Latvia is a charming Baltic nation in Northern Europe, renowned for its beautiful natural landscapes and rich history, and strategically positioned between major European and Nordic markets. Its residence by investment programme lets investors and their families secure residency in an EU member state through an investment in a Latvian company, with visa free travel across the Schengen Area.
Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is one of the three Baltic states in Northern Europe, famous for its medieval architecture and its diverse cultural scene.
Latvia is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east and Belarus to the southeast, with a coastline along the Baltic Sea to the west. It covers about 64,600 square kilometres of mostly flat land, with dense forests, lakes, rolling hills and around 500 kilometres of coastline.
The capital, Riga, is the largest city in the Baltic states and the country's political, financial and cultural centre. Set on the Daugava River, it is famous for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town and its impressive Art Nouveau buildings.
The official language is Latvian, a Baltic language of the Indo-European family. Russian is also widely understood, and English is increasingly spoken, especially in cities and among younger people. Latvia is a parliamentary republic.
Latvia's key sectors include manufacturing, services, agriculture and information technology, with exports led by machinery, wood products and agricultural goods. The euro has been the official currency since 1 January 2014, when it replaced the lats.
Latvia joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, and is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the Schengen Area and the euro area.
Investing in a second residency can offer various benefits, including better global mobility, access to education and healthcare, retirement planning, a pathway to citizenship and a Plan B for the family.
Travel visa-free across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Applicants can include their spouse and children under the age of 18.
Qualify from EUR 60,000 in total: a EUR 50,000 investment in a Latvian company plus a one-time EUR 10,000 payment to the state budget.
The permit is issued for two years and can be renewed, and the new law has removed the old requirement to register the permit every year.
Latvian tax residency is mainly based on spending 183 days or more in the country, so investors who live elsewhere are generally not taxed in Latvia on their worldwide income.
After five years of residence in Latvia with a temporary permit, you can apply for EU permanent resident status, with Latvian at A2 level.
As well as making the investment, every main applicant must meet the conditions below.
An investment in the share capital of a Latvian company:
Government fees apply for the residence permit, as well as legal and processing fees. Your advisor will give you the full cost for your family during your consultation.
The application process for Latvia residency by investment is straightforward, and it takes about 6 months from start to finish. The process can be divided into the following stages.
Residence by investment in Latvia is governed by the new Immigration Law, adopted by the Saeima on 20 August 2026, which took effect on 15 September 2026. It keeps the company investment route and sets the permit validity at two years.
An investment in the share capital of a Latvian company: EUR 50,000 in a company with fewer than 50 employees and annual turnover of no more than EUR 10,000,000, or EUR 100,000 in a larger company. A one-time payment of EUR 10,000 to the state budget is also required.
No. Under the new Immigration Law, in force since 15 September 2026, real estate purchases and subordinated liabilities with a Latvian bank no longer qualify for a residence permit, and the interest-free government bond option has also been removed.
The whole process takes about 6 months, including setting up the investment. Once the application is submitted, the immigration office gives its decision within 30 days, and no later than 4 months.
The residence permit is issued for two years and can be renewed as long as you keep meeting the conditions. The new law has also removed the old requirement to register the permit every year.
Applicants can include their spouse and children under the age of 18.
Yes. After at least five years of residence in Latvia with a temporary residence permit, you can apply for EU permanent resident status, provided you speak Latvian at least at A2 level.
Latvian residence permit holders can travel visa-free within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
A thirty-minute consultation with our advisory team will tell you whether Latvia is the right programme for you, and if it is not, which of our other programmes is.