Latvia to ban regular bus service to Russia and Belarus from January 2027

Latvia's Transport Ministry has drafted legislative amendments, now submitted for government review, that would prohibit regular bus service to Russia and Belarus, including routes that pass through those countries in transit. The plan was reported by the Latvian news outlet Delfi.

At present, a single regular bus route connects Latvia and Russia, run daily by the company Norma-A under the Ecolines brand. Its operating permit expires on January 9, 2027, and authorities do not intend to renew it.

Separately, Latvia has banned irregular bus passenger transport to Russia and Belarus since November 1, 2025. That measure is set to expire on October 31, 2026, but officials intend to extend it for another year.

Limited practical impact acknowledged

The Transport Ministry has conceded that banning regular routes would have only a modest real-world effect, since travelers could still reach Russia or Belarus via connecting services through Estonia or Lithuania, or by using minibus operators not covered by the bus-transport rules.

The ministry said it would keep weighing security considerations alongside economic and international obligations, aiming for a coordinated decision among the Baltic states and the European Union. Latvian officials have repeatedly urged citizens to avoid travel to Russia and Belarus, and the State Security Service has warned of recruitment risks associated with such trips.

When news of a possible ban on the Latvia-Russia bus route first surfaced in May 2026, carrier Ecolines estimated it would suffer direct losses of roughly four million euros a year, plus an additional two million euros annually from its bus fleet sitting idle.

Regular bus routes remain among the most affordable ways for travelers from Europe to reach Russia and Belarus, though passengers frequently face lengthy waits at the border, partly due to checks carried out by Russian security services.