PHOTO GUIDE
Applying for a Latvia short-stay visa from Japan
Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) applications for Latvia from Japan are received directly by the Embassy of Latvia in Tokyo (Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku). Appointments are booked only through the online system at pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv, with reception hours on Tuesdays, and payments are cashless only. The photograph is one colour print of 35×45 mm taken within the last 6 months — the same standard as the global Latvia photo requirements page.
Last Updated: 2026-08-15
Quick requirements
- Who this is for: applicants legally residing in Japan whose sole or main destination (longest stay), or first point of entry on a tie, is Latvia. Long-stay (Type D) visas are out of scope.
- Where to apply: the Embassy of Latvia to Japan (37-11 Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) receives applications directly. Appointments are booked only through the online system (pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv/en/japan); visiting hours are Tuesdays 11:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:30, by appointment.
- No representation: the Latvian MFA's list of other Schengen states' missions issuing Latvia visas (updated 25.06.2026) does not include Japan — no other state currently represents Latvia in Japan.
- Photo: the MFA's documents-required page specifies "one colour photograph (35mm × 45mm)" and the PMLP quality requirements add: not older than 6 months, uniform background, face 70-80% (the same as the global Latvia standard).
- Fee: EUR 90 for adults and applicants 12+, EUR 45 for children 6-12, free under 6 (EUR 35 for facilitation-agreement nationals). Payment is cashless only — a prepaid invoice before the appointment or a bank card at the embassy.
- Note: the embassy has announced that the Consulate will not provide consular services in August 2026 — plan your appointment accordingly.
- Documents: the completed harmonized Schengen application form, passport, one photograph, travel insurance and purpose-of-stay evidence, per the MFA's documents-required page.
Who applies where
This page is for applicants legally residing in Japan who need a Schengen visa (Type C) for a short stay in Latvia of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Apply at Latvia when Latvia is the sole destination, the main destination (longest stay), or the first point of entry when stay lengths are equal. Long-stay (Type D) visas follow a different process.
Latvia maintains an embassy in Japan, and applications from Japan are received directly by that embassy rather than through another state's representation. The Latvian MFA's published list of other Schengen states' missions issuing Latvia visas (updated 25.06.2026) does not include Japan.
Where to apply: the Embassy of Latvia in Tokyo receives directly
The reception point is the Embassy of Latvia to Japan (37-11 Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo). Appointments are booked only through the online appointment system (pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv/en/japan); visiting hours are Tuesdays 11:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:30, by appointment only.
The embassy has announced that the Consulate will not provide consular services in August 2026 — build that suspension into your schedule. Payments at the embassy are cashless only: a prepaid invoice issued before your appointment, or payment by bank card during the appointment.
Application form and required documents
The application form is the harmonized Schengen application form, completed and signed. The Latvian MFA's "Documents required to apply for a visa" page is the reference for the supporting documents: the passport, one colour photograph (35mm × 45mm), travel medical insurance, and the documents evidencing the purpose of the journey (accommodation and itinerary for tourism, an invitation for business, and so on).
Minors' applications need parental consent and related evidence. Always check the MFA's documents page and the embassy's information for the latest purpose-specific list before your appointment.
Photo requirements: 35×45 mm, within 6 months (same as the global standard)
The Latvian MFA's documents-required page specifies "one colour photograph (35mm × 45mm)", and the PMLP (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) quality requirements add that the photograph must not be older than 6 months, the background must be uniform, the face must take up 70-80% of the photograph, and only the applicant may be visible. These are the same rules as the global Latvia photo requirements page.
The format does not change for applications from Japan: prepare one 35×45 mm colour print. The photo tool's Latvia mode outputs exactly this format.
Fee and payment
The visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and applicants aged 12 and over, EUR 45 for children aged 6-12, and children under six are exempt; nationals of facilitation-agreement countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and others) pay EUR 35, per the Latvian MFA's fee page.
The Embassy of Latvia in Japan accepts cashless payments only — pay a prepaid invoice before your appointment or pay by bank card at the appointment. No official yen conversion is published, so confirm the payable amount with the embassy when booking.
