GOLDEN VISA

1.1 What is the difference between a TRP and a “golden visa”?

There is none. “Golden visa” is an informal name familiar to many clients from other jurisdictions. The official term in Latvia is a temporary residence permit (TRP) granted on the basis of an investment. On this page, both terms are used interchangeably.

1.2 What has changed since 15 September 2026?

In brief – in the table; the details follow in the subsequent questions.

1.3 In what ways can a TRP now be requested on the basis of an investment?

The law provides for two grounds.

The first is an investment in the share capital of a Latvian company (section 27(1)(10) of the Law): at least EUR 50,000 if the company meets the criteria of a smaller company, and at least EUR 100,000 if the company meets the criteria of a larger company – more than 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet exceeding EUR 10 million (see 1.4 and 1.5). A company that meets neither of the two sets of criteria cannot serve as a basis for a TRP. The TRP is granted for up to two years; EUR 10,000 is paid into the state budget on the first application.

The second is an investment of at least EUR 150,000 for at least five years under an agreement with a state-established alternative investment fund manager (section 27(1)(36)): a TRP for up to five years, with a state-budget contribution of EUR 10,000 (see 1.7).

Under the share-capital route, the amount of the investment is not chosen by the investor: it is determined by the size of the company receiving the funds. Before the transaction, we therefore verify the company’s number of employees, turnover and balance sheet, and its ability to satisfy the tax condition. An error at this stage means that no basis for a TRP arises at all.

1.4 What does the law mean by a “smaller company”, for which EUR 50,000 is sufficient?

The criteria must be met simultaneously: an investment of at least EUR 50,000 is made in the share capital – by increasing the share capital of an existing Latvian company or on founding a new one; the company has no more than 50 employees, and its annual turnover or annual balance sheet does not exceed EUR 10 million.

On the basis of investments in one and the same company, no more than ten foreign nationals may obtain a TRP, each through their own investment and their own contribution of EUR 10,000. Family members do not make a separate investment.

The tax condition: the TRP remains valid if, during its validity, the company pays taxes to the state and municipal budgets totalling at least EUR 40,000 in every financial year according to its tax returns; amounts refunded or refundable are disregarded. This condition concerns not admission to the programme but retention of the TRP. In addition, neither at submission nor during the validity of the TRP may the company have tax arrears exceeding EUR 150 – this is an independent ground for refusing the TRP and for revoking it (sections 34(1)(26) and 36(1)(17)), except where the arrears were not identified during the check, a payment schedule has been granted, or the decision on recovery has not yet entered into force. Finally, an invitation is not approved if there are grounds to believe that the company was established or operates mainly in order to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals (section 26(1)(13)). It is precisely these conditions that in practice eliminate most of the “EUR 50,000” options offered on the market: paying EUR 40,000 in taxes every year presupposes a genuinely operating business. Newly created structures offered mainly for obtaining a TRP cannot sustain that level, and the TRP ceases to be valid after the first full financial year. We therefore usually recommend considering first an investment of EUR 100,000 in a larger company that is already operating (see 1.5).

1.5 What conditions apply to an investment of EUR 100,000 in a larger company?

An investment of at least EUR 100,000 is made in a company which, alone or together with one or more subsidiaries registered in Latvia, has more than 50 employees and whose annual turnover or annual balance sheet exceeds EUR 10 million. The new law has merged into a single provision the former sub-paragraphs concerning a company and a group with subsidiaries.

The tax condition: the company pays taxes of at least EUR 100,000 in every financial year; taxes paid by Latvian subsidiaries are counted towards this amount. Formally the threshold is higher, but it is met through existing business activity, so the actual risk for the investor is lower. There is no “no more than ten foreign nationals per company” restriction under this route.

The law itself no longer contains a reduced monthly minimum for an incomplete first financial year; the previous Cabinet of Ministers regulations on residence permits continue to apply insofar as they do not conflict with the law. How this condition will be applied to the first incomplete year is something we clarify in every matter before the investment is made.

1.6 For what period is the TRP issued, and what happens after two years?

A TRP based on an investment in share capital is issued for up to two years and does not require annual registration. On expiry, a subsequent TRP is requested for the same period – provided that the investment has been maintained and the company satisfies the tax condition. An application is treated as a subsequent application if it is submitted no later than 90 days after the expiry of the previous TRP; we recommend submitting it in good time, before expiry.

No state-budget contribution is payable on a subsequent TRP until the investor has held a TRP on this ground for five years. If, at the time of the subsequent application, the investor has held a TRP on this ground for at least five years, EUR 2,000 is payable on each such subsequent TRP (section 29(3)); this refers to the period of validity of the TRP, not to actual residence. If the application is submitted more than 90 days after the expiry of the previous TRP, or if the object of the investment changes, the conditions for a first application apply, including a new contribution of EUR 10,000.

Thus, with two-year TRPs, the first two subsequent applications (for the third-fourth and fifth-sixth years) require no contribution, and from the third subsequent application – that is, from the seventh year – EUR 2,000 is payable for each two-year TRP. For the first six years, the investor pays into the state budget only the initial EUR 10,000 (instead of the previous EUR 10,000 plus annual registration fees).

1.7 What is the route through the state alternative investment fund?

The foreign national concludes an agreement with a state-established alternative investment fund manager, transfers at least EUR 150,000 for at least five years and pays EUR 10,000 into the state budget. The TRP is issued for up to five years and remains valid as long as the manager confirms that the agreement has not been terminated and that the investment balance is not below EUR 150,000.

The practical position: as at October 2026, the state fund manager has not yet been established, and the investment terms, returns and procedure for the return of funds have not been determined. This route therefore cannot be used in practice at present. We are monitoring its launch and will inform clients as soon as applications begin to be accepted. An investment in the share capital of a company remains the only ground that actually works. In addition, on 3 September 2026 a bill (No. 1521/Lp14) was submitted to the Saeima proposing the complete abolition of the fund ground; its fate depends on the new composition of the Saeima elected on 3 October 2026.

