Profile

Latvia

Residency route coverage

Residency route coverage
Route familyRoutesCoverage
InvestmentRoutes recorded
Three active grounds under Immigration Law Section 23(1) – share capital (clause 28), real estate (clause 29) and subordinated liabilities with a Latvian credit institution (clause 30) – plus one closed ground, the special-purpose zero-interest government securities route at clause 31, deleted with effect from 20 May 2026. All three active grounds carry a mandatory payment into the State budget on the first permit.
Remote workRoutes recorded
One instrument, and it is a visa rather than a residence permit: the long-stay visa for remote work under Immigration Law Section 11(5), whose conditions sit in Cabinet Regulation No. 676. No remote-work residence permit exists in Section 23(1).
Passive incomeRoutes recorded
One ground: clause 26, for a foreigner who may enter and reside in Latvia under an international agreement on the abolition of visa requirements, has sufficient means of subsistence and has reached the retirement age determined in Latvia. Latvia has no separately branded retirement or private-means residence programme; this clause is what a retiree uses.
EntrepreneurRoutes recorded
Latvia's Immigration Law also provides a self-employed-person ground at Section 23(1)(4). This record does not yet cover it, so treat the three grounds above as incomplete for this family.
WorkRoutes recorded
StudyRoutes recorded
Three grounds: full-time study at an accredited higher education institution or college (Section 23(1)(10.1)), basic or secondary education at an accredited institution begun before the age of 18 (clause 10), and pupil or student exchange or the performance of another task (clause 19). Latvia has no separately branded student programme; these clauses are what a student uses.
FamilyRoutes recorded

Country facts

Identity

Identity
Local nameLatvija
ISO codeLVA
RegionEurope
CurrencyEUR as of 2026-08-16[1]
The EU country profile records Latvia's currency as the euro, adopted 1 January 2014. All amounts in the Immigration Law and in the state-fee schedule are stated in euro.
Official languageslv as of 2026-08-16[1]
Latvian is Latvia's official EU language. OCMA publishes parallel English and Russian pages, but English is not an official language and the consolidated law is authoritative in Latvian only.

Memberships

Memberships
Memberships
    • Bloc: EU
    • Member: Yes as of 2026-08-16[1]
    • Since: 2004-05-01 as of 2026-08-16[1]
    • Bloc: EEA
    • Member: Yes as of 2026-08-16[1]
    • Bloc: Schengen
    • Member: Yes as of 2026-08-16[1]
    • Since: 2007-12-21 as of 2026-08-16[1]
    • Bloc: Eurozone
    • Member: Yes as of 2026-08-16[1]
    • Since: 2014-01-01 as of 2026-08-16[1]

Permanent residence

Permanent residence
Qualifying years5 as of 2025-07-24[8]
Language requirementA2 as of 2025-07-24[8]
OCMA states that a person seeking the status must prove proficiency in the state language at least at the A2 level.
Integration requirementYes as of 2025-07-24[8]
Income requirement1 × minimum monthly wage within normal working time per month measured over 12 months as of 2025-07-24[8]
Absence rules
  • maximum consecutive absence · 6 months · to qualify for permanent residence as of 2025-07-24[8]
    Continuity tolerates an absence not exceeding six successive months. Absence is treated as justified where the reasons are beyond the person's control. For a holder of the EU Blue Card the corresponding figures are 12 successive months and 18 months in total, where the absence is for employment or self-employment, voluntary service or studies in the country of origin.
  • maximum total absence · 10 months · to qualify for permanent residence as of 2025-07-24[8]
    Continuity tolerates absences not exceeding ten months altogether across the five-year period.

