Moving to Latvia
Latvia offers one of Europe's most affordable and accessible entry points for citizens of Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States, all of whom get the same 90-day visa-free Schengen access. BIZ TRP has built detailed guides for each Latvian route — this page is your map to the right one.
At a glance
- Visa-free stay
- 90 days — within any 180-day period, for citizens of the listed OECD countries
- Main routes
- 7+ — Golden Visa (3 sub-routes), work permit, director residence, EU Blue Card, self-employed, startup, student, family
- Golden Visa minimum
- From €50,000 — share-capital route — the most accessible investment-residency threshold covered on this site
- Path to permanent residence
- 5 years — of continuous legal stay
- Path to citizenship
- 10 years — including 5 as a permanent resident; dual citizenship generally not allowed, with exceptions for Latvian descent
- Residence authority
- OCMA — Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs
What you'll need
- Valid passport, typically with at least 6 months' validity beyond your stay Required
- Completed visa or residence-permit application form Required
- Recent passport-sized photos Required
- Proof of financial means — income, savings, or a job offer, depending on your route Required
- Health insurance meeting local requirements Required
- Proof of accommodation Required
- Criminal record certificate from your home country Required
- Route-specific documents — see the dedicated guide for your chosen route Required
How it works
Determine your route
Investment, employment, directorship, self-employment, startup, study, or family — see the route breakdown below, each with its own in-depth guide.
Prepare documentation
Passport, proof of income, health insurance, proof of accommodation, FBI or equivalent criminal background check, and biometrics.
Apply at a Latvian embassy or OCMA office
Submit your application and attend an interview if required.
Receive your decision and travel to Latvia
Once approved, travel to Latvia.
Register with OCMA
Collect your residence card upon arrival.
Ways to move to Latvia
Latvia is BIZ TRP's most deeply covered country — rather than duplicate that detail here, this page maps you to the right in-depth guide:
Golden Visa (investment). Three routes — real estate from €250,000, share capital from €50,000, or government bonds at €250,000.
Work Permit. For employees with a confirmed job offer from a Latvian employer, plus a manager/representative sub-route.
EU Blue Card. For highly qualified workers meeting the salary threshold, with up to 5 years' validity and EU-wide mobility advantages.
Director Residence. For board members or executive officers of a Latvian company meeting the minimum share-capital and company-age requirements.
Self-Employed. For freelancers and independent professionals operating their own economic activity in Latvia.
Startup Visa. For founders with a scalable, innovation-approved business idea.
Citizenship and Retirement. Once you're settled, these guides cover the long-term path to naturalization and Latvia's route for financially independent retirees.
Student and Family Reunification routes are also available — contact us and we'll confirm the current requirements for your situation.
Health insurance and housing
Health insurance is mandatory for all residence-permit applicants — international or Latvian private cover is accepted, and long-term residents become eligible for the public healthcare system. For housing, City24.lv and SS.lv are the main listing sites; Riga offers everything from historic flats to modern apartments, and proof of accommodation is required for your application.
Tax considerations
Once you become a tax resident of Latvia (usually after living there more than half the year), you'll be taxed on your Latvia income under Latvia's own rules. Whether you also remain tax-liable back home depends entirely on your home country's rules — some countries tax residents only, while a few (including the United States) tax citizens on worldwide income no matter where they live. This varies enormously by nationality, so BIZ TRP recommends working with a cross-border tax advisor familiar with both Latvia and your home country's rules before you relocate.
What it costs
BIZ TRP fees
- Route confirmation & relocation support
- Ask us for a quote — from €120/hour
Why work with BIZ TRP
With this many Latvian routes available, the hardest part is often just picking the right one — a mismatch here costs months, not days.
- Route matching. We match your situation — investment capacity, employment, business, or retirement — to the Latvian route that actually fits.
- End-to-end management. We manage your chosen application from submission through OCMA approval.
- Long-term planning. We help you plan the path from temporary residence through permanent residence to citizenship, if that's your goal.
Common questions
I'm not sure which Latvia route fits me — where do I start?
Tell us your situation — investing, working, running a company, or retiring — and we'll point you to the right dedicated guide and confirm eligibility before you apply.
Is Latvia's Golden Visa really the cheapest in Europe?
Its share-capital route, from €50,000, is one of the more accessible investment-residency thresholds we cover — though the annual company-tax renewal condition is worth understanding before you commit. See the dedicated Golden Visa guide for the full breakdown.
Can I bring my family?
Most Latvian routes allow family members to be included, though the specifics vary by route — check the dedicated guide for your chosen path or ask us directly.
Ready to move to Latvia?
BIZ TRP matches you to the right Latvian route and manages your application from submission to OCMA approval — talk to us about your situation.
Talk to us about moving to Latvia Email us