How to use the official sources
Short-stay (Type C) Schengen visa applications for Latvia from Japan are received directly by the Embassy of Latvia to Japan (Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku), with appointments booked only via the online system (pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv/en/japan) and Tuesday reception hours (no consular services in August 2026). No other state represents Latvia in Japan (MFA list updated 25.06.2026). The photograph is one colour print of {commonWidth}×{commonHeight} mm per the MFA documents-required page, with the PMLP quality requirements (within 6 months, uniform background, face 70-80%) — the global standard. The fee is EUR 90/45 (under six free, facilitation nationals EUR 35), cashless only (prepaid invoice or bank card). Procedures and fees can change, so confirm the latest information with the embassy's consular page and the MFA's pages before applying.
shoumei.org helps users prepare photo files based on publicly available requirements. It does not submit visa applications, and it is not an official government service, Schengen authority, embassy, consulate, VFS Global, TLScontact, or BLS International service. Please verify the latest requirements with the official embassy, consulate, or visa application center before submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I submit a Latvia visa application in Japan?
At the Embassy of Latvia to Japan (37-11 Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), with an appointment booked through the online system (pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv/en/japan). Visiting hours are Tuesdays 11:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:30, by appointment only.
Can I apply through another country's embassy?
No. The Latvian MFA's list of other Schengen states' missions that issue Latvia visas (updated 25.06.2026) does not include Japan, so no other state currently represents Latvia for visa applications in Japan — the Embassy of Latvia in Tokyo receives directly.
How many photos do I need, and in what size?
One colour photograph, 35×45 mm (the MFA's documents-required page), not older than 6 months, on a uniform background with the face taking up 70-80% of the photo (the PMLP quality requirements) — the same standard as the global Latvia photo requirements page.
How much is the fee, and how do I pay?
EUR 90 for ages 12 and over, EUR 45 for 6-12, free under six (EUR 35 for facilitation-agreement nationals). The embassy accepts cashless payment only — a prepaid invoice before your appointment or a bank card at the appointment. Confirm the yen amount with the embassy when booking.
Can I apply in August 2026?
No. The embassy has announced that the Consulate will not provide consular services in August 2026. If your travel falls around that period, book an appointment on the surrounding reception days.
How do I book an appointment?
Only through the Latvian MFA's online appointment system (pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv/en/japan). Reception hours are on Tuesdays, so book with plenty of lead time.
Where do I check the required documents?
The Latvian MFA's "Documents required to apply for a visa" page is the reference. Besides the harmonized form, passport, one photograph and travel insurance, purpose-specific documents such as accommodation proof or invitations are required.
Do I need to attend in person again if my fingerprints were taken for an earlier Schengen visa?
The details of fingerprint reuse are not published on the Japan consular page; confirm with the Embassy of Latvia when booking. The embassy's page requires an appointment for consular visits.
Official and submission sources
- Embassy of Latvia to Japan (www2.mfa.gov.lv) — Consular Information (2026-08-15 re-verified: "All appointments are booked only through the online appointment system" pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv/en/japan; visiting hours Tuesdays 11:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:30 by appointment; "The Consulate will not provide consular services in August 2026."; only cashless transactions accepted — prepaid invoices before the appointment or payment by bank card; address 37-11 Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) (used for: application channel, appointment system, submission offices, visa fee, jurisdiction notes) Checked: 2026-08-15
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia (mfa.gov.lv) — Diplomatic and consular missions of other Schengen Member States issuing visas to enter Latvia (list updated 25.06.2026: Japan/Tokyo does not appear — no other Schengen state currently represents Latvia for visa applications in Japan) (used for: jurisdiction notes) Checked: 2026-08-15
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia (mfa.gov.lv) — Documents required to apply for a visa (page updated 17.06.2026: "one colour photograph (35mm x 45mm)" — the same national page that governs the global photo FACT) (used for: photo requirements, photo copy count) Checked: 2026-08-15
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia (mfa.gov.lv) — Visa application fees (2026-08-15 re-verified: 90 EUR adults and applicants aged 12+, 45 EUR children 6-12, children under six exempt; reduced 35 EUR for facilitation-agreement nationals such as Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, etc.) (used for: visa fee) Checked: 2026-08-15
shoumei.org helps users prepare photo files based on publicly available requirements. It does not submit visa applications, and it is not an official government service, Schengen authority, embassy, consulate, VFS Global, TLScontact, or BLS International service. Please verify the latest requirements with the official embassy, consulate, or visa application center before submitting.
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