Latvia is a country in Northern Europe. It’s a member of the European Union and Schengen Area. As such, it offers visa-free travel to most EU and Schengen countries.
However, Latvia requires citizens of some countries to obtain a visa prior to travel. These include: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. Citizens of these countries must apply for a visa at a Latvian embassy or consulate before traveling to Latvia.
If you are only visiting Latvia for transit (i.e., not staying more than 90 days), then a tourist visa is generally sufficient. However, if you plan on staying longer than 90 days or intend to work in Latvia, then you will need to apply for a residence permit.
Please note that if you are travelling as part of a group (with at least 5 other people), your visa application will be handled by the immigration authorities on behalf of the individual members of the group instead of through the embassy or consulate.

Yes, it is necessary to print out the visa which you received in your mail. This is so that you can carry it with you when you come to Latvia and have it scanned at the border.

Yes, you have to do this process because your visa will be checked on different platforms and by different officers in paperback form.