Digital nomad visa

 

If you are self-employed, or an employee of a company registered in a member state of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and have been providing services or working remotely with an income from such activities within the past six months at least EUR 3193 per month, you are eligible to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa. This enables your residence within Latvia – regardless of where your customer or employer is domiciled.

 

A long-term visa may be issued for a term of one year, with a one-year follow up period. At the end of two years you will be unable to apply for another long-term visa on the same grounds during a cooldown period of six months. However, you will be eligible to request a temporary residence permit in one of the following ways.

 

 

Employee visa

 

By concluding an employment agreement with an employer within Latvia you will be entitled to apply for a long-term employee visa, provided that your gross monthly salary is at least EUR 1373 and you have at least three years of experience or education in your intended sphere of employment. Latvian proficiency is required only if your labour obligations entail communicating with consumers that reside in Latvia. In the vast majority of cases, foreign nationals are employed in positions that do not require a knowledge of Latvian.

 

This visa is issued for a term of up to one year and it may be applied for repeatedly upon its expiration.

 

 

Employee TRP

 

By concluding an employment agreement with an employer in Latvia, you will be granted the right to apply for a temporary residence permit, provided that your gross monthly salary is at least EUR 1373 and you have at least three years of experience or education in your intended sphere of employment. Latvian proficiency is required only if your labour obligations entail communicating with consumers that reside in Latvia. In the vast majority of cases, foreign nationals are employed in positions that do not require a knowledge of Latvian.

 

The residence permit is issued for a term of up to five years and it may be applied for repeatedly upon its expiration.

 

 

TRP for highly-qualified specialists

 

If you happen to be a highly-qualified specialist in information technology, natural sciences, manufacturing organisation and monitoring, management of commercial entities, building, electrical engineering, finance, sales, management and maintenance of aircraft or watercraft, or a similar field (the actual list of specialities is rather long), then by concluding an employment agreement with a Latvian employer you will be entitled to apply for an EU Blue Card. In this case your gross monthly salary must be no less than EUR 1648-2060 (it varies by field) and you must have at least five years of experience or education in your intended sphere of employment.

 

Latvian proficiency is required only if your labour obligations entail communicating with consumers that reside in Latvia. In the vast majority of cases, foreign nationals are employed in positions that do not require a knowledge of Latvian.

 

An EU Blue Card is issued for a term of up to five years, and may be applied for repeatedly upon its expiration.

 

An EU Blue Card carries a number of advantages over a residence permit, including access to three months of unemployment benefits in the event of a job loss and the ability to conduct job searches without the risk of losing your legal status within Latvia.

 

 

Executive TRP

 

You may apply for a temporary residence permit if you have taken up the position of executive, member of the council or a commercial representative (proxy holder) at a commercial entity registered in Latvia, or the head of a Latvian branch of a foreign entity, or if you have entered into a commercial partnership/limited partnership. The application requires a gross monthly salary in an executive capacity of no less than EUR 2746. Executives are not required to have proficiency in Latvian, unless you will be personally providing services to consumers resident in Latvia on behalf of the company.

 

An executive is entitled to a residence permit for up to five years with a repeated application available upon its expiration.

 

 

Real estate investment TRP

 

If you are acquiring real estate in Latvia worth at least EUR 250000, you may receive an investment residence permit. The real estate purchase transaction must meet several criteria, including: (a) a cashless settlement, as confirmed by a statement from a credit institution in any country; (b) the composition of the real property may not include agricultural or forestry land; and (c) the seller should be a citizen or registered resident of a European Union member state, or should have the right to reside within Latvia.

 

Upon receiving such a residence permit you must prove the availability of funds for your independent residence in Latvia totalling at least EUR 1860 per month (EUR 22320 annually) and must pay a one-time duty equal to 5% of the value of the real estate.

 

The residence permit includes the right to employment at your discretion.

 

The residence permit is issued for a term of up to five years and may be applied for repeatedly upon its expiration, provided that a fee of EUR 5000 is paid for the reissue of the permit.

 

 

Business investment TRP

 

You may apply for a residence permit in Latvia by investing at least EUR 50000 in a corporation (limited liability company or joint-stock company) and such an investment may be targeted at either a registered or a prospective entity. To receive this kind of residence permit you must pay a one-time duty of EUR 10000.

 

The residence permit includes the right to employment at your discretion.

 

The residence permit is issued for a term of up to five years and may be applied for repeatedly upon its expiration, provided that a fee of EUR 5000 is paid for the reissue of the permit.