The law also allows the Cabinet of Ministers to suspend the issue of investment-based TRPs – under both the share-capital and the fund routes – to citizens of particular third countries for up to five years, having regard to national security or economic interests (section 28). No such decisions have been reported so far.

1.8 Can a TRP be obtained by purchasing real estate?

Previously – yes; now – no. Until 14 September 2026, this was the most popular route: one real-estate property in Riga, Jūrmala or the municipalities listed in the law (or no more than two properties elsewhere in the country) worth at least EUR 250 000, completed, commissioned and registered in the Land Register in the applicant’s name, with a cadastral value of at least EUR 80,000 and paid by bank transfer; after a positive decision, 5% of the property’s value was paid into the state budget, the TRP was issued for five years with annual registration, and EUR 5,000 was payable on a subsequent TRP. For Russian and Belarusian citizens, the route had been closed since 2022.

From 15 September 2026, the acquisition of real estate is not a ground for a TRP. Applications submitted before that date are examined under the previous law. Those who already hold a TRP on the basis of real estate may obtain a subsequent TRP for up to five years on transitional terms (see 9.3). Buying real estate in Latvia as such remains possible, including for letting, but it no longer confers a right to a TRP.

1.9 Can a TRP be obtained by placing a deposit with a Latvian bank?

Previously – yes; now – no. The previous law allowed a five-year TRP for the acquisition of subordinated liabilities of a Latvian credit institution of at least EUR 280,000 for at least five years, with a payment of EUR 25,000 into the state budget. The new law does not contain this ground; holders of such TRPs may use the same transitional regime as real-estate investors (see 9.3), except Russian and Belarusian citizens (in our assessment – see 9.3).

1.10 Can a TRP be obtained by purchasing government securities?

No. The route through the purchase of interest-free government bonds of EUR 250,000 with a payment of EUR 38,000 into the state budget was abolished by amendments that entered into force on 20 May 2026 and has not been included in the new law. Its place has been taken by the route through the state alternative investment fund (see 1.7), which has not yet been launched.

1.11 Can a TRP be obtained by buying an apartment in the Riga Waterfront project or in another new development?

Through the purchase of the apartment itself – no longer (see 1.8). However, large development projects, including Riga Waterfront, may still serve as a basis for a TRP through an investment in the share capital of the developer company, provided that it meets the criteria for EUR 50,000 or EUR 100,000 and satisfies the tax condition (see 1.4, 1.5 and 1.14). We have represented investors in this project before all the authorities, and under the new law we verify whether the particular structure meets the requirements. We are advocates, not investment advisers, and we do not assess the commercial merits of an investment.

1.12 Can two investors divide one investment and obtain two TRPs?

No. Each principal applicant must contribute the full qualifying amount – EUR 50,000 or EUR 100,000 – and pay their own contribution of EUR 10,000. In one smaller company, no more than ten investors may obtain a TRP. The spouse and children apply through family reunification and do not make a separate investment.

1.13 What is the process for obtaining a TRP on the basis of an investment in share capital?

The main stages: selection and verification of the company – number of employees, turnover, balance sheet and tax profile; making the investment and registering the investor as a shareholder of the company; registration of the invitation with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA; Latvian abbreviation PMLP) – the inviting party is the company receiving the investment; collection of documents – passports, criminal-record certificates, civil-status documents, evidence of means and their source, health insurance; submission of the application – at a Latvian embassy, electronically with a qualified electronic signature, or at OCMA if lawfully present in Latvia; examination by OCMA and the decision; after a positive decision – the state-budget contribution of EUR 10,000 and the state fees; obtaining a D visa if a visa is required for entry; and travel to Latvia for the medical examination, submission of biometric data and collection of the cards.

Under established OCMA practice (the previous Cabinet of Ministers regulations on residence permits continue to apply), the EUR 10,000 contribution is paid after a positive decision and before the cards are issued; we confirm the payment procedure in every matter. If the decision is negative, the contribution is not paid at all; before the decision, the applicant risks only the comparatively small examination fees (see 3.2).

1.14 My apartment is still under construction – can I obtain a TRP by investing in the developer company?

Yes, if the developer meets the company criteria for an investment of EUR 50,000 or EUR 100,000 and is willing to accept an investment in its share capital. This ground does not depend on the construction timetable.

An important change: under the previous law, an investment in share capital could, once the building had been commissioned, be replaced by a real-estate-based TRP and the investment recovered. That possibility no longer exists – the real-estate route is closed, and the investment in share capital must be maintained for as long as you wish to keep the TRP. The sale of the shares and the return of the funds must be planned with this in mind.

1.15 What rights does a TRP provide in addition to the right to live in Latvia?

The right to stay in Latvia without time limitation and to visit other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; a qualified electronic signature and remote access to Latvian public services; easier access to banking, insurance and medical services; the ability to register vehicles; and the possibility of applying for visas for other countries at embassies in Riga. The unrestricted right to work is expressly enshrined in the law: it is conferred on the holder of a TRP based on an investment in share capital or in the fund (section 44(23)) and on their family members (section 44(20)). The investor and the spouse may work for any employer without an invitation conferring employment rights and may carry on business activities.

1.16 Can Russian or Belarusian citizens use the investment route?

No. Section 27(8) of the Law expressly excludes, for Russian citizens, a TRP based on an investment in share capital, the fund, board membership, a start-up, ordinary employment under an employment agreement and a number of other grounds. For Belarusian citizens (section 27(7)), the investment grounds – share capital and the fund – are closed, but TRPs on the basis of employment under an employment agreement, board membership in a company (provided the company pays taxes of at least EUR 25,000 per year) and certain other grounds are available.

On a literal reading of the law, the restrictions also apply to dual nationals: for the purposes of the Immigration Law, a citizen of Kazakhstan, Israel or another third country who simultaneously holds Russian or Belarusian citizenship remains a Russian or Belarusian citizen; the law contains no separate rule on dual citizenship. The position is different where the second citizenship is that of an EU Member State – see 11.3.

Citizens of both countries retain access to the EU Blue Card, intra-corporate transfers, continuation of employment in Latvia, family reunification with a Latvian citizen, non-citizen or permanent resident, studies and research (see section 11).

