Company capital from €50,000
The qualifying smaller-company category starts at €50,000; the larger-company category starts at €100,000. Company size, capital and annual tax-payment conditions apply.
Latvia residency by investment
Under the law effective 15 September 2026, new investor applications centre on qualifying Latvian company capital: from €50,000 plus a separate €10,000 state payment. The former property-purchase and subordinated-bank routes are closed to new applicants; company-investor permits may run for up to two years.
Ask about the Latvia route
Share your contact details and citizenship. An adviser will go through the company requirements, nationality restrictions and current application rules with you before you commit funds.
Latvia at a glance
The current business-investment framework, with company conditions and additional costs considered together.
€10,000 state payment
A first company-investor application also requires a separate payment to the state. Permit, document, professional and family expenses are additional.
Up to two years
Company-investor permits are issued for up to two years. A further application depends on continued qualifying investment and company compliance; new permits do not use the former annual-registration model.
Different rules for older permits
Property and subordinated-bank investment are closed as grounds for new applications. Existing permits and earlier applications must be assessed under the transitional provisions.
Company investment and the routes that have changed
Assess the company, its tax record and the investor before selecting the capital amount. The new law does not keep the former property and bank routes open to new applicants.
Qualifying smaller company — from €50,000
Invest through an increase in share capital or the establishment of a qualifying Latvian company. Buying an existing shareholder’s shares alone should not be treated as the prescribed capital investment.
- At least €50,000 into qualifying share capital
- No more than 50 employees; turnover or balance sheet up to €10 million
- Company tax payments of at least €40,000 per reporting year, excluding refundable amounts
- No more than ten foreign investors under this lower-threshold company route
- Separate €10,000 state payment for each first-time investor
Larger-company category — from €100,000
A separate capital threshold applies where the statutory larger-company criteria are met, including relevant Latvian subsidiaries. Review the accounts and group structure before treating a business as eligible.
- At least €100,000 into qualifying share capital
- More than 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet above €10 million under the statutory test
- Company tax payments of at least €100,000 per reporting year
- Qualifying Latvian subsidiary tax payments may count under the law
- Separate €10,000 state payment and other application costs
Property and bank routes — closed to new applicants
Since 15 September 2026, a new property purchase or subordinated placement with a Latvian bank no longer establishes these former residence grounds. Existing holders need a separate transition review.
- Do not buy property on the assumption it earns a new investor permit
- The former €280,000 bank-placement route is not a new application option
- Earlier applications and permits have specific transitional rules
- The €150,000 state-fund provision requires an operational approved framework
- Confirm operational availability before considering any future fund offer
A residence application built around a qualifying company
A qualifying company investment can support an application for Latvian temporary residence. The application concerns both the investor and the company: its capital, size, tax payments and continuing compliance must satisfy the selected category. A permit is subject to an official decision.
The Immigration Law effective from 15 September 2026 provides a maximum two-year term for the company-investor category. Family applications require their own relationship, support and identity evidence. Nationality restrictions apply, including exclusions for Russian and Belarusian citizens under this category.
PMLP’s explanation of the new regime confirms the closure of the former property and subordinated-bank routes to new applicants. Earlier applications and existing permits follow transitional provisions. Long-term residence requires actual qualifying residence and other conditions; buying company shares does not itself secure permanent residence or citizenship.
Latvia residence permit application process
Five stages with company checks, a documented investment and the authority’s review. Request a case-specific timetable before making commitments.
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01
Assess the investor and company
Review nationality, family, source of funds and the proposed company. Identify the applicable capital threshold and any exclusion before investing.
Step 1 Initial review -
02
Check the records
Review company accounts, employees, tax records and capital arrangements. Prepare personal and family documents in the language and form the current rules require.
Step 2 Preparation -
03
Document the capital investment
Complete the qualifying capital increase or new-company investment and the required state payment through the prescribed process. Retain evidence of each transfer and registration.
Step 3 Investment -
04
Submit and complete official checks
File through the applicable channel, provide the required evidence and attend identity or biometric appointments. Requests for further information can affect the review period.
Step 4 Official review -
05
Track validity and continuing conditions
Record the issued permit’s expiry, company tax and capital conditions, and the deadline for a further application. Review legacy permits separately under the transitional rules.
