International

Welcome Week starts in the beginning of September:

• On campus tour
• Overview of TSI’s history & environment
• Student’s welcome package (inc. branded hoodie, notebook)
• Introduction to online resources

Academic year will start in the middle of September
The classes will be conducted in face-to-face mode. It is recommended to arrive in Latvia before the start of studies.

Before you come to Latvia, please check that you collected all the documents necessary to cross the border and apply for the Residence Permit here.

• Passports (both national and international, if applicable)
• Originals of Educational documents with legalisation/apostille
• Study agreement signed (for passport control)
• Bank statement (original, with at least 8400* EUR confirmed in equivalent currency, valid for three months from the date of issue; is to be valid until the Residence Permit is received). 

Bank statement should contain: 

• student’s name and surname; 
• students passport information; 
• name and surname of the person, who issued this statement; 
• bank’s stamp and signature of the person, who issued this statement.

* This amount depends on the minimum monthly work remuneration in the Republic of Latvia, at this moment it is 700 EUR. It can be changed, please, check here: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/residence-permit

•  Police certificate (original, in English, Latvian or Russian language (or translation on one of these languages) with apostille, valid 6 months from the date of issue)

If you are underaged (younger than 18 y.o.) – additional documents are needed:

• Birth certificate with legalisation/apostille
• Power of attorney with legalisation/apostille

For any additional questions regarding residence permit application – please, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Please, check the relevant chapter on TSI website:

https://tsi.lv/campus-life/accommodation/

But please, keep in mind that booking accommodation is within your personal responsibilities, but if you need any assistance – please, let us know!

The booking of accommodations should be arranged by the student himself, but if you need any assistance – please, let us know!

A prepaid sim-card can be bought in Narvesen pop-up shops or in supermarkets.

You can purchase a sim card just after your arrival in the Airport in the Narvessen shops located in the Airport building or close to the exit C.

There are several taxi companies in Latvia such as: Bolt taxi, Baltic taxi, etc.

We recommend the student to order the taxi using Bolt taxi app as it is described in instruction in PDF.

! Taxis standing in the airport or private taxi drivers can charge much more for the trip.

After your arrival to Latvia please, visit the TSI Admission team on the next working day!

You should: 

• Take the originals of your documents
• And come visit us: https://tsi.lv/about-us/contacts/, room 100A on the 1st floor (turn right from the entry).

If you can’t find the way, just call us: +371 29 990 841.

You will sign the original Study agreement and will be able to start the Residence Permit card application process.

What is a residence permit?

A residence permit is a document providing a foreigner the rights to reside in the Republic of Latvia for a definite period of time (a temporary residence permit) or permanently (a permanent residence permit).

A residence permit is necessary if you are willing to stay in the Republic of Latvia for a period of time exceeding 90 days within half a year counting from the first day of entrance.

The residence permit is issued in the format of the identification card, therefore biometrics details must be delivered prior to receipt of the residence permit (fingerprints and digital picture of face).

Due to studies at an accredited educational institution the residence permit is issued for the period of the studies.

When can I apply for a Residence Permit?

As soon as you sign the study agreement you can apply for your residence permit. We will help you to prepare needed documents and give you further instruction regarding the Residence Permit application process.

! You should receive your residence permit card before your visa expires.

What documents do I need to apply for the Residence Permit?

The list of the documents to be send in Migration Department to apply on Residence Permit:

Documents for RP application 18+
Documents for RP application Underaged

The package of the documents will be prepared with the help of the TSI Admission team and should be sent by the student by post. Further instructions will be provided upon arrival.

What additional documents do I need to receive the Residence Permit card?

– Health insurance policy, issued on the period that covers Residence Permit card validity. For the 1rst year of studies it can be provided for students for free, further information will be given by the TSI Admission team.

– X-rays, a health certificate issued by a Latvian health care institution stating that the foreign individual does not suffer from tuberculosis in the active phase. For the 1rst year of studies it can be provided for students for free, further information will be given by the TSI Admission team.

Here you can find more information about the documents to be provided: https://vissparmigraciju.pmlp.gov.lv/?page_id=2421&lang=en

What are the terms and costs? 