1.17 Does Latvia remain a “golden visa” country compared with other EU countries?

Latvia previously stood out because, for EUR 250 000, one could buy an apartment in the city centre of the capital and obtain a five-year TRP for the whole family. That advantage no longer exists. However, in terms of the investment threshold for a company – EUR 50,000 or EUR 100,000 – the Latvian programme remains one of the most accessible in the EU: Spain closed its programme in 2025, Portugal requires fund investments from EUR 500 000, Greece – EUR 400,000-800,000 in real estate, Malta – approximately EUR 300,000-375,000 in real estate plus a contribution of about EUR 100,000 to the state. The term of the Latvian TRP has become shorter (two years instead of five), but annual registration has been abolished, documents may be submitted electronically from any country, and the TRP itself still does not require residence in Latvia. The conditions of other countries’ programmes are stated as at October 2026 and may change.

2.1 Which family members can be included in the application?

The spouse, children under 18 (including those under guardianship) and persons under the trusteeship of the investor or their spouse may request a TRP for the same period as the investor (section 27(3) and section 1(8)). Every family member submits a separate application; a child is not granted a TRP automatically. Both the investor and the spouse are entitled to work in Latvia. A child who entered the programme before the age of 18 retains the right to a subsequent TRP together with the parent after reaching adulthood (see 2.2). In the event of the investor’s death, the family members’ TRPs are not revoked if the investment was maintained until the day of death and their absence from Latvia did not exceed three months in a calendar year or was caused by circumstances beyond their control (section 36(5)).

2.2 What happens when a child turns 18?

This is one of the most notable improvements of the new law. Previously, a child reaching adulthood meant the loss of the ground: after 18, the child needed their own ground – studies, employment or their own investment. Now section 29(2) of the Law provides a separate ground: an adult child of the foreign national or of their spouse may request a subsequent TRP for the period of the parent’s TRP if they were a minor when their first application was submitted. In other words, it is enough to enter the programme once as a family member before the age of 18 – and the right to subsequent TRPs together with the parent is retained after reaching adulthood, for as long as the parent’s ground continues to exist.

The decisive date remains the date on which the child’s first application is submitted: the child must be a minor on that date. Therefore, if a child is approaching 18, the application should be submitted at the same time as the investor’s application, without delay. A child who had already turned 18 at the time of the first application is not covered by this rule and needs an independent ground.

2.3 Am I required to live in Latvia?

No. There is no actual-residence requirement for an investment-based TRP. Annual registration has been abolished, so a visit to Latvia to renew the card is needed once every two years – to collect the new card after a subsequent TRP. A permanent residence permit, by contrast, may be obtained only after five years of continuous residence: absences must not exceed six consecutive months or ten months in total (see 10.1).

2.4 Can I live in Germany or another EU country with a Latvian TRP?

No. A TRP entitles you to live and work in Latvia and to visit other Schengen countries as a visitor – for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Those 90 days are counted collectively across the whole area, not separately for each country; time spent in Latvia is not included. The period is calculated on a rolling basis. A detected overstay may result in an entry ban covering the whole Schengen Area and may complicate a subsequent TRP. If you intend to spend a prolonged period in another country, the correct solution is a residence permit from that country.

2.5 Do I or my family need to know Latvian?

For obtaining a TRP – no. However, from 31 December 2027 an early integration programme is introduced: a foreign national whose cumulative TRP period reaches 18 months is obliged to acquire Latvian at level A1 and to complete a course on Latvian history and culture at their own expense. Exceptions are provided, among others, for children and persons who have reached the age of 75, students, intra-corporate transferees, and those whose TRP was issued under the previous law. The content of the programme will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.

Importantly, failure to comply with this obligation is not a ground either for refusing a TRP or for revoking it – the law has not included it in the lists of grounds for refusal and revocation of a TRP (sections 34 and 36). The only consequence is an administrative fine for the foreign national of up to 168 fine units (section 127), that is, up to EUR 840. The position is different for a permanent residence permit: for it, level A2 and the history and culture course are a mandatory condition without which the application is not granted (see 10.1).

2.6 Do I need to visit Latvia, and must I go to Riga?

A visit is necessary, but Riga is not obligatory. The first application may be submitted at a Latvian embassy in the country of your citizenship or residence, electronically with a qualified electronic signature from any country, or at OCMA if you are lawfully present in Latvia. After a positive decision, the whole family travels for the medical examination, submission of biometric data and collection of the cards – at any territorial office of OCMA. The card is produced within 10 working days, or within two working days on request, so with good planning everything fits into one brief visit. The next visit will be needed after two years – to collect the new card.

2.7 How long does the process take?

A realistic period from signing the engagement agreement to receiving the cards is approximately three to six months. By stage: the agreement and client due diligence – 1-3 weeks; formalising the investment – from two weeks; the invitation – formally 10 working days, 2-4 weeks including preparation; documents with an apostille – 1-3 weeks, with consular legalisation – 3-8 weeks; submission – from a few days to three weeks depending on appointment availability; OCMA examination – 30 days, with expedited examination available for a higher fee.

The new law has limited extensions of the examination period: OCMA may extend it for objective reasons, but to no more than four months from the day on which all the required documents were received, and this extension cannot be extended again (section 33(4) and (5)). Where deficiencies are identified in the documents, a 14-day period is set for remedying them, which may be extended at the applicant’s request. This is followed by the D visa (about one to two weeks) and several days in Latvia to obtain the card.

2.8 How long is a positive decision valid, and how quickly must I travel to Latvia?

An approved invitation is valid for six months, and the application must be submitted within that period. Following a positive decision, you have three months to enter Latvia and obtain the card. Where a D visa is required, we plan the visa application so that this deadline is not missed.

2.9 What financial means must I demonstrate?

Every applicant demonstrates sufficient means of subsistence in Latvia – by a bank statement or another document. The amounts are linked to the minimum wage and are revised annually; in 2026, for the principal applicant under the share-capital route, the amount is EUR 780 per month, with lower amounts for the spouse and children. If you were already in Latvia on a visa or a residence permit before submitting the application, the authority also checks the availability of means retrospectively – for the preceding year (section 34(1)(4)), so it is important that the funds are not a one-off.

