British Indian Ocean TerritoryLatvia: Visa-free

British Indian Ocean TerritoryLatvia

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for Latvia?

Visa-free

No. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders do not need a visa to visit Latvia for tourism for stays of up to 3 months within any 180-day period.

No visa is required for a short tourist stay. Travel on a valid passport alone.

Source: eur-lex.europa.eu (checked September 3, 2026).

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stay3 months within any 180-day period

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-21

Visa-free access to Latvia138 of 242 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Latvia passport holders visiting British Indian Ocean Territory: Visa required.

Other visa-free destinations for British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders

See all British Indian Ocean Territory destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders need a visa for Latvia?

No. British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders do not need a visa to visit Latvia for tourism for stays of up to 3 months within any 180-day period.

How long can British Indian Ocean Territory citizens stay in Latvia without a visa?

Up to 3 months within any 180-day period, for tourism, ordinary passport.

What currency is used in Latvia?

Euro (EUR).

What is the emergency number in Latvia?

110 / 112 / 113.

What time zone is Latvia in?

Riga (UTC+3).

What is the nearest airport to Riga?

Riga International Airport (RIX), about 9 km away.

How many countries can enter Latvia without a visa?

138 of the 242 nationalities this site tracks can enter Latvia visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a British Overseas Territory situated in the Indian Ocean. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands, many very small, amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres. The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 square kilometres, the site of a Joint Military Facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Official administration is remote from London, though the local capital is often regarded as being on Diego Garcia.

RegionEastern Africa

Area60 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+246

Drives on theright

Climate in British Indian Ocean Territory

Warmest April, coolest August, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, May, June, August, September, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for British Indian Ocean Territory, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.9°C	26.1°C	404mm	268h
February	28.4°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	258mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.2°C	122mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.7°C	209mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.4°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.2°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	87mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.7°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.3°C	238mm	305h
December	27.7°C	25.8°C	365mm	296h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission.

Full source list on About.

About Latvia

Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of northern Europe. It is one of the three Baltic states, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. It borders Russia to the east and Belarus to the southeast and shares a maritime border with Sweden to the west. Latvia covers an area of 64,573 km2 (24,932 sq mi), with a population of 1.83 million. The country has a temperate seasonal climate. Its capital and largest city is Riga. Latvians, who are the titular nation and comprise 65.5% of the country's population, belong to the ethnolinguistic group of the Balts and speak Latvian. Russians are the most prominent minority in the country, at almost a quarter of the population; 37.7% of the population speak Russian as their native tongue.

CapitalRiga

RegionNorthern Europe

Population1.8M

Area64,559 km²

CurrencyEuro (1 USD ≈ 0.89 EUR)

LanguagesLatvian

Calling code+371

Drives on theright

TimezoneRiga (UTC+3)

Nearest airportRiga International Airport (RIX), 9 km

Emergency number110 / 112 / 113

UNESCO sites3

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$26,312 (2025)

Tourist arrivals3.2M (2020)

Climate in Riga

Warmest June, coolest December, driest April, sunniest July.

Monthly climate normals for Riga, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	5°C	1.5°C	30mm	80h
February	5°C	-0.2°C	50mm	139h
March	7°C	-0.6°C	46mm	239h
April	9.8°C	2°C	25mm	320h
May	13.8°C	5.3°C	42mm	390h
June	23.4°C	13.8°C	113mm	380h
July	20.6°C	12.3°C	105mm	420h
August	21.8°C	12.8°C	64mm	339h
September	19°C	11.8°C	70mm	278h
October	12.9°C	7.6°C	85mm	178h
November	7.7°C	3.7°C	41mm	89h
December	2°C	-1°C	31mm	40h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Latvia is one of the three Baltic states in Europe. The biggest travel destination in the country is the capital Riga, whose Old Town is a World Heritage Site. There are many other great places to see, both urban and rural. Latvia's unspoilt sea coast is a 500-km-long unique biome, mainly consisting of empty beaches, white soft sand, and dunes covered with pine trees. Forests cover approximately half of Latvia's territory and are home to many nature trails, nature parks and wildlife preserves. The city of Liepāja with its magnificent beach and the unique formerly secret military neighbourhood of Karosta, Kuldīga, recognised in 2023 as a UNESCO world heritage site, with Europe's widest waterfall, and Cēsis with its medieval castle ruins are just some of the various sights.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Old town of Kuldīga
Struve Geodetic Arc
Vecrīga

Upcoming public holidays

November 18, 2026Latvijas Republikas Proklamēšanas diena

December 24, 2026Ziemassvētku vakars

December 25, 2026Pirmie Ziemassvētki

Full source list on About.