Latvia is a small EU state with a large academic reputation, especially in the capital, Riga. It’s become a popular, affordable route to an EU-recognized degree — above all its English-taught medicine, dentistry, and health-science programs at Riga Stradiņš University (RSU), plus business, engineering, and IT elsewhere. With low living costs and full EU/Schengen mobility, it’s a strong value pick. Non-EU students need a long-term (D) visa and a residence permit. This guide gives a clear overview — confirm details with the OCMA and your university.
Step 1 of 10
Understand Why Students Choose Latvia
Latvia offers affordable EU-recognized degrees, standout English-taught medicine (Riga Stradiņš University), low living costs, and full EU/Schengen/EU-Blue-Card mobility — with a growing job market in IT, fintech, and pharma.
English medicine — Riga Stradiņš
Affordable — EU degree
EU mobility — + Blue Card path
How to help: Weigh Latvia’s affordable EU degrees and strong English-medicine option against its small scale — for medicine and health sciences especially, it’s excellent value.
Good to know: Riga Stradiņš University is a leading destination for English-taught medicine and health sciences — a major draw for international students.
Step 2 of 10
Understand the System
Latvia’s leading institutions are the University of Latvia (LU), Riga Technical University (RTU), Riga Stradiņš University (RSU — medicine and health), and the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. Degrees follow the European (Bologna) structure and are EU-recognized.
Univ of Latvia / RTU — broad & technical
RSU — medicine & health
SSE Riga — business
How to help: Choose by field — RSU for medicine/health, RTU for engineering, the University of Latvia for breadth, SSE Riga for business — all offering EU-recognized degrees.
Good to know: Latvian degrees are EU-recognized and Bologna-compliant — portable across Europe.
Step 3 of 10
Get the Visa & Residence Permit
Non-EU/EEA students staying over 90 days need a long-term (D) visa or a residence permit. Apply at a Latvian embassy/consulate, then complete the residence permit at the OCMA (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs). Your diploma is checked by the AIC (Academic Information Centre).
Long-term (D) visa — or residence permit
OCMA — migration office
AIC — diploma recognition
How to help: Apply for the D visa/residence permit with your acceptance, funds proof, and insurance — and note that the AIC must confirm your diploma is sufficient (allow 4–6 weeks).
Watch out: AIC diploma recognition takes about 4–6 weeks — start it early, as your admission and permit depend on it.
Step 4 of 10
Apply to Universities
Apply directly to universities (each has its own process; RSU and others recruit internationally). Programs are widely available in English. There’s a non-refundable application/registration fee, and documents must be in English or translated.
Apply directly — to universities
English programs — widely available
Application fee — non-refundable
How to help: Apply directly to your chosen universities, prepare English-language (or translated) documents, and factor in the application fee and AIC recognition time.
Good to know: Programs are widely available in English — no Latvian is needed to begin, though it helps daily life.
Step 5 of 10
Plan for Tuition & Funding
Tuition for non-EU students is affordable by EU standards: roughly €1,500–8,000/year for most programs, with English-taught medicine higher. Scholarships include state-funded awards, Erasmus+, and university grants.
Most programs — ~€1,500–8,000/yr
Medicine — higher
Scholarships — state & university
How to help: Budget the non-EU tuition (medicine is the outlier) plus low living costs, and pursue state, Erasmus+, and university scholarships — the overall cost is well below Western Europe.
Good to know: Latvia’s total cost (tuition + living) is often below even some home-country private universities — strong value for an EU degree.
Step 6 of 10
Meet the Financial Requirement
For the visa/permit you must prove sufficient means — commonly cited around €6,000–8,400/year for living (plus tuition), though figures vary by source and are tied to the minimum wage. You also need health insurance and accommodation proof.
Funds — ~€6,000–8,400/yr (varies)
+ tuition — paid/proven
+ insurance — & accommodation
How to help: Prepare proof of funds at the current amount (confirm it, as figures vary), plus health insurance and accommodation — insufficient funds is the top refusal reason.
Watch out: The funds figure varies by source and is the most common refusal reason — confirm the exact current amount and show it clearly.
Step 7 of 10
Meet Language Requirements
For English-taught programs you prove English (typically IELTS 6.0–6.5). No Latvian is needed to begin, though basic Latvian helps daily life and (limited) part-time work.
English — IELTS 6.0–6.5
No Latvian — needed to start
Some Latvian — helps daily life
How to help: Take an accepted English test for your program — you can study and live largely in English, though some Latvian helps with daily life and work.
Good to know: Riga is international and English-friendly — you can manage in English, but some Latvian opens more doors.
Step 8 of 10
Prepare for the Move
After arriving, complete your residence permit at the OCMA, arrange health insurance, and (if required) a medical check, then set up banking. Riga living costs are ~€600–900/month (cheaper in smaller cities), and dormitories are affordable.
OCMA permit — + health check
Insurance — required
Riga costs — ~€600–900/mo
How to help: Handle arrival admin — OCMA residence permit, insurance, banking — and take advantage of Latvia—s low living costs; smaller cities are cheaper than Riga.
Good to know: Riga is affordable by EU-capital standards — and smaller Latvian cities are cheaper still.
Step 9 of 10
Understand Work Rules
Bachelor’s and master’s students with a valid residence permit may work up to 20 hours per week during term and full-time during holidays — useful for experience and income, with studies coming first.
Work — 20 hrs/week in term
Full-time — in holidays
Studies first — the rule
How to help: You may work up to 20 hours/week during term (full-time in holidays) — useful for experience, though budget primarily from other sources.
Good to know: Keep studies as your priority and enrollment in good standing — it’s required to keep your permit.
Step 10 of 10
Thrive & Work After Study
After graduating, you can apply for a one-year residence permit to seek work or start a business. Latvia’s EU/Schengen membership and EU Blue Card pathways let graduates build careers across Europe, with demand growing in IT, fintech, and pharma.
1-year permit — post-study
EU Blue Card — pathway
Growing sectors — IT, fintech, pharma
How to help: Plan for the 1-year post-study permit, use Latvia’s EU/Schengen mobility and Blue Card routes, and target its growing sectors if you want to stay in Europe.
Good to know: Latvia’s 1-year post-study permit plus EU Blue Card pathways support building a career across Europe — confirm current conditions.
Quick Reference
Studying in Latvia: The Essentials
A snapshot — figures vary by source, so confirm everything with Study in Latvia, the OCMA, and your university.
- The systemUniversity of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Riga Stradiņš University (medicine/health), and SSE Riga; EU-recognized, Bologna-compliant degrees; wide English offering.
- Visa & permitNon-EU students need a long-term (D) visa or residence permit (apply at an embassy, complete at the OCMA); the AIC must confirm your diploma (allow 4–6 weeks).
- TuitionNon-EU tuition ~€1,500–8,000/year for most programs, with English-taught medicine higher; state, Erasmus+, and university scholarships help; total cost well below Western Europe.
- Money & languageProve sufficient means (commonly ~€6,000–8,400/year, tied to minimum wage — figures vary, confirm) plus insurance and accommodation; English programs need IELTS ~6.0–6.5; no Latvian to start.
- Work & afterWork up to 20 hrs/week in term (full-time in holidays); a 1-year post-study permit and EU Blue Card pathways support staying to work in Europe.
Official & Trusted Sources
Where to learn more
About this guide. This guide is a general, plain-language overview compiled by K12 Academics, current as of 2025–26, and is not legal or immigration advice. Latvian rules, tuition, and the funds requirement change (and funds figures vary widely by source); confirm all details with Study in Latvia, the OCMA (migration office), and your university.
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