Postal service has an important role in the efficient operation of other sectors of the economy, as, despite technological progress, the postal network remains the largest and densest in the world. The role of postal services is very important, not only in the field of information exchange, but also to maintain and ensure social unity.
The Ministry of Transport develops, organizes and co-ordinates the implementation of the postal sector policy and represents the interests of the State in international organizations of the postal sector.
Conformity with the laws and regulations in the postal sector is supervised by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
A merchant has the right to provide postal services in Latvia after registration in the register of postal operators. At the end of January 2023 there are 62 postal service providers in Latvia registered by PUC.
Universal postal service is the minimum of postal services of specific quality available to all users throughout the territory of Latvia regardless of the geographical location. The following services included in the universal postal service:
- the collection, sorting, carriage and delivery of such inland and cross-border letter-post items (including registered and insured items), the weight of which does not exceed two kilograms.
- the collection, sorting, carriage and delivery of such inland and cross-border postal parcel items (including insured items), the weight of which does not exceed 10 kilograms.
- the collection, sorting, carriage and delivery of such cross-border postal parcel items (including insured items), which are received from other states of the European Union and the weight of which does not exceed 20 kilograms.
- the delivery services of the subscribed press publications.
State owned postal incumbent operator “Latvijas Pasts” has the obligation to provide universal service in the territory of Latvia until December 31, 2026.