International students

All RGSL programmes lead to a recognised and competitive law degree. Upon successful graduation of studies, RGSL graduates are awarded the following degrees:
-    Bachelor of social science in law (LL.B.)
-    Master of social science in law (LL.M.)

Regular admission
In order to apply for studies, all applicants must complete the online application form and attach the required documents. The online application form can be found here: http://apply.rgsl.edu.lv/. You can read more about application process and requirements in each programme are available here.

The admission deadline for the academic year 2025/2026 is 21 July 2024.

The admission deadline for non-EU countries' applicants is 30 April 2025. Citizens of countries with a visa waiver with Latvia, can submit their applications no later than 21 July 2024. The list of countries you can see here.

At RGSL, the study process takes place exclusively in English. Therefore, the English proficiency requirement cannot be waived.

Early admission 
Prospective students can apply early and receive a 10% study fee waiver for the first year of studies. The early admission deadline for the 2025/2026 academic year is 14 April 2025. 

Admission processing fee
We require a 100 EUR processing fee to process study applications from students outside the European Union, European Economic Area, and Swiss Confederation.

The processing fee invoice is automatically generated once you have started the online application process. 

Legalisation of education documents or authentication with an Apostille for non-EU/EEA countries 

Educational documents such as diplomas and transcript of records issued in countries other than the European Union, European Economic Area and Swiss Confederation, must be legalized or authenticated with an Apostille (i.e. authenticity of the document must be certfied). Please, visit the homepage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia to obtain the most recent instruction on the legalisation of documents.
 

For transfer students
RGSL welcomes students from other universities. Admission and recognition of the course work already performed at other universities will be done on an individual basis, so as to facilitate the transition into the RGSL programmes.

Please, contact Study Department to assist you with the transfer process:
Bachelor programmes – Katrīna Daugule katrina.daugule@rgsl.edu.lv
Masters programmes – Daina Račinska daina.racinska@rgsl.edu.lv

RGSL does not have its own dormitory; however, accommodation can be arranged at dormitories of other institutions. Depending on the institution and the number of inhabitants in a room, the costs can vary between 50 EUR to 150 EUR per month.  RGSL will send you information on different accommodation possibilities shortly after receiving your admission results.

In many cases international students prefer to rent apartments together in groups of two or three. Rough estimated cost in Riga: housing: 150–350 EUR per month; living expenses: 250 EUR per month. RGSL can assist you with more detailed information on housing options in Riga and put you in contact with other students from your country.

The information provided below is of a general nature. We suggest students to consult a Latvian diplomatic mission for detailed information pertaining to their particular cases.

The legal requirements for studying in Latvia
In order to study in Latvia, all international students must obtain a temporary residence permit. Detailed information on temporary residence permits can be found at the homepage of the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs

Application process for the temporary residence permit

If you are a citizen of a country that has a visa-free regime with Latvia, you can enter in Latvia without a visa and stay up to 90 days. Apply for the temporary residence permit at the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga. The list of countries whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Latvia can be found here 

If you are a citizen of a country that doesn’t have a visa-free regime with Latvia:

1. Bachelors - you must obtain the temporary residence permit before arriving in Latvia by applying via a Latvian diplomatic mission.
2. Masters - you may enter Latvia with short term (90 days) visa and apply for a residence permit after arrival in Latvia

Procedure for obtaining the temporary residence permit

Student signs the study agreement and pays tuition fee for the first semester of studies.

After receiving the payment, RGSL submits an invitation for the student at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

Bachelor students

The invitation is approved within two working days, and the student can visit the diplomatic mission of Latvia in his/her country to submit the required documents. If there is no Latvian diplomatic mission in the student’s country of residence, the documents must be submitted at the diplomatic mission of a country which is competent to deal with Latvian consular issues. The list of diplomatic missions is available here.

The student at the diplomatic mission of Latvia personally presents a valid passport and submits the following documents:

• a definite sample form for a residence permit request (http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/residence-permits/doc2/studies2.html);
• a photograph;
• a document confirming the necessary subsistence (for students, at least  500 EUR per month; for the one academic year period). Confirmation document can be issued by the bank stating students bank account balance;
• a document confirming the envisaged place of residence in the Republic of Latvia and the rights to stay there; your potential dormitory/landlord should submit this document at the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga;
• a statement on punishability issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country, if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months (has to be legalized);
• a document confirming the state duty payment (for Bachelors examination of documents within 30 days - 100 EUR, within 10 working days - 200 EUR, within 5 working days - 400 EUR, Masters are released from the State duty payment, if they submit documents 45 days before their visa expires) an agreement on studies in the Republic of Latvia; RGSL will submit the study agreement, signed by RGSL representative, at the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs in Riga;
• documents confirming that you have acquired the necessary education to start the studies (has to be legalized, if required.

Upon receipt of the temporary residence permit, the student presents:

• a valid health insurance policy for a year;
• a health certificate issued by a Latvian healthcare institution stating that you do not suffer from tuberculosis in active phase.
   

Masters students

The invitation is approved within two working days, and the student can visit the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs to submit documents.

At the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs the student personally presents a valid passport and submits the following documents:

• a definite sample form for a residence permit request (http://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/home/services/residence-permits/doc1/studies.html);
• a photograph;
• a document confirming the necessary subsistence (for students, at least 500 EUR per month; for the one academic year period ). Confirmation document can be issued by the bank stating students bank account balance;
• a document confirming the envisaged place of residence in the Republic of Latvia and the rights to stay there. Dormitory/landlord provides students with this document;
• masters are released from the State duty payment, if they submit documents 45 days before their visa expires;
• a study agreement on studies in the Republic of Latvia;
• documents confirming that the student has acquired the necessary education to start the studies (have to be legalized, if required).

Upon receipt of the temporary residence permit, the student presents:

• a valid health insurance policy for a year;
• a health certificate issued by a Latvian health care institution stating that (s)he doesn’t suffer from tuberculosis in active phase.
   

The embassy in charge of Latvian residence permits is the Latvian embassy that is also authorized to issue long-term Latvian visas for citizens of your country.

The temporary residence permit grants Bachelors the right to work for 20 hours per month Masters in their second year or one-year programme students are allowed to work without any restrictions. 

In order to receive the residence permit, you will have to form a health insurance at least for one year.

Here are some of the insurance companies that can provide such services:

Agga  (particularly designed for persons who are applying for residence permits);
BTA;
Gjensidige;
Seesam;

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (for EU, European Economic Area countries and Switzerland Confederation citizens) confirms the rights of citizens to receive state-funded emergency and necessary healthcare services to the same extent that it has secured the country's population.