THE STUDENT, WHO IS ADMITTED TO THE MASTER’S DEGREE OR DOCTORAL DEGREE STUDY PROGRAMME, IS EXEMPTED FROM PAYMENT OF THE STATE FEE FOR EXAMINATION OF THE DOCUMENTS WITHIN 30 DAYS.

How to cover the state fee for consideration for the Residence permit? 

By wire transfer using the services of credit institutions. When making a wire transfer, the name and surname of the person for which the state fee is paid should be specified in the payment order.

PAYMENT DETAILS FOR PAYMENT OF THE STATE FEE

Beneficiary: the Treasury
Registration No. 90000050138
Beneficiary institution: Code of the Treasury TRELLV22
Account No. LV37TREL1060140918500
Payment purpose: “Cabinet Regulation o. 557 and the name and surname of the person, about whom the payment of the State fee is made, requesting of the TRP.

If you are paying for the service by wire transfer in a credit institution or internet bank, please note that the processing of the payment may take several days. 

This fee you can pay in OCMA by payment cards issued on your name (VISA, VISA Electron, Maestro, Master, American Express) in any territorial division. Payment by cash is not accepted.

Riga 1st Division, Riga 2nd Division, Riga 3rd Division accept the customers for arrangement and issue of the residence permits (eID cards) only on the basis of “live” queue, issuing a LIMITED number of service numbers every day.

Please, note that the service will be provided ONLY in the case a POSITIVE DECISION OF THE OFFICE HAS BEEN RECEIVED.

In the territorial divisions in the another Latvian cities the appointment can be scheduled in advance by e-system:https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/pieraksts

After you receive your residence permit card you have to declare your place of residence in the Republic of Latvia:

1. in the local institution, where the new place of residence of the person is located;
2. electronically on the portal www.latvija.lv, by using the e-service “Submission of the declaration of the place of residence”, the service is available, when authorising through online banking authentication means (Swedbank, SEB banka, Citadele banka, Norvik banka, Meridian Trade Bank, Luminor, PrivatBank , Rietumu banka), personal identity card (eID) or safe electronic signature smart card (the relevant card and smart card reading device shall be required);
3. In the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. 

When declaring the place of residence with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs or the relevant local declaration institution, a person shall pay the State fee in the amount of 4.27 euro. If a person declared the place of residence electronically on the portal www.latvija.lv, the State fee for declaration of the place of residence shall not be paid.

Sure.The Residence Permit card provides you the work permit, the amount of working hours per week is shown on the residence permit card.

Bachelor’s degree students can work 20 or 40 hours per week free from studies.

Masters and PhD degree students are allowed to work 40 hours per week.

The available vacancies you can check here:

https://www.cv.lv/en/

https://www.cvmarket.lv/

https://www.ss.com/en/work/are-required/

Or you can visit annual TSI Career Day, an event that aims to inform students and high school pupils about career opportunities, potential employers, and job market trends in general.

Multiple insightful lectures and activities brought a valuable addition to the study process for youngsters and, on the other hand, gave employers an opportunity to find interns and employees.

What should I do in an emergency situation?

The emergency number 113  or the European emergency phone number 112 should be called in situations where a person’s life is in danger and minutes are crucial to receiving help – a very serious injury or sudden illness and immediate medical attention are required.

Situations in which NMPD physicians should be called: 

• unconscious, 
• stopping breathing or having sudden breathing problems
• have severe life-threatening injuries or bleeding 
• signs of a heart attack (sudden pain in the sternum)
• signs of a stroke (sudden weakness on one side)
• other life-threatening situations.

What to do when life is not in danger but medical help is needed?

If life and health are not endangered, medical advice and counselling shall be provided by:

• a family doctor or a medical practitioner replacing him or her in the practice of a family doctor
• Family doctor consultation phone – 66016001 . On weekday evenings and at night (17: 00-8: 00) and on weekends (24 hours a day), you can always call the GP consultation number 66016001 . There, qualified doctors will listen to the patient’s complaints and advice on what to do and where to get help. 
• on-call doctors – provide assistance within the competence of a family doctor.
• paramedic points – provide assistance within the competence of a family doctor.
• emergency medical care points – provide assistance that exceeds the competence of a family doctor.
• hospital admission departments.
• multifunctional medical centre SIA “Veselības centrs 4”. Address: 117 Krisjana Barona Street, Riga. Phone: +37167847104

More information on how to get help can be found on the  National Health Service website.

