Money

Credit Cards
Latvia is one of those countries in which cash is in wide circulation that is approximately 30% of the active money.
The most commonly used credit cards for paying in Latvian hotels, restaurants, cafes and supermarkets are EUROCARD, MASTERCARD, VISA, JCB, DINER'S CLUB, AMERICAN EXPRESS, EUROCHEQUE, stored-value cards issued by Latvian banks, as well as you can use services of the national banks for withdrawing money from your account, or you can withdraw money from cash machines (ATMs).

Travel Cheques
You can also use American Express® or Thomas Cook® Travel Cheques. It is widely known that Travel Cheques are a safe and easy way to protect not only your travel money but also your passport and credit/debit cards.
You can exchange your Travel Cheques for cash or use them as a means of payment in any convertible currency all over the world. American Express® and Thomas Cook® are the most widespread Travel Cheques.

Tax-free
Entering or leaving Latvia from non-EU countries, individuals can bring in goods for private use without paying VAT and not paying duty tax for goods purchased at tax-free or duty-free shops.
Tax reclaimed on goods bought at tax-free shops in Latvia (marked with the respective stickers) is available in the customs zone at the airport (through passport control) as well as at several customs points in the country itself. If the purchased goods at the same shop exceed LVL 29.50, the returned tax is 12% of the total value.
When making purchases, you should show an identification document and complete the Global Refund receipt. The receipt has to be stamped at the customs zone by showing these goods unused. Traveling by train, ship or crossing the border where no tax refund is available, the receipt stamped by a customs officer should be posted to Global Refund Latvia, providing bank details. Tax refunds can be received within a three-month period.
Global Refund Latvia
Tirgonu Str.11, Riga
Tel/Fax: +371 7212590
E-mail: taxfree@lv.globalrefund.com, Website: www.taxfree.lv