Document Recognition for Latvia: The AIC Statement on Your School Diploma
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
If you apply to a Latvian institution with a school-leaving certificate from abroad, it will be assessed by the Academic Information Centre (AIC), Latvia's ENIC-NARIC centre. The AIC issues a statement, and the institution decides on your admission using it. This guide explains how that works and what you need to prepare.
Who decides
- The AIC compares your foreign qualification with the Latvian education system and issues a statement saying which Latvian certificate or degree it corresponds to, where that is possible.
- The institution then decides whether your certificate gives access to its programme. For admission to higher education, the AIC says, the decision is made by the higher education institution, based on the AIC statement.
The University of Latvia, for example, makes its admission decision on the basis of the AIC statement, and reserves the right to end your application if the AIC does not issue a positive one.
The institution also converts the grades on your certificate for its ranking, because applicants with a Latvian certificate are ranked on centralised exam results.
Who applies to the AIC
The AIC accepts applications from the document owner and from education institutions. Often the institution organises it as part of the admission: at the University of Latvia, you upload your documents with your application and they are passed to the AIC. Follow your institution's instructions so you do not pay twice.
If you apply yourself, you can send the application to the AIC in person, by email signed with a secure electronic signature, through its official e-address or through the latvija.gov.lv portal.
Fee and timing
| Item | Amount or time |
|---|---|
| AIC fee for academic recognition | €54.60 |
| Usual time for the statement | within one month |
| Longest time if more information is needed | up to four months |
The fee is set by a Cabinet regulation. At the University of Latvia it is listed among the payments in the application form, next to the €170 application fee. The statement is issued as an electronic document, and your qualification is entered in the register of education documents issued abroad.
Because the procedure can take up to four months, apply to your institution early, especially if you also need a residence permit.
What you send
The AIC asks for:
- an application form
- a copy of your passport or ID card
- a copy of your school-leaving certificate and its transcript or supplement
- a copy of a name-change document, if the names on your documents differ
Copies must be legible, made from the originals and show the whole document. Institutions add their own rules. The University of Latvia asks for the certificate in the original language together with a notarised English copy.
Translations
The AIC may ask for translations into Latvian or another official EU language. Your institution may also ask for an English translation. Use an official or sworn translation, never your own. See sworn translation of documents.
Legalisation and apostille
The AIC may ask for documents to be legalised under Latvia's Document Legalisation Law, and residence permit applications need legalised education documents. For a certificate from a country in the Hague Apostille Convention this means an apostille; for other countries, consular legalisation. Ask your institution what it needs for your country before you start. See apostille and legalisation of documents.
If the answer is negative
The decision on recognition can be contested under Latvia's Administrative Procedure Law. If your certificate does not give access to higher education in the country where it was issued, a preparatory or foundation year may be the way in; see Studienkolleg and foundation years in Europe.
Step by step
- Check that your school-leaving certificate gives access to university in the country where it was issued.
- Read each institution's document rules for your country.
- Order official translations and an apostille or legalisation early.
- Apply to the institution and pay the AIC fee as instructed.
- Wait for the statement and the admission decision, then apply for the residence permit. See student visa for Latvia.
Where to look next
- How to get into a university in Latvia
- How much it costs to study in Latvia
- Student visa for Latvia
- Student housing in Latvia
- All programmes in Latvia
Official sources
- AIC: Academic recognition of foreign education documents: Academic Information Centre
- University of Latvia: Recognition of foreign diplomas
- University of Latvia: Degree studies: documents for international applicants
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.