Under OCMA practice in autumn 2026, only freely available monetary funds are taken into account: statements of investment, brokerage or precious-metal accounts (for example, gold) are not accepted, even if their value is substantial. The bank document must be issued on letterhead with a stamp, in Latvian or English (for a subsequent TRP – with a certified translation into Latvian), and must state the account holder’s name, date of birth, address and passport number, as well as the balance in the account currency and its equivalent in euro. Statements that do not allow the account holder to be identified unambiguously are rejected by the authority, which sets a 14-day deadline for replacement. We confirm the amounts applicable in the particular case before submission.

3.1 What are the legal fees?

Our legal fee for obtaining an investment-based TRP is fixed and agreed before the engagement agreement is signed; the current fee schedule is available on request. The fee includes preparation of documents, review of the application forms, communication with the authorities and accompanying you to OCMA to collect the card. Legal assistance with the investment transaction itself, assistance with the D visa, the subsequent TRP after two years and challenges to decisions are separate assignments. Fees for EU Blue Card matters are determined individually.

3.2 What state fees are payable?

The fees are still charged under the previous Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 731 (2024), which remain in force until new regulations are adopted, but no later than 1 December 2027:

• registration of an invitation – EUR 10 electronically or EUR 17 on paper, plus EUR 10 for each person included; under the employment route, an additional EUR 85 for employment rights;
• examination of TRP documents – EUR 160 per applicant under the standard procedure, EUR 280 for 10 working days, EUR 560 for 5 working days;
• issue of the card – EUR 45 within 10 working days or EUR 80 within two working days;
• D visa – EUR 90 (EUR 180 for late submission).

In addition, the investor pays a contribution into the state budget: EUR 10,000 on the first TRP (share capital or fund) and EUR 2,000 for each subsequent TRP after five years of holding a TRP on this ground. Under established practice, the contribution is paid after a positive decision and before the cards are issued (see 1.6 and 1.13).

3.3 Are there any recurring costs?

Yes, but there are fewer of them. Annual registration and the fees associated with it have been abolished. Once every two years, on the subsequent TRP, the examination fee and the card-issuance fee are payable – for each family member – and our legal assistance with the subsequent application is agreed. Every applicant requires a health-insurance policy from a Latvian insurer for the period of validity of the card. Translation, apostille and legalisation costs arise for documents issued abroad. The main recurring “item” is maintaining the investment and the company’s compliance with the tax condition, on which the validity of the TRP depends.

4.1 Why entrust the matter to a sworn advocate rather than a lawyer or consultant?

Prices on the market are comparable, so the choice is not a matter of price. The difference lies in what happens to your information. A lawyer’s or consultant’s duty of confidentiality derives only from a contract and does not protect you against third parties or the state: the lawyer may be questioned as a witness, their office may be searched and your file seized.

For a sworn advocate, protection derives from law. Section 6 of the Advocacy Law prohibits requiring information from an advocate, questioning the advocate as a witness about circumstances learned while providing legal assistance, inspecting or seizing the advocate’s documents and conducting searches; section 67 prohibits disclosure of the client’s confidences, including after the matter has ended. A sworn advocate is subject to the disciplinary supervision of the Bar, and for representation in administrative proceedings a simple written power of attorney without notarisation is sufficient – for an international client, this removes one notarial appointment and one apostille chain. In investor matters, information about the source of funds, corporate structures and family circumstances is almost always sensitive, so we recommend a regime in which it is protected by statute rather than only by contract.

4.2 Is my initial message protected by legal professional secrecy even before an agreement is signed?

Yes. Your approach to us is protected by an advocate’s duty of secrecy from the very first message – before any agreement is signed and irrespective of whether one is ultimately concluded. The protection extends to the very fact that you contacted us; the duty is unlimited in time and applies to every member of the firm. The legal basis: sections 6 and 67 of the Advocacy Law, paragraph 2.3 of the Latvian Code of Ethics for Sworn Advocates and paragraph 2.3.2 of the CCBE Code of Conduct. A website form and ordinary email are not encrypted channels, so for especially sensitive information we will offer a more secure transmission method. Client due diligence and verification of the source of funds (KYC/AML) after the engagement is accepted are not inconsistent with legal professional secrecy.

4.3 How much does the first conversation cost?

We assess an initial enquiry free of charge: you describe your situation, and we indicate whether a TRP is possible in your case, on what basis and what the next steps would be. This is a preliminary assessment of prospects, not legal advice on a particular case. Further assistance is provided under an engagement agreement for a fee agreed in advance (section 57 of the Advocacy Law).

4.4 What is required to begin working together?

Simple passport copies for all applicants, your residential address, telephone numbers and information on sources of income. Please do not send this information by ordinary email or through the website form – we will propose a secure transmission method when replying to your first message. We then send the engagement agreement; each adult applicant completes a KYC/AML questionnaire and undergoes remote video identification. Work begins once the agreement has been signed and the full fee received.

4.5 Can I sign remotely?

Yes. Qualified electronic signatures issued in the EU can normally be used; we check compatibility using a sample document. Alternatively, documents may be signed in hard copy and sent by courier. Since 15 September 2026, the TRP application itself may also be signed electronically and submitted to OCMA from any country.

4.6 What are the principal terms of your agreement?

The agreement is concluded with ZAB Corvus Vanags Legal SIA (CORVUS) in a bilingual Latvian-English version and identifies the advocates personally responsible for your matter. The scope of assistance and the fixed fee are clearly listed; expenses – state fees, translations, notarial services, legalisation and courier charges – are agreed separately. We work on the basis of 100% advance payment; the same applies to separate assignments – a subsequent TRP, the D visa and challenges. If a change in the law makes the application impossible, the unused part of the advance payment is refunded.

4.7 Do you guarantee that I will receive a TRP?

No. Under the professional rules, an advocate may not guarantee a particular outcome. Our obligation is one of professional care; the decision remains with OCMA and depends, among other things, on the outcome of security screening. A carefully prepared case substantially reduces the risk of additional requests, extensions and refusal.