 

 

Subordinated loan TRP

 

You may apply for a temporary residence permit in Latvia by concluding a subordinated loan agreement with any credit institution in Latvia for a total of at least EUR 280000 and with a term of at least five years. Credit institutions in Latvia generally offer better rates on subordinated loans compared to other types of investments. In any event, the amount of a subordinated loan is due to be refunded upon its maturity. To receive this kind of residence permit you must pay a one-time duty of EUR 25000.

 

The residence permit includes the right to employment at your discretion.

 

The residence permit is issued for a term of up to five years and may be applied for repeatedly upon its expiration, provided that a fee of EUR 5000 is paid for the reissue of the permit.

 

 

TRP for sovereign bond holders

 

By subscribing to interest-free sovereign bonds worth EUR 250000 you will be given the right to receive for a temporary residence permit if your application is granted. Interest-free sovereign bonds are subject to discharge, with the nominal value refunded, within three months after the expiration of the residence permit. To receive this kind of residence permit you must pay a one-time duty of EUR 38000.

 

The residence permit includes the right to employment at your discretion.

 

The residence permit is issued for a term of up to five years and may be applied for repeatedly upon its expiration.

 

 

TRP for start-up entrepreneurs

 

Latvia grants temporary residence permits to the founders of start-up companies that have a high potential for growth and a scalable business model. The acquisition of a residence permit is subject to the provision of a business idea, as well as a brief activity plan for developing your business over the course of three years. Within 12 months following the receipt of a TRP you must present evidence that your business idea has appealed to investors, by reporting on the origination of seed investments or some other progress in developing your business idea.

 

This kind of residence permit does not entitle you to employment or independent commercial activity beyond the company that is developing your business idea. Latvian proficiency is only required if you must communicate with consumers resident in Latvia in the course of developing your business idea. In the vast majority of cases, foreign nationals in Latvia can develop their business ideas without requiring Latvian language skills.

 

The residence permit is issued for a term of up to three years, after which point you may apply for a residence permit as the head of a company, a highly qualified specialist or an employee.

 

 

TRP for representatives of a foreign merchant

 

You may apply for a temporary residence permit in Latvia if your foreign employer dispatches you to Latvia, provided that the foreign employer has maintained its business activities in the country where it is domiciled for no less than five years, has an annual turnover of at least 10 million euros and maintains staff of at least 50 people. Latvian proficiency is only required if you must communicate with consumers that reside in Latvia as the foreign merchant’s representative.

 

The residence permit is issued for a term of up to two years; for the subsequent two years, you will be unable to apply for a residence permit on the same basis.

 

 

TRP for family members

 

The family members of a citizen or permanent resident of Latvia, or an individual with a temporary or permanent residence permit are also eligible to apply for a temporary residence permit along with the right to employment.

 

 

TRPs on other grounds

 

You and your family members may also apply for temporary residence permits in a number of other, less common cases:

• You perform the functions of representing a foreign airline;

• You are the relative of a permanent resident of Latvia;

• You intend to conduct individual commercial activities, or engage in business activities as a self-employed within Latvia;

• You are being sent to Latvia as an employed specialist or intern within a group of related companies;

• You must reside within Latvia under a scientific cooperation agreement;

• You intend to study in Latvia;

• You require medical treatment in Latvia;

• You are seeking asylum in Latvia;

• You are planning to live in a monastery;

• You require residence within Latvia for religious activities;

• You require residence within Latvia in connection with parental custody or a guardianship;

• Your residence within Latvia is intended to take place under a student exchange programme;

• You require residence within Latvia due to proceedings for the dissolution of marriage and the establishment of a residence for a child;

• Your residence within Latvia is a prerequisite for finalising criminal proceedings;

• You are the permanent resident of another European Union member state and desire to reside within Latvia;

• You have reached pension age and do not require a visa to visit Latvia;

• You have been assigned a non-citizen status;

• You have acquired a Master’s or a Doctoral degree, or have completed participation in a research project within Latvia.

 

 

How we can help

 

We give advice and provide assistance, as well as draft and register paperwork in order to help you and reduce the stress of moving to Latvia. Immigration involves more than just recording your residence rights. It also includes the establishment of a favourable environment for businesses and everyday life. We are well aware of this and can help you settle any commercial, administrative or civil law matters.

 

With over 10 years of experience in migration, we have implemented: