In this article you will find information about immigration and residency for EU citizens and for non-eu citizens.
I) European Union citizens
II) Non-European Union citizens
I) European Union citizens
EU citizens have the right to stay in Latvia on the basis of a valid travel document for the period of up to 3 months within half a year counting from the first day of entrance. If the person wishes to stay in Latvia longer, then temporary residence permit shall be applied.
EU citizen who has resided in Latvia permanently for 5 years on the basis of temporary residence can obtain the right of permanent residence.
Temporary residence permit
In order to obtain the right of temporary residence permit the following documents will be required:
– the copy of the person passport;
– person marriage dates, info on spouse, parents, children, brother, sister, languages knowledge’s, education, serving in military services, residence in foreigner countries indicated in official application form;
– information on the person possible place of residence in Latvia;
– document confirming person staying in Latvia (for example, work agreement for employee);
– The person must have income 1277.00 EUR per month.
State fees:
Registration of the residence address in Latvia – 4.27 EUR
Documents must be submitted personally in Latvia, in Immigration department.
II) Non-European Union citizens
The most common are following temporary residence permit forms:
1) If investors purchase and own one or several real estate and transaction value is at least 250.000 EUR) . The real estate shall be inquired only from the legal persons registered in Latvia, Latvian citizens, noncitizens, EU citizen, or person with the residence permit of Latvia. The transactions have to be done with clearing and no debt is allowed with regard to real estate tax. The property might be bought by you as individual.
In requesting the first temporary residence permit, he or she pays five per cent of the value of immovable property into the State budget.
2) for a period not exceeding five years if he or she has invested in the equity capital of the capital company, increasing it, or has invested in the equity capital of the capital company, founding a new capital company, and, upon requesting the first temporary residence permit, has paid EUR 10 000 into the State budget and also the investment is at least:
a) EUR 50,000 and it has been invested in a capital company which employs not more than 50 employees and the annual turnover or annual balance thereof does not exceed EUR 10 million. In relation to investment in the equity capital of the capital company a temporary residence permit shall be issued to not more than 10 foreigners if each of them has made the investment specified in this Clause and has paid EUR 10 000 into the State budget;
b) EUR 100 000 and it has been performed in a capital company, which employs more than 50 employees and the annual turnover or annual balance of which exceeds EUR 10 million;
c) EUR 100 000 and it has been invested in the equity capital of the capital company which together with one or more subsidiary undertakings registered in the Republic of Latvia employ more than 50 employees and the total annual turnover or annual balance of which exceeds EUR 10 million
3) If a person (individual) invests at least 280.000 EUR) in a credit institution for (at least) 5 years term (without rights to discontinue this investment earlier), plus there is paid fee one time fee EUR 25 000 into the State budget.
The residence permit will be issued per 5 years and once per year you might register in Immigration department.
4) Person registered in the Latvian Commercial Register as the Board member, managing or a person authorized to represent a corporate entity (a foreign corporate entity) in activities related to the branch office in Latvia;
The company must be registered per 1 year, has to pay salary at least 2554.00 EUR) per month.
The residence permit will be issued per 5 years and once per year you might register in Immigration department.
5) a representative of a foreign corporate entity.
The representative office must prove their business activity by presenting of concluded agreements.
In this case you must have income 500 EUR per month and place of residence in Latvia. The residence permit will be issued per 2 years and once per year you might register in Immigration department
6) The person is an employee in the Latvian or foreign company.
In this case you must have salary 1916.00 EUR) per month and place of residence. The residence permit will be issued per the term of the Employment agreement. Receiving of the work permit and announcement of the vacancy (1 month before receiving of the work permit) is required before receiving of the residence permit.
The residence permit will be issued within 30 days (or within 80 days if you will buy immovable property, invest in share capital of company or in bank account) if the state fee 100.00 EUR is paid, 10 days – 200.00 EUR, 5 days – 400.00 EUR.
In order to obtain the right of temporary residence permit the following documents will be required:
– the copy of the person passport and information on person address abroad;
– person marriage dates, info on spouse, parents, children, brother, sister, languages knowledge’s, education, serving in military services, residence in foreigner countries indicated in official Application form;
– information on the person possible place of residence in Latvia;
– document confirming person staying in Latvia (for example, labour agreement -for employee);
– a statement on punish ability issued by a competent institution of the citizenship or the host country (for a foreigner more than 14 years old), if a foreigner has resided in that country longer than 12 months;
– health insurance policy.
First time to apply for a residence permit, a foreigner must submit documents personally to a diplomatic or consular representative office of Latvia abroad, outside Schengen and EU countries.