Customs Clearance at Riga Airport (RIX)

To clear customs at Riga Airport (RIX) you need an import declaration lodged electronically in the VID (Latvian State Revenue Service) EDS system, together with the Air Waybill (AWB), commercial invoice, packing list and your EORI number. When the documents are in order, customs typically releases the cargo the same working day — often within 2–4 hours. A licensed customs broker such as Unicore can file the entire declaration for you and clear a routine air shipment within hours, while also covering cargo handling at the airport terminal and final delivery to your door.

This guide covers commercial cargo and courier shipments arriving by air freight at Riga Airport from outside the EU — China, the USA, the UK, Turkey and other third countries.

Step-by-Step Clearance Process at RIX

1. Cargo arrives at RIX. The aircraft lands and the cargo is unloaded into the cargo handler's terminal (licensed terminal operators handle freight at Riga Airport).
2. Arrival notice. The carrier or handler sends an arrival notice to the consignee or their broker, quoting the AWB number and storage location.
3. Temporary storage. The cargo sits in temporary storage under customs supervision. The first days are usually free; daily storage fees apply after that.
4. Import declaration in VID EDS. The broker (or you) lodges the import declaration electronically in the VID EDS system: HS code, customs value, country of origin, duty/VAT calculation.
5. Duty/VAT payment or deferment. Duty and VAT are paid immediately or deferred — via a deferred payment authorisation or postponed VAT accounting for VAT-registered importers.
6. Customs release. The VID system grants release (or routes the shipment to a documentary or physical inspection). Standard declarations without inspection are released within hours.
7. Pickup or delivery. Once released, the cargo can be collected from the terminal — by you, or via broker-arranged delivery to your warehouse anywhere in Latvia.

Documents Checklist

No EORI number yet? See our guide on what an EORI number is and how to get one in Latvia — registration is free and usually takes 1–2 working days.

Import Tax Explained: How It Is Calculated

When importing goods to Latvia by air you pay two taxes: customs duty (the rate depends on the TARIC code of the goods — many goods are 0%, typical range 0–17%) and import VAT of 21%. Both are calculated on the customs value: goods price + freight + insurance to the EU border. VAT is applied to the amount that already includes the customs duty.

Worked Example: €1,000 Goods Value Air Shipment

• Below €150 intrinsic goods value there is no customs duty — but import VAT of 21% applies from €0 (since July 2021; for e-commerce the IOSS scheme lets the seller collect VAT at checkout).
• Gifts between private individuals are exempt from duty and VAT up to €45.
• VAT-registered Latvian businesses normally reclaim import VAT through their VAT return — the real cost to the business is only the customs duty.

For the full calculation methodology with more examples, see our guide on how to calculate customs duties and VAT for an international shipment.

Costs of Customs Clearance

Customs duty and VAT come on top of these amounts and go to the state — the broker only calculates and administers them. For a standard single-HS-code shipment, total broker charges rarely exceed €80.

How Long Does Clearance Take?

With complete documents, a standard import declaration at Riga Airport is released the same working day — often within 2–4 hours of lodging in EDS. The most common causes of delay are:

• Missing EORI number — the business has not registered before the cargo arrives (registration takes 1–2 working days).
• Vague goods description on the invoice (e.g. “samples” or “parts”) — customs requests clarification to determine the HS code.
• Valuation questions — if the price looks implausibly low, customs may ask for proof of payment or set the value from its own data.
• Licence-controlled goods — food, plant/animal products, medical devices and dual-use items require extra permits and inspections.

Private Individuals vs Businesses

Private individuals can clear personal parcels (purchases, gifts, and personal belongings when moving) without an EORI number, using a simplified declaration in EDS or a broker. When relocating, used personal effects can be imported tax-free if the change-of-residence conditions are met. Businesses must have an EORI number for any commercial import declaration — without it the cargo cannot be released. Regular importers should consider postponed VAT accounting and a deferred payment authorisation to improve cash flow.

Importing from China? See also our detailed guide on customs documents and import formalities from China.

How Unicore Helps

Unicore Overseas is a licensed customs broker and freight forwarder in Riga with 20+ years of experience. We lodge the import declaration in the VID EDS system, classify HS codes, calculate the taxes and clear a standard air shipment at Riga Airport the same day. Because we also provide air cargo handling at the RIX terminal, the whole chain — from arrival notice to delivery at your door — stays in one pair of hands. We prepare a quote within 30 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does customs clearance take at Riga Airport?

If the documents are complete and correct, customs clearance at Riga Airport (RIX) is usually completed the same working day — often within 2–4 hours of the declaration being lodged in the VID EDS system. Delays happen when the EORI number is missing, the goods description is vague, customs questions the declared value, or the goods require licences or certificates.

How much import tax do I pay when importing goods by air to Latvia?

You pay customs duty (0–17% depending on the TARIC code, many goods are 0%) plus Latvian import VAT of 21%. Both are calculated on the customs value = goods price + freight + insurance. Example: €1,000 goods with €200 freight at a 4.7% duty rate pays €56.40 duty and €264.84 VAT — €321.24 in total. VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim the VAT.

Can I clear customs at Riga Airport myself?

Yes — any person or company can lodge their own import declaration in the VID EDS system, and an EORI number is required for businesses. In practice most importers use a licensed customs broker: the EDS interface, HS code classification and valuation rules take time to learn, and a single classification error can mean overpaid duty or a customs query that holds the cargo for days. A broker like Unicore typically clears a routine air shipment within hours for €35–€80.

What documents do I need for customs clearance at Riga Airport?

The core set is: the Air Waybill (AWB), a commercial invoice showing the real transaction value, a packing list, and your EORI number (mandatory for businesses). Depending on the goods you may also need a certificate of origin (for preferential duty rates), CE/conformity documentation, or phytosanitary/veterinary certificates for plant and animal products.

Do I pay tax if the shipment is worth less than €150?

You pay no customs duty below €150 intrinsic goods value, but Latvian import VAT of 21% applies from €0 — the old €22 VAT exemption was abolished in July 2021. For e-commerce purchases the seller may charge VAT at checkout under the IOSS scheme, in which case nothing extra is due on arrival. Gifts between private individuals are exempt from both duty and VAT up to €45.