Citizenship

Citizenship
Years to naturalisation5 as of 2025-10-17[10]
of which on permanent residence5 as of 2025-10-17[10]
OCMA states the five years as time on permanent status: citizens of the EU, EEA states and Switzerland hold a permanent residence permit of a Union citizen for five years, and citizens of other countries hold a permanent residence permit in Latvia for five years. The five naturalisation years and the five permanent-status years are therefore the same five years, not consecutive requirements.
Dual citizenshipNot established from a qualifying source
Language requirementrequired, level unspecified as of 2025-10-17[10]
OCMA states the condition as 'a person knows Latvian' and offers a self-check tool for Latvian language skills; no CEFR level is stated on the page, so no level is asserted.
Citizenship test requiredYes as of 2025-10-17[10]
Knowledge of the text of the national anthem, the basics of the history and culture of Latvia and the basic principles of the Constitution is a naturalisation condition alongside the language requirement. OCMA also names a legal source of maintenance as a condition, and lists exclusions under Citizenship Law Section 11.

Tax

Tax
Tax-residency day threshold183 as of 2026-05-20[7]
Law On Taxes and Fees Section 14(2)(2): a natural person is treated as a resident if the person stays in Latvia 183 days or longer in any 12-month period that begins or ends in the taxation year. Section 14(3) adds the entry and exit conventions for the year in which residence starts or ends.
Other tax-residency triggersregistered residence as of 2026-05-20[7]
Headline income tax rate33% as of 2025-12-30[12]
Income tax structureprogressive as of 2025-12-30[12]
Two bands on the main scale with a boundary at EUR 105 300 of annual income, plus the 3 per cent additional rate above EUR 200 000. Capital income, including dividends and interest, is taxed at 25.5 per cent.
Net-wealth taxNot established from a qualifying source[7]
No Tier-1 statement on the existence or absence of a recurring net-wealth tax was retrieved. Section 8 of the Law On Taxes and Fees enumerates the state taxes of Latvia and contains no net-wealth tax; it does contain a recurring immovable property tax. An absence from an enumeration is not a sourced statement, and the sweep has treated ee and hr the same way. Candidate for a hand-close at the S5 boundary.
Inheritance or estate taxNot established from a qualifying source[7]
Same treatment as wealth_tax: Section 8's enumeration of state taxes contains no standalone inheritance or estate tax, but the enumeration is not a statement that none exists.

Family inclusion (country rule)

Family inclusion (country rule)
Family inclusion (country rule)
  • Family members may be included: Yes as of 2026-05-20[4]
    Immigration Law Section 23(4): in the cases named in Section 23(1) the foreigner's spouse, the minor children (including children under guardianship) of the foreigner or of the spouse, and persons under trusteeship, are likewise entitled to request a temporary residence permit for the term of the permit issued to the foreigner. A child who was a minor when the permit was requested falls under Section 29 on reaching majority.
  • Eligible relations: spouse, minor child, other dependent as of 2026-05-20[4]
    Recorded from Section 23(4). 'Other_dependent' carries aizgadniba – persons under trusteeship – which the vocabulary has no closer value for; children under guardianship are recorded inside minor_child, as the statute groups them there.
  • Family may apply at the same time: Not established from a qualifying source
  • Family members' work rights: Not established from a qualifying source
  • Additional means per family member:
      • Relation: minor child
      • Amount: EUR 234 per month as of 2026-04-01[9]
        Necessary subsistence for a minor child, from 1 April 2026, under Cabinet Regulation No. 225 as published by OCMA.
      • Relation: spouse
      • Amount: EUR 780 per month as of 2026-04-01[5][9]
        OCMA states that family members of a principal applicant under sub-paragraphs 11.1 to 11.7 of Cabinet Regulation No. 225 prove subsistence under sub-paragraph 11.7 or paragraph 12 of that regulation. Sub-paragraph 11.7 is the residual rule and sets the amount at the minimum monthly wage, EUR 780 from 1 January 2026; paragraph 13.4 carries it across to the spouse. The figure for a minor child, EUR 234, is 30 per cent of the same base.

