Latvia: declaration of drivers’ entry and stay at least 48 hours before the vehicle enters

International transport to the Baltic states has become increasingly demanding in recent years from the perspective of regulatory compliance. As of 1 September 2025, in order to strengthen national security and improve the efficiency of border protection, Latvia introduced the obligation to declare entry and stay on its territory through Latvia’s information system (ETA).

This means that an electronic travel declaration must be submitted by a citizen of any country who does not hold a valid visa or residence permit issued by Latvia, with certain exceptions, such as citizens of the EU, EEA countries, NATO member states, Switzerland, and Brazil.

Submitting an electronic travel declaration means that certain personal data, the purpose of travel, the planned duration of stay, and the travel route must be provided through the Threat Prevention Information System.

What does this mean for carriers?

The obligation to declare entry and stay on the territory of Latvia also applies to drivers and covers all types of transport operations they perform, including transit. The declaration of a driver’s entry and stay, for example for drivers who are citizens of Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina, is mandatory regardless of whether they work for a transport company registered in the EU or outside the EU.

For transport companies, it is particularly important to plan entry into Latvia in good time, as an incorrectly submitted declaration may result in the vehicle being detained for several days and in significant financial penalties. The most important rule that carriers must keep in mind is the 48-hour deadline for submitting the declaration before entry.

The electronic travel declaration must be submitted and completed at least 48 hours before the planned entry of the vehicle into the territory of Latvia. After the data has been entered, a confirmation is issued that the information has been received and that the obligation to submit the declaration has been fulfilled, while the final registration confirmation is issued only after the expiry of the 48-hour period and the completion of security checks. The electronic travel declaration is valid for one entry into Latvia, which means that it must be secured in good time for each entry.

The most common mistake made by transport companies

One of the greatest risks for transport companies is a change of data after the declaration has been submitted. If there is a change of driver, vehicle registration plates, towing vehicle, or any other data included in the declaration, a completely new declaration must be submitted, after which the 48-hour period starts again.

In practice, this may lead to transport delays and prevent entry into Latvia at the planned time.

Penalties for incorrect driver declarations in Latvia

Latvian law treats the submission of false information or failure to register in the electronic ETA system as a serious offence. If the obligation to provide the required information is not fulfilled, or if incomplete or false information is submitted, Latvian control authorities may impose a fine of up to EUR 2,000.

In addition to the financial consequences, the vehicle may be detained until the irregularities are resolved, which further increases costs for transport companies and jeopardizes planned transport operations.

Driver declaration obligations for EU carriers – IMI declarations

In addition to the previously mentioned obligation to submit an electronic travel declaration for citizens of any country who do not hold a valid visa or residence permit issued by Latvia, transport companies established in the EU are required to declare their drivers through the European Union Internal Market Information System (IMI), regardless of the driver’s nationality, in accordance with the rules on the posting of workers in road transport.

The driver posting declaration via the IMI system must be submitted before entering the territory of Latvia.

How to avoid problems when entering Latvia

EXPO provides comprehensive support to transport companies in relation to compliance with regulatory obligations in Latvia, including:

· submitting driver posting declarations,
 · monitoring deadlines and the validity of declarations,
 · checking documentation,
 · support during inspections,
 · advice on obligations under EU regulations and Latvia’s national rules.

A timely and correctly submitted declaration often makes the difference between uninterrupted transport and a vehicle being detained for several days. That is why it is important to plan the procedure in advance and entrust regulatory obligations to an expert team that monitors changes in international transport regulations on a daily basis.

If you need assistance with Latvian regulatory compliance, feel free to contact the EXPO team!