Erasmus+ is the EU’s mobility programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Erasmus+ has opportunities for people of all ages, helping them develop and share knowledge and experience at institutions and organisations in different countries. The aim of Erasmus+ is to contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy for growth, jobs, social equity and inclusion, as well as the aims of ET2020, the EU’s strategic framework for education and training,

TSI, Transport and Telecommunication Institute has been a participant of the ERASMUS+ program since 2005.

Every TSI student starting from 2nd year has an opportunity to spend a semester and study in one of the foreign universities, who have a cooperation contract with TSI.

For further assistance please, contact International Department: https://tsi.lv/study/erasmus/

The residence permit card allows its holder to circulate in the Schengen area. You will need only your passport and residence permit card!

The Schengen area covers 27 countries (“Schengen States”) without border controls between them. These countries are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

You can travel BY AIR:

Riga International Airport

https://www.riga-airport.com/en

Riga Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in Europe according to the Airport Council International (ACI) report on airport performance in Europe in 2019. Airport offers both aviation (aircraft, passenger and cargo handling) and non-aviation services (lease of premises and territory, car parks, VIP Centre services, etc.), handling over 50% of entire Baltic passengers and air cargo traffic. 

Riga International Airport has the regular flight all over the Europe and there are several Air Companies with the discount fares for flights:

Air Baltic

https://www.airbaltic.com/en-LV/index

Latvian airline Air Baltic Corporation AS (airBaltic) was founded in 1995. The airline offers low fare tickets in its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East. The prices are competitive not only with other airlines, but also with the prices of bus, car, train or ferry travel. Tickets are available not only for direct but also for transfer flights.

Ryanair (Lowcoster)

https://www.ryanair.com/lv/en

Ryanair Holdings plc, Europe’s largest airline group, is the parent company of Buzz, Lauda, Malta Air & Ryanair DAC. Ryanair has a team of over 19,000 highly skilled aviation professionals delivering Europe’s No.1 on-time performance, and an industry leading 34-year safety record.

The airline offers low fare tickets for flights between European countries.

Wizzair (Lowcoster)

https://wizzair.com/en-gb#/

Established in May-2004, Wizz Air is a low-cost carrier headquartered at Budapest Airport. Wizz Air predominantly uses secondary airports and is continuously looking at opportunities to expand its network of destinations and provide low-cost air transport to and from Central and Eastern Europe.

The full list of the Air Companies can be found here: https://www.riga-airport.com/flights/airlines/en

One of the cheapest ways to visit some countries is the BUS. 

Latvia has a chain of international buses, presented by two companies. The buses depart from the International Bus Terminal: https://www.autoosta.lv/?lang=en

ECOLINES 

https://ecolines.net/lv/en

Ecolines is the largest and most experienced coach operator in the Baltic States, which offers comfortable travel to 20 countries and about 200 cities on a daily basis.

LUX express

https://luxexpress.eu/en/

Lux Express operates the largest international coach network in the Baltic region with more than 20 destinations in 7 countries. They connect all regional capitals together, from Tallinn to Warsaw and from St. Petersburg to Helsinki.

FlixBuss

https://global.flixbus.com/

Flixbus operates buses or, in many cases, just handles marketing, pricing, and customer service for a commission, on behalf of bus operators on the list of FlixBus bus partners. In 2022, FlixBus had revenues of €1.5 billion. Flixbus serves over 3,000 destinations in more than 40 countries.

The simplest way to catch an adventure and explore more is to travel is to RENT A CAR. Here you can find the links on the rental car services:

https://primecarrent.com/
https://www.rentalcars.com/en/
https://www.europcar.com/en/car-rental/locations/latvia

Upon the car pick-up the person is required to present a valid driver’s licence of appropriate category and a passport. A person renting the car must be at least 21 years old. The driving experience should be not less than 1 year. 

The security deposit must be paid by credit card: VISA / MasterCard etc. The rental car may be driven by other drivers, if previously agreed by the lessor and indicated in the rental agreement.