and travelers are free to visit anywhere nationwide without fear of restrictions (unless the situation changes.)

The COVID-19 Situation In Latvia

COVID-19 cases are rapidly declining in Latvia. The current 7-day case average is 1,959, which is a significant decrease from the 7-day case average of 9,541 on February 25.

Latvia has currently fully vaccinated 68.5% of its population after administering 2.88 million doses.

The Top 4 Things To Do In Latvia

Visit OId Town Riga

Although Europe is full of excellent old towns, Old Town Riga is one of Europe’s hidden gems.

The best sites in Old Town Riga include Riga Cathedral, Arsenal Museum of Art, The Three Brothers, Riga Cathedral, and Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. There are various superb walking tours of the Old Town.

Relax on Jurmala Beach

When people think of Latvia, they rarely think of beaches. However, Jurmala Beach is an excellent beach for the summer months.

Although Latvia has cold winters—typically below freezing most days—summers are hot. Visitors adore the white soft sand that’s ideal for families, walkers, and children.

3. Walk Around Jauniela

If you want to experience beautiful beaches, Jauniela is one of Latvia’s most incredible streets. Most of the buildings are Art Nouveau style.

Visitors also adore the street because of its colorful houses, eclectic shops, and terrific museums.

Explore Old Sigulda Castle

Do you love 13th-century architecture? Sigulda Castle is a perfect example. It’s the first stone castle built anywhere other than Old Town Riga.

The city has restored the castle over the last century; it’s a must-see for any historians!

How to get there

Almost every European city flies directly into Riga, including London, Barcelona, Madrid, Paris, Dublin, Frankfurt, Rome, Vienna, Zurich, Stockholm, and more.

Source: https://bit.ly/3qXoLQT