4.8 What are my obligations as a client?

Active cooperation: providing complete, truthful and up-to-date information in time, immediately informing us of any change in circumstances and responding to communications. The authorities work to strict deadlines – 14 days to remedy deficiencies – and delay or incomplete information is the greatest avoidable risk. Personal data are processed in accordance with the GDPR (see our Privacy Policy).

5.1 Where and how are the documents submitted?

The new law provides several options: at a Latvian embassy in a country outside the Schengen Area; at an embassy in a Schengen country if you hold a valid residence permit there; at OCMA if you are lawfully present in Latvia; electronically to OCMA from abroad – the documents are signed with a qualified electronic signature; or through an external service provider with which OCMA has concluded a delegation agreement. Electronic submission from any country is one of the main practical improvements of the new law.

5.2 What is an invitation, and how is it registered?

An invitation is an application by the inviting party (the company receiving the investment, or an employer) registered with OCMA before the TRP application is submitted. It is examined within 10 working days, and employment invitations are handled more quickly in practice. An approved invitation is valid for six months. The fee is EUR 10 electronically or EUR 17 on paper, plus EUR 10 for each person; under the employment route, an additional EUR 85 is payable for employment rights. An invitation is not approved if the inviting party has tax arrears exceeding EUR 150.

5.3 In which languages may documents be prepared?

Documents for a first TRP are submitted in Latvian or English; documents for a subsequent TRP and for a permanent residence permit – in Latvian only (section 5 of the Law). The inviting party – the company that registered the invitation – submits information and explanations only in Latvian. Documents issued by foreign authorities require an apostille or legalisation and, if they are drawn up in a language other than Latvian or English, a certified translation. In practice, this means that translations into Latvian will already be required for the subsequent application after two years.

5.4 Which documents are required?

The standard set for the investor and every family member: passport copies; photographs; completed application forms; criminal-record certificates for persons over 14 with an apostille or legalisation; marriage and birth certificates with an apostille or legalisation; evidence of financial means – a bank statement or bank certificate no more than three months old; the investor questionnaire and CV; bank-account statements of the investor and spouse for the preceding 12 months; documents evidencing the source of the investment funds; proof of a Latvian address; evidence of payment of the state fees; health insurance. We provide an individual checklist at the start of the engagement.

5.5 Can you review my completed application form before it is submitted?

Yes, and we recommend doing so. The client completes the form in OCMA’s electronic service, exports it and sends it to us for review. A small error is easy to correct before submission; afterwards it is slow and expensive.

5.6 Which documents require an apostille, and which require legalisation?

This depends on the country that issued the document. For countries party to the Hague Convention, an apostille is sufficient (for example, the United States, Turkey, India, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan, Bangladesh). For the others, full legalisation is required – by the foreign ministry of the issuing country and then by the accredited Latvian embassy (for example, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt). An apostille usually takes 1-3 weeks, legalisation 3-8 weeks. Criminal-record certificates must be in paper form, bearing a stamp.

5.7 Can I apply while the apostille or legalisation is still pending?

It is possible, but we do not recommend it: the authority will set a 14-day deadline for remedying the deficiency and, if the document does not arrive, will refuse. It is preferable to apply once all formalities have been completed.

6.1 Why has the examination period been extended, and what is the role of the State Security Service?

Extensions in investment applications are common: OCMA examines the company, requests additional information and obtains an opinion from the State Security Service. Under the new law, the overall period may not exceed four months from the day on which all the required documents were received. An extension does not mean a refusal; the appropriate response is to provide the requested information promptly and accurately.

6.2 What will the authorities ask me about?

The range of questions is predictable: personal details and every citizenship; education and employment history for the preceding ten years; military service; previous visas, residence permits and refusals; the source of funds, tax residence and banks; relatives; intentions. Investors are additionally asked about the company – its business activity, office, employees, beneficial owners and how the investment was selected. Answers must be truthful and mutually consistent with the case file. We translate the request, prepare the answers with you and verify them point by point.

6.3 Why must every citizenship be disclosed?

Because the authorities have their own sources of information. An undisclosed second citizenship becomes a question not about the citizenship but about the truthfulness of the information provided – an independent ground for refusal. It is one of the most common and most easily avoidable mistakes. Questions about military service have also become a standard part of the questionnaires; answers must be accurate, and if you do not remember something, say so.

6.4 I have been invited to an interview at the State Security Service – what does this mean?

It does not mean that the case has been lost. The Service provides an opinion to OCMA and, in order to prepare it, may invite a person to an interview; the invitation must not be ignored. The interview is normally clarificatory – a period of employment, a family relationship, a journey, the source of funds. In our practice, every matter in which such an interview took place with our participation ended in a positive decision; this is not a promise of the result in another case. Preparation takes place privately, together with a sworn advocate.

6.5 May I take an advocate to the interview?

Yes, but only a sworn advocate – in practice, the Service admits only a sworn advocate to such interviews. The basis is the final sentence of Article 92 of the Satversme (Constitution of Latvia): “Everyone has the right to the assistance of an advocate.” The Advocacy Law prohibits requiring information from an advocate concerning a client’s matter and questioning the advocate as a witness; a lawyer or consultant does not have that protection and may themselves be questioned. Where the matter is handled by an advocate from the outset, the entire chain of communication is protected, not merely the hour spent in the interview.

6.6 How must the investment be proved?

The authority requires a document issued by the bank confirming the non-cash transfer of the funds into the share capital: a bank-certified payment order or a bank statement showing the payer, the recipient, the amount and the purpose of the payment; a plain internet-banking printout without the bank’s confirmation is, as a rule, not accepted. Under 2026 practice, OCMA accepts the documents for examination but sets a 14-day deadline for submitting a certified copy of such confirmation and, in our experience, counts the examination period only from its receipt.

Only the investor can obtain this document from their own bank – we explain in advance what requirements it must meet. In addition, the company into whose share capital the funds were paid may request from its bank a certificate confirming that the required amount was received from the specific investor; such a document confirms the investment from the recipient’s side.

