Updated 16/03/2025

Country overview

There are no restrictions for people living with HIV on entry and residence in Latvia. Antiretroviral medicines can be brought for personal use with the amount corresponding to the duration of stay. It is advisable to take a letter from your doctor if you have a supply of treatment for more than 6 months. For refugees there are specific rules, i.e. they could be asked for information about health and chronic diseases. But HIV is not a reason for refusal to stay and submit documents.

Labor migrants

Documents required for registration and free ART:

Visa with the right to work (work visa);
Personal code (received at the Citizenship and Migration Office).
Legal employment contract and confirmation that all taxes are paid in the Republic of Latvia.
You must write an application to the National Health Service.
Statement of diagnosis and received treatment (ART) in English from the country of residence.

Refugees

There is a mechanism in Latvia for refugees to receive ART. It is necessary to provide a document confirming refugee status, issued by the Latvian refugee center. It is also advisable to bring medical records and prescriptions from a doctor. Alternatively, you can bring empty packages of your treatment to the appointment with a doctor if you don’t have prescriptions.

Access to treatment

HIV medical services are integrated only in some clinics. To register and get ART for free, you must make an appointment at the nearest HIV clinic. The drugs (ART) can be obtained at any pharmacy with an electronic prescription and the patient's identity document. For a list with addresses and contacts, see "How to get to the HIV clinic".

Latvian Center of Infectology

Web site: aslimnica.lv

Address: Hipokrāta iela 2, Vidzemes priekšpilsēta, Rīga, LV-1038

Phone: +371 67000610

Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital

Web site: www.stradini.lv

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: Pilsoņu iela 13, Zemgales priekšpilsēta, Rīga, LV-1002

Phone: +371 67069280

Daugavpils Regional Hospital

Web site: slimnica.daugavpils.lv

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: Viestura iela 5, Daugavpils, LV-5401

Phone: 654 22 419

Liepāja Regional Hospital

Web site: www.liepajasslimnica.lv

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: Slimnīcas iela 25, Liepāja, LV-3414

Phone: +371 63403222

Vidzeme Regional Hospital (Valmiera city)

Web site: vidzemesslimnica.lv

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: Jumaras iela 195, Valmiera

Phone: +371 64202600

Jēkabpils Regional Hospital

Web site: jrslimnica.lv

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: A.Pormaļa iela 125, Jēkabpils LV-5201

Phone: +371 62203333; +371 65237816

Rezekne Hospital

Web site: rslimnica.lv

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: 18. novembra iela 41, Rēzekne, LV-4601

Phone: +371 6 880 50 50

North Kurzeme Regional Hospital (Ventspils city)

Web site: ziemelkurzemesslimnica.lv

Address: Inženieru iela 60, Ventspils, LV – 3601

Phone: +371 636 24665

Treatment for people living with HIV is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, so it is not possible to buy ART treatment on your own without a prescription. However, by contacting a doctor you can get prescriptions for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV and buy the prescribed drugs. For MSM there is currently an active project from the Elton John Foundation providing free PrEP until 2026. This is implemented by the NGO "LGBT and their friends association Mozaīka"

It is possible to buy ART online, from outside the country if there is an urgent need, but you will only be able to order the original branded drugs, (not the generic alternative) which are expensive.

You should seek advice and help from local NGOs if you are left without ART, have difficulties with your insurance, or do not have the proper documents. You can find contacts and addresses in the section "NGOs".