Agreement Between

The Government Of The Republic Of Latvia

And The Republic Of Malta On Mutual Abolishment Of Visa Requirements

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Malta, hereinafter referred to as Contracting Parties, led by the desire to facilitate the mutual travel of their citizens and this to promote the development of the friendly relations between the two countries, have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The citizens of one of the Contracting Parties holding valid passports or other documents for traveling abroad may enter without visa through all border check-up points opened for international passenger traffic into the territory of the other Contracting Party and stay there up to ninety days during one calendar year and leave its territory without special permission.

Article 2

The citizens of one of the Contracting Parties entering the territory of the other Contracting Party for more than ninety days or to exercise labour activities should possess valid permissions and visas of the receiving Contracting Party.

Article 3

1. The citizens of the two Contracting Parties holding valid diplomatic or service passports who are members of the staff of the diplomatic mission or consular representation of one of the Contracting Parties on the territory of the other Contracting Party or who are representatives of one of the Contracting Party in an international organization, the office of which is situated on the territory of the other Contracting Party, may enter and stay on the territory of the receiving Contracting Party and leave it without visas for the term of fulfillment of their official duties.

2. The members of the families residing together with the persons mentioned in Paragraph 1 of this Article and holding diplomatic or service passports may enter, stay on the territory of the receiving Contracting Party and leave it without visas during their official stay.

Article 4

The citizens of one of the Contracting Parties are obliged to observe the laws and the rules of the other Contracting Party during their stay in its territory.

Article 5

Each Contracting party shall reserve its right to refuse the entry or to terminate the term of stay on its territory of citizens of the other Contracting Party whom it considers undesirable or unacceptable without being obliged to give any reasons for it.

Article 6

1. Each of the Contracting Party undertakes to readmit into its territory, at all times without formalities, all its citizens who had already entered the territory of the other Contracting Party in accordance with this Agreement.

2. At the request of the immigration authorities of either Contracting Party, the other Contracting Party undertakes to readmit into its territory citizens of third countries who have entered illegally from its territory into the territory of the requesting Contracting Party or otherwise have been rejected by the letter.

Article 7

1. The citizens of one of the Contracting Parties, whose documents for traveling abroad have been lost, damaged or stolen on the territory of the other Contracting Party, will be obliged to report it immediately to the competent authorities of the receiving Contracting Party, which shall issue them a free of charge document, certifying the report of this fact.

2. In the cases of the foregoing paragraph of this Article, the relevant diplomatic mission or consular representation shall provide their citizens with new documents for traveling abroad which they can use when leaving the country.

Article 8

1. The Contracting Parties shall exchange each other samples of the National documents for traveling abroad through diplomatic channels not later than thirty days before the entry into force of this Agreement.

2. In case of any change in the documents for traveling abroad or some introduction of new kinds of documents for traveling abroad, each Contracting Party shall provide the other Contracting Party with the new samples, together with all necessary data for the validity of these documents, through diplomatic channel but not later than thirty days before the date of their introduction.

Article 9

The Contracting Parties will inform each other in the shortest term about any changes in their legislation related to the conditions for entry, stay and departure.

Article 10

1. Each Contracting party may with a view to preserve its national security, public health or due to some other important reasons suspend entirely or party the effect of this Agreement, excluding Article 6 of the latter.

2. Each Contracting Party shall immediately notify the other Contracting Party through diplomatic channels for the introduction or the withdrawal of such measures. These measures shall enter into force after the notification has been presented.

Article 11

Each of the Contracting Parties may propose amendments and supplements to this Agreement. They shall enter into force after the two Contracting Parties express their consent through exchange of diplomatic notes.

Article 12

This Agreement is subject to the approval in conformity with the national legislation of the two Contracting Parties and shall enter into force ninety days after the date of the receipt of the second diplomatic note with which the Contracting Parties shall inform each other about its approval.

Article 13

1. This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time.

2. Each of the Contracting Parties may denounce its effect.

3. This Agreement shall cease its force after the expiration of ninety days from the date of the presentation of the written notification for its denunciation to the other Contracting Party through diplomatic channels.

Done at Bonn on April 15 1998 in two original copies in Latvian and English languages the both texts being authentic. In case of different interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT

OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALTA

ANDRIS TEIKMANIS CHARLES J.AQUILINA

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY

AND PLENIPOTENTIARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY