EuropeSelect the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Latvia.
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals (e.g. US, UK, Canada, Japan). Valid 3 years for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We apply on your behalf end-to-end. Fees illustrative.
Tourist Visa
Short-stay visa for tourism: up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare your forms and documents; you attend the consulate/VFS appointment to submit biometrics. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Transit Visa
Required by some nationalities to pass through the international transit area of a Schengen airport without entering. Whether you need one depends on your nationality. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Business Visitor Visa
Short-stay visa for business trips (meetings, conferences, negotiations): up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare forms and documents; you submit at the consulate/VFS. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
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Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
For stays over 90 days to study. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. We guide you; submission is in person. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Student Visa
Temporary residence permit for full-time studies at an accredited Latvian higher education institution; the institution files the invitation with PMLP. Issued for the academic year (up to 1 year) and renewed annually for the study duration; applicants must show subsistence funds, accommodation and health insurance, with foreign education documents assessed by the Academic Information Centre. Study years count partially toward permanent-residence qualification.
Internship / Trainee Visa
Temporary residence permit for third-country nationals undertaking a traineeship/study practice with a Latvian host organisation linked to their studies, under a traineeship agreement. Issued for the practice period (typically up to one year) and requires proof of subsistence and insurance. Does not itself lead to settlement.
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Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Digital Nomad Visa
One-year Type D visa for third-country nationals employed by an employer registered in an OECD member state, or registered as self-employed in an OECD country, who work remotely from Latvia. Requires gross monthly income of at least 2.5x Latvia's previous-year average wage (EUR 4,213 in 2026) evidenced over the prior 6 months, plus health insurance with at least EUR 42,600 coverage. Renewable for one additional year; the visa gives no right to local employment in Latvia.
Self-Employment Visa
Temporary residence permit for third-country nationals registered as self-employed in Latvia. Requires a business plan, proof of personal funds sufficient to carry it out, any required licences, and proof of subsistence (PMLP's business-activity subsistence rate is about triple the minimum monthly wage, EUR 2,340 from April 2026); from the second year the business plan's fulfilment must be confirmed by a sworn auditor. Issued for up to one year at a time and renewable while the activity continues.
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
Temporary residence permit of up to 3 years for non-EU founders intending to create or develop an innovative, scalable product in Latvia; no minimum capital is required. The business idea is assessed by an expert committee at the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA), which meets monthly and decides within about 60 days; the company must then be registered in Latvia within 3 months. Subsistence of EUR 500/month for the founder (plus EUR 500 per adult and EUR 150 per minor family member) must be shown.
Skilled Work Visa
For stays over 90 days to work. Requires employer sponsorship / a work permit before you can apply, so eligibility is conditional. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Skilled Work Visa
Temporary residence permit (up to 5 years cumulative) for third-country nationals with a job offer from a Latvian employer; the employer must first register an approved invitation, normally after advertising the vacancy with the State Employment Agency (NVA) for at least 10 working days. Pay must meet the wage floor set by Cabinet regulation (tied to the previous year's average gross wage; sector-average or higher rates apply to some categories from April 2026, with a EUR 1,815 floor). Short assignments can instead use a one-year Type D visa with the right to employment.
Skilled Work Visa
Residence permit for highly qualified employment, issued for the length of the employment contract up to 5 years. Requires higher professional qualifications (or regulated-profession recognition) and gross pay of at least 1.5x Latvia's previous-year average wage (EUR 2,723/month from April 2026; about 1.2x, EUR 2,178, for shortage occupations). Examination takes 10 working days (EUR 100) with a 5-working-day expedited option; leads to EU long-term residence after 5 years.
Seasonal Work Visa
Type D visa with the right to seasonal employment for up to 6 months in any 12-month period, used mainly in agriculture, horticulture, food processing, tourism and hospitality. The Latvian employer must register an approved invitation and is responsible for the worker's accommodation, healthcare and conditions. The visa does not lead to residence; a fresh application is needed each season.
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
Permit for managers, specialists and trainee employees transferred from a non-EU entity to a Latvian entity of the same group for assignments over 90 days. Maximum total stay is 3 years for managers/specialists and 1 year for trainees; mobility rules allow holders of ICT permits from other EU states to work in Latvia for limited periods. Pay and conditions must match those of comparable local workers.
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Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Temporary residence permit (up to 5 years) for purchasing special-purpose interest-free Latvian government bonds with a nominal value of EUR 250,000, plus a EUR 38,000 payment to the state budget on first issuance. An alternative financial route is EUR 280,000 in subordinated liabilities (deposit) with a Latvian credit institution for at least 5 years, with a EUR 25,000 state budget payment. Subsistence of EUR 500/month per adult must be evidenced.
Residence by Real Estate
Temporary residence permit (up to 5 years) for purchasing real estate worth at least EUR 250,000: one functionally related property in Riga, Jurmala or 12 listed municipalities, or up to two properties (each at least EUR 125,000) elsewhere, with cadastral value of at least EUR 80,000. A one-off payment of 5% of the purchase value to the state budget is due on first issuance; property must be bought non-cash from qualifying sellers and carry no tax debts. Renewable while ownership continues; permanent residence possible after 5 years of continuous residence.
Business Investor Visa
Temporary residence permit (up to 5 years) for investing at least EUR 50,000 in the equity of a Latvian company with up to 50 employees and turnover/balance under EUR 10 million (plus a EUR 10,000 state budget payment), or EUR 100,000 in a larger company or group employing 50+ with turnover/balance over EUR 10 million. Up to 10 foreign investors may qualify per small company if each meets the conditions. Subsistence of EUR 500/month per adult must be shown; renewable while the investment is maintained.
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Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Working Holiday Visa
One-year working-holiday arrangement under bilateral agreements with Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, allowing young citizens of partner countries (generally 18-30; 18-35 for Canada, 18-34 for South Korea) to holiday in Latvia with the right to take incidental employment. Issued for up to one year and not extendable into settlement. Applicants show return funds, insurance and a clean record per the relevant agreement.
Not yet researched
Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
Temporary residence permit for spouses, minor children and dependants of third-country nationals holding Latvian temporary residence permits or EU Blue Cards; the permit is issued for the same period as the sponsor's permit. The sponsor must show subsistence for each family member (EUR 500/month per adult, lower child rates per Cabinet regulation) and adequate housing; genuine family ties are verified. Family-member examination fee is EUR 70 (30 days).
Spouse / Partner Visa
Residence route for third-country spouses of Latvian citizens, Latvian non-citizens or permanent residence permit holders. A staged track applies: 1-year temporary permit on first application, 4-year temporary permit on the second, and a permanent residence permit on the third, provided the marriage subsists; subsistence of about EUR 500/month must be shown. Marriages of convenience are actively screened.
Ancestry / Repatriation
Five-year temporary residence permit for third-country nationals with a Latvian or Liv ancestor in the direct ascending line, and their family members; it replaced the former repatriate status closed to new applicants on 1 January 2024. Permanent residence is available after five years of continuous residence with state-language proficiency of at least A2. Separately, Latvian exiles of 17 June 1940 citizens and their descendants may register Latvian citizenship directly (dual citizenship allowed for descendants born before 1 October 2014; decision within 4 months).
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Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Long-Term Residence Permit
EU long-term resident status after 5 years of continuous lawful residence in Latvia (absences under 6 consecutive / 10 total months), with state-language proficiency at A2 or higher and stable income of at least minimum-wage level with taxes paid over the preceding 12 months. The residence card is renewed every 5 years; decisions for third-country nationals issue within 3 months. Examination fee EUR 160 (30 days) or EUR 280 (10 days).
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