6.7 Can an adverse decision be challenged?

Yes. A refusal or revocation is contested before the Head of OCMA within one month, and that decision is appealed to the Administrative District Court; further appeal on the merits and on points of law is then possible. An important feature: under section 41(1), the right to contest belongs to the inviting party – the company that registered the invitation, or the employer – and to the foreign national only where no invitation was required for them. We therefore prepare the complaint on behalf of the company and represent both parties. Contesting the revocation of a TRP does not suspend its effect (section 41(7)). Where the refusal or revocation is based on an opinion of a security authority containing state secrets, a special procedure applies: the case is heard by the Administrative Regional Court as the first and only instance within two months, its judgment is final, and the right to learn the factual grounds of the decision is limited (sections 108-111).

The new law has extended the right to remain in Latvia during a challenge: a foreign national who has lived in Latvia with a TRP for at least three years may remain here throughout the contestation and appeal, provided the refusal is not connected with a threat to national security or public order. A challenge is a separate assignment.

6.8 Can I reapply after a refusal?

There is no prescribed waiting period: a new application is submitted once the deficiencies have been remedied. Where the refusal is based on security considerations, a new application with no change in circumstances will normally produce no result; the refusal may be challenged in parallel. A refusal should be distinguished from revocation of a TRP and inclusion on the list of persons prohibited from entering.

7.1 I have received a positive decision – what happens next?

You must pay the state-budget contribution and the state fees, enter Latvia within three months, undergo the medical examination and obtain the card from OCMA. If a visa is required for entry, a national long-stay D visa is obtained.

7.2 What is a D visa, and how is it obtained?

A D visa is issued on the basis of a positive OCMA decision for one purpose – to enter Latvia and obtain the residence permit card; a tourist C visa is not suitable for this purpose. Citizens of visa-exempt countries do not need it. If you already hold a valid Schengen C visa covering the whole period of the visit, in our experience the card can be obtained on that basis as well – what matters is that your stay in Latvia at the time of the OCMA visit is lawful; we clarify this point in every matter. The application is completed through OCMA’s electronic service (epak.pmlp.gov.lv) and submitted to a Latvian embassy or an authorised visa centre. The set is small: the passport, the OCMA decision, the application form, a photograph, travel insurance, evidence of payment of the fee and, where the application is submitted outside the country of citizenship, a document confirming the right of residence in that country. Every family member receives a separate visa.

7.3 How much does a D visa cost, and how long does it take?

The fee is EUR 90; where the application is submitted less than three working days before the expiry of the lawful period of stay – EUR 180. Visa centres charge their own service fee. A visa is normally issued within 5-10 working days; we allow about two weeks when planning. Some consular missions accept documents from persons holding a positive OCMA decision without a prior appointment, but this is not a general rule – we verify the procedure before travel.

7.4 Is assistance in obtaining the D visa included in your service?

No, it is a separate assignment: completing or reviewing the form, preparing the document set, confirming the visa centre’s requirements and coordinating the timing with the OCMA appointment. This stage may also be completed independently.

8.1 What must be done before the OCMA appointment?

Every family member over 12 undergoes a chest X-ray and obtains a certificate confirming the absence of tuberculosis; children under 12 undergo a laboratory test (QuantiFERON), and if the result is negative, a paediatrician issues the certificate for OCMA on the day of the visit – the results must be in English, the X-ray is available without an appointment, and the paediatrician’s appointment is booked in advance. Health-insurance policies are arranged; the state-budget contribution is paid if it has not already been paid. OCMA appointments are released only one week before the visit and fill up quickly, so please tell us your arrival date well in advance; the appointment is scheduled several days after arrival.

8.2 How quickly is the card issued?

The standard period is 10 working days (fee EUR 45); on request – two working days (EUR 80). With expedited issuance, the entire trip fits within one brief visit.

9.1 Does the residence permit card still have to be registered annually?

No. Previously, the card was registered every year, with fees paid and the investment confirmed; the new law does not provide for annual registration of temporary residence permits – the validity of the TRP coincides with the validity of the card (only a permanent residence permit is registered, once every five years). After two years, an application for a subsequent TRP is submitted – in good time, before expiry. If the documents are accepted in Latvia, you are entitled to remain in the country lawfully until the decision and receipt of the new card. On a subsequent application, OCMA verifies that the investment has been maintained and that the company has satisfied the tax condition in the past financial years.

9.2 I hold a TRP issued before 15 September 2026. What happens to it?

It remains valid until the end of its registration period. After that, instead of registration, an application for a subsequent TRP is submitted, which is examined under the new law (paragraphs 6 and 7 of the transitional provisions).

For share-capital investors: the subsequent TRP is issued under the new law – for up to two years and on condition that the company satisfies the tax condition (see 1.4 and 1.5). The examination fee for this first “transitional” application is charged at the rate of the former annual registration – EUR 75 / 140 / 290 (paragraph 7 of the transitional provisions). The EUR 2,000 contribution is payable only if, at the end of the registration period, less than one year of the previously granted term remains, and is not payable if EUR 5,000 was already paid under the previous law and at least one year remains (paragraph 8). If the subsequent TRP is requested on a different ground, the payments made under the previous law are topped up to a total of EUR 5,000 (paragraph 9); this rule also applies to holders of TRPs based on real estate and on subordinated liabilities of a bank.

If the ground on which the TRP was issued no longer exists in the new law, a transitional TRP is issued for one year or until the end of the previously granted term, if that does not exceed one year and three months.

9.3 I hold a TRP based on real estate or a deposit. Can I renew it?

Yes, on transitional terms (paragraph 10 of the transitional provisions). The investor and their family members may request a subsequent TRP for up to five years with an unrestricted right to work if: the application is submitted during the validity of the previous TRP; the investment still meets the requirements of the previous law; there are no grounds for refusal; and EUR 1,000 has been paid into the state budget for each year of the previous and the new TRP, less the amounts already paid on obtaining and registering the previous TRP. In our assessment, this regime is not available to Russian and Belarusian citizens, because it requires compliance with the conditions of the previous law, which were closed to them; the possibility of a one-year transitional TRP under paragraph 7 is assessed in each matter separately. Missing the deadline means the loss of the ground: the law does not provide for a new real-estate-based TRP.