Step 5 After issuance
Budget beyond the Latvia company investment
Separate capital invested in the company from the €10,000 state payment, filing expenses and ongoing business obligations.
State payment
A first company-investor application requires €10,000 to the state in addition to qualifying capital. The lower category therefore needs at least €50,000 of company capital plus this separate payment, before other expenses.
Permit and family applications
Budget for the applicable application and residence-card charges for each person. Further applications have their own conditions and fees; confirm the current schedule rather than assuming annual registration.
Documents and health cover
Allow for health insurance, civil and police records, certification and translation. Initial documents may be submitted in Latvian or English; further-permit documents must be in Latvian under the new law.
Company and professional costs
Assess commercial risk, accounting, business operation and continuing company tax obligations separately from advisory fees. Obtain an itemised engagement before instructing legal or document work.
Schengen access with a Latvian residence permit
Explore 28 other Schengen countries for short stays while keeping Latvia as your place of residence.
Visa-free
Latvia
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- Travel area
- Schengen Area
- Short-stay rule
- 90 / 180 days
- Travel documents
- Passport + permit
A valid Latvian residence permit lets you visit other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, without a separate Schengen visa. Count visits to these destinations together; the allowance does not restart when you cross a border.
Travel with your valid passport and residence permit. Residence in Latvia follows the terms of your Latvian permit; permission to live or work elsewhere must be arranged separately. Read Latvia’s official travel guidance before departure.
Visa-free
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SloveniaVisa-free
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Eligibility for Latvia’s investor residence permit
Check nationality, the proposed company and the supporting evidence for every applicant.
Nationality and legal eligibility
This is a third-country national route with statutory exclusions. Russian and Belarusian citizens are excluded from the company-investor category; check all nationalities and any other restrictions before proceeding.
Applicant and family records
Prepare identity and civil-status evidence. A spouse and qualifying minor children require individual applications and supporting documents; do not assume adult relatives automatically qualify.
Background disclosure
Provide the police and personal-history records required for the case. Previous refusals and other relevant matters must be disclosed.
Traceable investment funds
Document how the capital and fees were earned and transferred. Evidence must connect the applicant, investment and lawful source of money.
Insurance, means and accommodation
Prepare the applicable health cover, maintenance and address evidence for the applicant and proposed family members.
A qualifying, compliant company
Verify the relevant company-size and tax-payment tests, qualifying capital and continuing conditions. Record expiry and reapplication dates rather than relying on the former annual-registration model.
Is Latvia the right route for you?
Discuss the proposed company, family and funding with us. We will help assess the current business-investment requirements, complete costs and any transitional questions affecting an existing permit.
Latvia residence permit: common questions
Practical questions beyond the investment-route comparison: legacy permits, company compliance and later residence.
I already hold a property- or bank-investor permit. What happens now?
A permit issued before 15 September 2026 remains valid until its registration or expiry date. An application filed before that date is assessed under the former law. Further residence under a former property or subordinated-bank route is governed by transitional provisions and depends on the original investment and your individual permit dates; it is not a new route for first-time applicants. Review the current Immigration Law and your permit before making another investment or travel plan.
What if the company falls below the required annual tax payments?
The company-investor permit is conditional on the company meeting the applicable annual tax-payment test: at least €40,000 for the smaller-company category or €100,000 for the larger-company category, excluding refundable tax amounts. If the company may miss that test, obtain case-specific advice promptly; capital invested alone does not preserve the qualifying basis.
Can my family apply with me?
A spouse and qualifying minor children may request their own permits alongside the investor, subject to relationship, identity, means and other applicable evidence. Check each family member’s nationality and eligibility before treating them as included in the investment amount.
How long should I allow for the application?
Company review, capital registration and document preparation take place before the authority considers a complete application. The new law provides a maximum official review framework of four months from submission, but this is not a guaranteed end-to-end completion date; appointments and requests for additional evidence may add time.
Does this investment secure permanent residence or citizenship?
No. The investor route grants temporary residence only if its conditions are met. EU long-term resident status requires actual qualifying residence in Latvia and separate statutory conditions; naturalisation is a further, distinct process. The permit’s validity period should not be confused with time physically spent in Latvia.
Other residency routes in Europe
Compare this programme with the other European routes we cover. Figures are starting investment amounts; government payments, fees, taxes and other costs are additional.
