Residence permit in Latvia

A residence permit is the right of a foreign citizen to permanently reside in Latvia throughout the year and to move freely in all countries of the Schengen zone without additional visas 180 days a year.

A residence permit through real estate can be obtained if a foreign citizen has purchased in Latvia and he owns one or more real estate objects.

Residence permit is issued for a period of 5 years for the investor and his family members (spouse and children under 18, children over 18 if the child is a student and lives with their parents), with the subsequent possibility of extension, provided that the real estate is owned by the investor .

Persons who have received a residence permit is not necessary to live in Latvia permanently. And also, if desired, a person who has received a residence permit can live in Latvia for an throughout the whole year. To save a residence permit, registration of a residence permit is required once a year.

Latvian legislation(law) does not prohibit obtaining a residence permit in Latvia if there is already a residence permit in another country.

It is not necessary to open a current account in Latvia, you can pay for real estate from an account of a bank in another country.

Also, obtaining a residence permit does not oblige the investor to become a tax resident of Latvia.

• Investor has acquired the rights of the property, Riga, Jurmala or Riga region (Adazi, Baldone, Carnikava, Garkalne, Ikskile, Kekava, Marupe, Olaine, Ropazi, Salaspils, Saulkrasti, Babite or Stopiņi) region, (except when the property is not built-up land) the value of which is at least 250 000 euros, or in another territory of Latvia outside the listed administrative territories – no more than two immovable property objects and each of them is functionally related real estate, the total value of which is at least 250,000 euros;
• On the day of acquisition of the immovable property, the cadastre value thereof is of at least 80 000 euros. If a foreign citizen has acquired two real estate objects outside of Riga, Jurmala or the Riga region, the cadastral value of each property on the day of acquisition must be at least 40,000 euros; if the cadastral value is less than specified, the market value of the property in accordance with the valuation of a certified appraiser cannot be less than 250,000 euros;
• When applying for the first temporary residence permit, an investor must pay to the State budget a one-time payment in the amount of 5% from the acquisition value of the immovable property;
• Immovable property shall not contain an agriculture land or wooded area;
• Immovable property has been acquired from a legal person registered in the Republic of Latvia or a member state of the European Union, European Economic Area or Swiss Confederation, who is a taxpayer in the Republic of Latvia for the purpose of regulatory enactments governing the tax area of the Republic of Latvia, or from a natural person, who is a citizen of Latvia, non-citizen of Latvia, citizen of the European Union or a foreigner, who stays in the Republic of Latvia on the basis of a valid residence permit issued by the Republic of Latvia;
• Full transaction amount of the immovable property shall be paid via non-cash payment (cashless payment by transfer);
• There are no debt liabilities for the immovable property tax.

• Questionnaire of a specified by the state type;
• Foreign Passport (show when submitting documents);
• Photo (in passport format);
• Document, certifying the necessary means for subsistence;
• A statement issued by the competent authority of the country of citizenship or residence, if a foreigner has stayed there for a period longer than 12 months, regarding penal records (for a foreigner aged above 14 years);
• Bank’s statement, certifying that the payment for acquisition of the immovable property was performed via non-cash wire transfer;
• Reference of a certified immovable property appraiser regarding the compliance of the market value of the immovable property with the value specified in the Immigration Law, if the cadastre value of the acquired immovable property does not correspond with the provisions of the Immigration Law;
• Document, certifying that the State fee for processing of documents is paid.

Additional documents for family members:

• Copy of marriage certificate;
• Copy of birth certificate for a child;
• Notarially certified consent of the mother/father, if the child receives temporary residence permit only with one of the parents.

Original documents are to be presented, when submitting copies.

Term for review of documents and fees:

• within 5 working days ≈ 450 euros;
• within 10 working days ≈ 300 euros;
• within 30 days ≈ 150 euros.

Issuance of a residence permit:

• Within 3 months after the date, when the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs has adopted a decision regarding the issue of residence permit, the investor and his or her family members shall arrive in Latvia to receive a personal identity card or electronic identity card (eID). If the above-mentioned period has expired, the decision regarding the issue of residence permit shall become void and the procedure shall be commenced from the beginning.
• Term of issue of personal cards and fee:
  • within 2 working days – 28.46 euros
  • within 10 days – 14.23 euros
• Before receipt of the residence permit the following additional documents must be submitted to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs:
  • A statement issued by the Latvian medical institution that a person is not suffering from tuberculosis in active phase;
  • Health insurance policy for the period of validity of the personal identity card.