9.4 What happens if I sell the shares or withdraw the investment?

The investment is the legal basis for the TRP; if it is withdrawn without another statutory basis being in place, the ground ceases to exist and the TRP is revoked (section 36(1)(7)). Other grounds for revocation that an investor should bear in mind include: the company’s tax arrears exceeding EUR 150; lack of sufficient means of subsistence; working without employment rights, including unlawful employment in another Schengen country; and systematic administrative offences – three or more within 12 months in the areas of public administration, public order, road traffic or the protection of children’s rights (section 36(1)(22)). A change of basis must be planned in advance, and the new TRP requested during the validity of the previous one, so that neither the right of residence nor the period required for a permanent residence permit is interrupted.

9.5 Does a TRP make me a Latvian tax resident?

Not by itself. Tax residence is determined by section 14 of the Law on Taxes and Duties: a declared place of residence in Latvia, presence in Latvia for 183 days or more within 12 months, or employment abroad by the Latvian State. In practice, the first criterion is often decisive: declaring a place of residence in Latvia may in itself make you a tax resident. We assess every situation together with our tax practice.

10.1 What are the conditions for a permanent residence permit?

Under the new law, a permanent residence permit means EU long-term resident status in Latvia (section 24); the two former separate statuses have been merged. The conditions (section 31): five years of continuous residence in Latvia with a residence permit; sufficient means for yourself and your dependants; Latvian at level A2 or higher; and completion of a course on Latvian history and culture. Residence is treated as continuous if absences did not exceed six consecutive months or ten months in total; more lenient absence rules apply to EU Blue Card holders, and time spent in another EU Member State with a Blue Card is counted within the limits set by law. Time spent on a visa or under a visa-free regime is not counted.

10.2 What is the difference between a temporary and a permanent residence permit?

A TRP is based on an investment that must be maintained, is issued for two years and is repeated; there is no residence requirement. A permanent residence permit is an independent status: the investment is no longer required and the card is registered once every five years, but obtaining it requires actual residence, level A2 and the history and culture course. The status is lost through absence from the EU for 12 consecutive months (24 months for former Blue Card holders) or from Latvia for six consecutive years (section 37(1)(5) and (6)), unless the absence was caused by circumstances beyond the person’s control or by studies. Only years of permanent residence count towards the period for naturalisation.

10.3 What are the fees and processing times for a permanent residence permit?

Examination – 30 days, fee EUR 160 (EUR 280 for 10 working days); issuance of the card is charged separately. Re-registration of the card once every five years – EUR 60 / 140 / 290 depending on the period. The fee for the A2 examination is EUR 52; the examination is held within the state language-proficiency testing system, with registration during the announced periods; it consists of four parts (listening, reading, writing and speaking), and at least 60% must be achieved in each.

10.4 How can I obtain Latvian citizenship, and may I retain my existing citizenship?

After five years of permanent residence, an application for naturalisation may be submitted: the examinations in the Latvian language and in the basic provisions of the Satversme, the national anthem, history and culture are administered by OCMA; the decision is taken by the Cabinet of Ministers, normally within one year. Dual citizenship is permitted with EU and EFTA Member States, NATO countries (including Turkey), Australia, Brazil and New Zealand; citizens of other countries must renounce their previous citizenship in order to naturalise. The rules for children are more liberal: a child of a Latvian citizen retains both citizenships at least until the age of 25, and for life where the other citizenship is that of one of the listed countries.

10.5 Which is more advantageous – renewing the TRP or moving to permanent residence?

If Latvia is your principal place of residence, a permanent residence permit removes the obligation to maintain the investment and the subsequent applications every two years; from that point, the period required for citizenship begins to run. If you use the TRP mainly for travel, you may continue requesting a subsequent TRP every two years – without a language examination or a residence requirement, but subject to the early integration programme introduced from 31 December 2027 (see 2.5). Before the first term expires, we help assess both options.

10.6 Does a permanent residence permit entitle me to live in other EU countries?

Partly. Under the new law, a Latvian permanent residence permit is EU long-term resident status under Directive 2003/109/EC. It gives the right to move to another EU member state (except Denmark and Ireland, where the Directive does not apply) for work, study or other purposes, but this is not the free movement enjoyed by EU citizens: the second state applies its own conditions – sufficient means, health insurance, in several countries priority for the local labour market and integration requirements – and issues its own residence permit; long-term resident status there can be obtained only after five years of residence in that state. The Latvian status is lost after six years of continuous absence from Latvia (see 10.2). A temporary residence permit, including the investment-based TRP, confers no such rights at all – only travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (see 2.4). If your goal is to live in another EU country, it is more sensible to consider that country’s own programme.

11.1 What is the EU Blue Card?

A residence permit for highly qualified employees and their family members – a spouse and minor children – issued for two years without annual registration. If the employment agreement is concluded for less than two years, the card is issued for the term of the agreement plus three months, but for no more than two years. In our experience, continuous presence in Latvia is not required and remote work is possible provided the employment relationship with the Latvian employer is maintained. The Blue Card offers more favourable conditions on the route to EU long-term resident status: with two years of work in Latvia, time spent with a Blue Card in other EU Member States is counted.

11.2 Can Russian and Belarusian citizens apply for a Blue Card?

Yes. The EU Blue Card is not among the grounds closed to Russian and Belarusian citizens (section 27(7) and (8)). We have handled the complete process for applicants from both countries – from submission at consulates abroad to responses to the authority’s additional requests. In addition, a Russian or Belarusian citizen who has already worked in Latvia for at least three months with personal income tax paid may request a subsequent one-year TRP to continue employment (section 27(9)). Persons holding the citizenship of an EU Member State are assessed separately: they may reside in Latvia under free-movement rules (see 11.3).