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Reference figures

Reference figures
minimum monthly wage within normal working time
  • Local name: minimālā mēneša darba alga normālā darba laika ietvaros
  • Amount: EUR 780 per month as of 2026-01-01[6][11]
    Cabinet Regulation No. 656 paragraph 2, in the wording of Cabinet Regulation No. 680 of 19 November 2025: the minimum monthly wage within normal working time is EUR 780. The State Labour Inspectorate states that this applies from 1 January 2026 and replaced EUR 740.
  • Period: month
  • Reset: annual
  • Officially published figure: Yes
average gross monthly work remuneration of working persons, previous year
  • Local name: strādājošo mēneša vidējā bruto darba samaksa iepriekšējā gadā
  • Amount: EUR 1,815 per month as of 2026-04-01[9]
  • Period: month
  • Reset: annual
  • Officially published figure: Yes
average monthly old-age pension disbursed, previous year
  • Local name: iepriekšējā gadā mēnesī izmaksātās vecuma pensijas vidējais apmērs
  • Amount: Not established from a qualifying source[9]
  • Period: month
  • Reset: annual
  • Officially published figure: No

Changes

Recent changes

Recent changes
2026-05-20Immigration Law Section 23(1)(31), the temporary residence permit for a foreigner who purchased special-purpose zero-interest government securities, was deleted by the amending law of 23 April 2026 (Latvijas Vestnesis 85, 6 May 2026), in force 20 May 2026. The amending law adds no transitional provision for holders of permits issued on that ground.
Affects: Temporary residence permit for a foreigner who has purchased special-purpose zero-interest government securities[2][4]
2026-05-20The same amending law narrowed the start-up ground at Section 23(1)(33) to citizens of OECD member states, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco and San Marino, and added transitional provision 75, under which a foreigner already holding a permit on that ground who is not such a citizen may continue to reside in Latvia and register the permit until the residence rights granted expire.
Affects: Temporary residence permit for start-up activity[2][4]
2026-04-29A single-item amending law of 26 March 2026 (Latvijas Vestnesis 72, 15 April 2026) added Section 35(1)(36) to the Immigration Law: a residence permit is refused where competent state authorities assess that the foreigner threatens public order and security, including by systematically committing administrative offences – three or more times in a 12-month period.
Affects: country-core[3][4]
2026-04-01The subsistence amounts required for residence permits, set by Cabinet Regulation No. 225 as multiples of national reference figures, took new values: EUR 3 630 a month for the commercial grounds at Section 23(1) clauses 2, 3 and 4, EUR 2 340 for the real-estate ground at clause 29, EUR 1 231 for the retirement-age ground at clause 26, EUR 780 in the residual cases and EUR 234 for a minor child.
Affects: country-core, Temporary residence permit for a foreigner who has invested in the share capital of a company, Temporary residence permit for a foreigner who has purchased and owns real estate in Latvia, Temporary residence permit for a foreigner holding subordinated liabilities with a Latvian credit institution, Temporary residence permit for an individual merchant registered in the commercial register, Temporary residence permit for a registered board or council member, procurist or other authorised representative of a company, Temporary residence permit for start-up activity, Temporary residence permit for a foreigner who has reached the retirement age determined in Latvia[9]
2026-01-01The minimum monthly wage within normal working time rose from EUR 740 to EUR 780, by Cabinet Regulation No. 680 of 19 November 2025 amending Cabinet Regulation No. 656. Several residence thresholds are defined as multiples of it.
Affects: country-core, lv-minimala-alga[6][11]
2026-05-20The amending law of 23 April 2026 (Latvijas Vestnesis 85, 6 May 2026), in force 20 May 2026, restated Immigration Law Section 23(1)(17): alongside the guardianship and trusteeship limbs, the parent of a minor Latvian citizen or non-citizen may now request a temporary residence permit where the minor has no other guardian in Latvia carrying out day-to-day care, or where the parent can prove regular personal relations and direct contact with the minor.
Affects: Temporary residence permit where guardianship or trusteeship is established[2][4]
2026-05-20The same amending law restated Immigration Law Section 24(3): the five-year continuous-residence condition for a permanent residence permit under Section 24(1)(7) does not apply to a foreigner who held a temporary residence permit for learning or studies under Section 23(1)(10) or (10.1), among other categories. Time held on those study permits does not build the permanent-residence qualification.
Affects: Temporary residence permit for a full-time student at an accredited higher education institution or college, Temporary residence permit for basic or secondary education at an accredited educational institution[2][4]
2026-05-20The same amending law restated Immigration Law Section 32, which sets out where documents for a residence permit may be filed, and amended Section 33 to give a 14-day period to remedy deficiencies in a submitted application, with refusal if they are not remedied, and to require the permit to be prepared within two working days on the foreigner's request.
Affects: Temporary residence permit for employment, EU Blue Card, Temporary residence permit for an intra-corporate transferee employed as a manager or specialist, Temporary residence permit for an intra-corporate transferee trainee, Temporary residence permit for a representative of a foreign merchant’s representation, Temporary residence permit for a representative of a foreign airline’s representation registered in Latvia, Temporary residence permit for a researcher under a scientific cooperation agreement, Temporary residence permit for a trainee, Nine-month residence permit after completing studies or a research project, Temporary residence permit for religious activity, Temporary residence permit for providing assistance to state or municipal institutions, Temporary residence permit for a full-time student at an accredited higher education institution or college, Temporary residence permit for basic or secondary education at an accredited educational institution, Temporary residence permit for pupil or student exchange or the performance of another task, Residence permit for the spouse of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen, Residence permit for the spouse of a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit, Residence permit for the retirement-age parents of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen, Residence permit for a foreigner who was a Latvian citizen on 17 June 1940, or one of whose parents is a Latvian citizen, Temporary residence permit for a foreigner one of whose direct-line ascendants is a Latvian or a Livonian, Temporary residence permit where guardianship or trusteeship is established, Temporary residence permit for a relative of a Latvian citizen, non-citizen or permanent-resident foreigner, Long-stay visa for remote work[2][4]

