Work Permit and Residence Permit in Latvia
Non-EU nationals with a job offer from a Latvian employer can obtain a work permit and, on that basis, a temporary residence permit (TRP). A separate sub-route exists for company representatives — managers who qualify through the company's tax contribution rather than a personal ownership stake.
BIZ TRP confirms which route fits your situation before you commit to either employer or company.
At a glance
- Minimum wage (employee route)
- €1,400/month — for the standard employer-sponsored work permit
- Manager/representative route
- €21,350/year or €1,750/month — in company taxes paid to the state and local government
- Work permit processing
- ~30 days — via the State Employment Agency (SEA)
- Residence registration deadline
- Within 30 days of arrival — at OCMA
- TRP term
- 1–2 years — renewable
- Path to permanent residence
- 5 years — of legal residence, subject to residency and language requirements
Who needs this
- A job offer from a Latvian employer willing to sponsor the work permit Required
- Higher education, or experience matching the planned work in Latvia Required
- Wage of at least €1,400 per month — employee route Required
- Clean criminal record in your home country and/or country of residence Required
- Medical certificate confirming your health status Required
- The employer has no outstanding tax debts and is registered in Latvia Required
- For the manager/representative route: the company pays at least €21,350/year (or €1,750/month) in state and local taxes, and holds the minimum share capital set by law — company-representative sub-route If applicable
- Valid travel document Required
- Proof of accommodation and health insurance covering Latvia Required
Registration process
Secure a job offer
From a Latvian employer willing to sponsor your work permit application — or, for the representative route, from the company you will represent as a manager.
Employer applies for the work permit
Submitted to the State Employment Agency (SEA); for the standard route, the employer typically has to show the position could not be filled from the local labor market.
Gather your documents
Application form, valid passport, job offer/employment contract, qualifications evidence, medical certificate, criminal record certificate, and a recent photo.
Receive your work permit
Standard processing is around 30 days.
Apply for a national (D) visa
At a Latvian embassy or consulate, with the work permit, visa application form, passport, photo, proof of accommodation, and health insurance.
Travel to Latvia and register your residence
Register at OCMA within 30 days of arrival, with your passport, work permit, employment contract, and proof of accommodation and health insurance.
Apply for your Temporary Residence Permit
Submitted to OCMA with the TRP application form, work permit, employment contract, health insurance, criminal record certificate, and proof of sufficient financial means.
Receive your TRP
Typically valid for 1–2 years and renewable, provided the employment — or, for the representative route, the company's tax and activity status — continues to meet requirements.
What it costs
Government fees
- Work permit application fee
- Ask us for the current figure for your case.
- TRP application fee
- Ask us for the current figure for your case.
BIZ TRP fees
- Route confirmation & application support
- Ask us for a quote — from €120/hour
Why work with BIZ TRP
Employer paperwork is usually where this route stalls — a missing SEA filing or an employer with outstanding tax debts can block your application no matter how complete your own documents are.
- Route confirmation. We confirm whether the standard employee route or the manager/representative sub-route fits your situation.
- Employer-side coordination. We help make sure your employer's SEA filing and tax standing are in order before you submit.
- End-to-end application management. We manage the sequence from work permit through D-visa to TRP, so nothing is submitted out of order.
Common questions
What's the difference between the employee route and the manager/representative route?
The employee route qualifies on your job offer and a minimum wage of €1,400/month. The representative route is for managers of a Latvian company — a limited liability company, joint stock company, or branch/representative office of a foreign company — and qualifies based on the company paying at least €21,350/year (or €1,750/month) in taxes, rather than your personal wage.
Is this the same as the director-residence route?
No — if you're an investor or owner taking an active board role in a company you control, see our Director Residence page instead. This page covers employment-based permits and the company-representative sub-route, which qualifies on the company's tax contribution.
How long does the whole process take?
The work permit itself typically takes around 30 days; the visa and TRP stages add further processing time on top of that, so plan for the whole sequence to take several months.
Need help with Work Permit & Residence Permit in Latvia?
BIZ TRP confirms the right route for your situation and manages your application from work permit through to your residence permit.
Talk to us about Work Permit & Residence Permit Email us