11.3 I hold dual citizenship – of an EU Member State and of Russia or Belarus. What does this change?

For residence in Latvia – almost everything. A citizen of an EU Member State (or of the EEA or Switzerland) enjoys the right of free movement and does not apply for a TRP under the Immigration Law: they register the right of residence of a Union citizen with OCMA, and the restrictions applicable to Russian and Belarusian citizens do not apply to them. The same applies to their family members, including a spouse who is a third-country national. The second citizenship is not concealed – its disclosure is mandatory (see 6.3).

For the purchase of real estate, the question is more complex. The Law on the Restriction of Transactions Threatening National Security (in force since 3 July 2025) prohibits Russian and Belarusian citizens from acquiring real estate in Latvia but does not expressly regulate the case of dual citizenship. In our view, there are weighty arguments that in such cases the citizenship of the EU Member State should be decisive: under Article 20 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, a person holding the citizenship of a Member State is a citizen of the Union with all the rights that follow, and the question of dual citizenship was not separately considered when the law was adopted. An analytical article prepared by our firm is devoted to this subject. In 2026, the Ministry of Justice and the Council of Sworn Notaries noted that Article 20 TFEU should be taken into account when assessing a transaction, but stressed that their opinion is advisory only: the decision to certify a transaction is taken by the notary, and the decision to register title by the Land Register judge, and there is as yet no uniform practice; a notary’s refusal may be challenged in court. We therefore assess each such transaction separately and agree the approach with the notary in advance. For persons holding the citizenship of a third country and of Russia or Belarus (for example, Israel – Russia), the position is different: third-country citizenship does not confer the rights of a Union citizen, and, in the Ministry’s view, protection under a bilateral investment promotion agreement can be relied on only where that country’s citizenship is the “dominant” one – if the person actually lives and works in Russia, such protection will most probably not be available.

We remind you that, from 15 September 2026, the purchase of real estate is in any event not a ground for a TRP (see 1.8); for an EU citizen, it is not needed either.

11.4 My spouse is a Russian or Belarusian citizen, but I am not. Can they join me?

Under the previous law – no. Section 23.¹ of the previous law contained an exhaustive list of the cases in which Russian and Belarusian citizens could apply for a TRP, and that list did not include section 23(4) – the right of the family members of a TRP holder; family reunification was possible only with a Latvian citizen, a non-citizen or a permanent resident.

Under the new law – on the literal wording, yes. The law abandoned the exhaustive list and moved to lists of exclusions: section 27(7) and (8) close specific points of section 27(1) (investment, employment, etc.) to Russian and Belarusian citizens, but not section 27(3) of the same section, under which a family member of a TRP holder – the spouse, minor children – applies for a TRP for the term of the investor’s permit. The exclusion lists were introduced at the third reading on the proposal of the Minister of the Interior (proposal No. 68 in the third-reading table of bill No. 56/Lp14) and cover only the points of subsection (1). This reading is also consistent with Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family reunification, which the law implements: it does not permit a general exclusion of spouses by nationality, only an individual assessment on security grounds. OCMA’s own information page for Russian citizens (as updated on 23 October 2026) likewise lists family reunification with a spouse among the available grounds.

Caveat: OCMA practice under the new law has not yet been established, and Russian and Belarusian citizens are in any event subject to additional checks, a special questionnaire and possible refusal on security grounds. In such cases we therefore recommend obtaining OCMA’s written position on the specific family before the investment is made, and being prepared to challenge a refusal. Fallback options: if the investor already holds a permanent residence permit, their Russian or Belarusian spouse may apply for a TRP as the spouse of a permanent resident of Latvia (section 27(1), point 2; the spouses must live together and share a household); the spouse’s own ground, for example an EU Blue Card; in exceptional cases, a TRP by decision of the Minister of the Interior where this is consistent with international law or humanitarian considerations (section 27(2), point 3). Family admission for EU Blue Card holders is governed by EU law, and the above restrictions do not apply to them.

11.5 What are the qualification and salary requirements?

Either higher education – a programme of at least three years in a field relevant to the work – or at least five years of documented professional experience in the occupation; for managers and senior specialists in ICT, three years of experience during the preceding seven years is sufficient. The salary must meet the threshold recalculated annually: from 1 April 2026 – EUR 2,723 gross per month, or EUR 2,178 for occupations on the official shortage-occupation list. Positions in major groups 1 and 2 of the Classification of Occupations – managers and professionals – qualify. Experience is assessed by reference to the occupation, not the industry; a career break does not cancel the qualification.

11.6 How long does the application take, and what must the employer do?

Standard examination – 10 working days for a fee of EUR 160, expedited – 5 working days for EUR 280; applications by family members – also 10 working days. For objective reasons, the period may be extended by up to three months. The employer registers an invitation, provides the employment agreement, pays the invitation fee and EUR 85 for employment rights; it must have no tax arrears exceeding EUR 150. Renewal is requested before the card expires under the same procedure. A change of employer during the first 12 months requires OCMA’s approval; if employment is lost, a period is allowed for finding a new position.

11.7 What should I do if the authority refuses the application?

The refusal is contested before the Head of OCMA within one month – formally on behalf of the employer as the inviting party (see 6.7). In our practice, a refusal questioning the applicant’s qualifications and the “true purpose” of the application was revoked after our challenge, and the Blue Card was granted: the authority confirmed that five years of experience is a full alternative to higher education and rejected as unfounded the argument concerning a break in employment.

• • • Minimum means of subsistence in 2026: EUR 780 per month for the principal applicant under the share-capital route. The EU Blue Card salary threshold from 1 April 2026 is EUR 2 723, or EUR 2,178 for shortage occupations. The fees are prescribed by Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 731 (2024), which apply until new regulations are adopted, but no later than 1 December 2027.

We have handled immigration matters since 2004 and have assisted hundreds of clients from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Israel, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, the United States and Canada. We have represented investors in major development projects in Riga at every stage – from the invitation to the positive decision – and have followed the drafting of the new Immigration Law from its first reading to its entry into force, including analysis of Saeima committee sittings and of the transitional provisions.

In the field of security screening, we have prepared responses to hundreds of requests from state security authorities, participated in dozens of interviews at the State Security Service and conducted litigation arising from such screening. The firm is a member of Russell Bedford International.