Verification

Verification
Sources cited12
of which official (tier 1)12
Oldest as-of date2025-07-24
Newest as-of date2026-08-16
Reviewed on2026-08-22
Schema version1.1

Sources

  1. [1] Latvia – EU country
    European Union (Directorate-General for Communication) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  2. [2] Grozījumi Imigrācijas likumā (amending law of 23 April 2026)
    Saeima / Latvijas Vēstnesis · gazette · Tier 1 · Published 2026-05-06 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  3. [3] Grozījums Imigrācijas likumā (amending law of 26 March 2026)
    Saeima / Latvijas Vēstnesis · gazette · Tier 1 · Published 2026-04-15 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  4. [4] Imigrācijas likums (Immigration Law), consolidated text in force from 20 May 2026
    Saeima / Latvijas Vēstnesis (likumi.lv consolidated-law service) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  5. [5] Ministru kabineta noteikumi Nr. 225 "Noteikumi par arzemniekam nepieciesamo finansu lidzeklu apmeru un finansu lidzeklu esibas konstatesanu"
    Ministru kabinets / Latvijas Vestnesis (likumi.lv) · statute · Tier 1 · Published 2024-02-08 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  6. [6] Ministru kabineta noteikumi Nr. 656 par minimālās mēneša darba algas apmēru normālā darba laika ietvaros un minimālās stundas tarifa likmes aprēķināšanu
    Ministru kabinets / Latvijas Vēstnesis (likumi.lv consolidated-law service) · statute · Tier 1 · Published 2015-11-26 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  7. [7] Par nodokļiem un nodevām (Law On Taxes and Fees), consolidated text
    Saeima / Latvijas Vēstnesis (likumi.lv consolidated-law service) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  8. [8] The long-term resident status of the European Community in Latvia
    Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) · official portal · Tier 1 · Published 2025-07-24 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  9. [9] The necessary subsistence
    Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) · official guidance · Tier 1 · Published 2026-03-16 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  10. [10] Naturalisation
    Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) · official portal · Tier 1 · Published 2025-10-17 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  11. [11] No 01.01.2026. minimālā darba alga – 780 euro
    State Labour Inspectorate of Latvia (Valsts darba inspekcija) · official portal · Tier 1 · Published 2025-12-22 · Accessed 2026-08-16
  12. [12] Personal Income Tax rates
    State Revenue Service of the Republic of Latvia (VID) · official guidance · Tier 1 · Published 2025-12-30 · Accessed 2026-08-16

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