Latvia: temporary residence and investment routes overhauled
Latvia’s new Immigration Law, in effect since 15 September 2026, changes the rules for temporary residence and closes a number of investment routes.
What are the main changes?
- The term of a temporary residence permit now matches the validity of the card, and annual card registration has been abolished.
- Residence permit programmes based on real estate and bank investments have been closed. Existing permits on these grounds are preserved until expiry and may be extended for a further five years.
- Self-employment and individual merchant status are no longer grounds for a new or renewed residence permit.
- For investments in a Latvian company, the residence permit term has been reduced from five to two years.
- The total application processing time, including extension procedures, is capped at four months.
What to consider? Mobility teams should review ongoing cases involving entrepreneurs, investors and self-employed assignees. Employees whose grounds for residence have been closed will need to identify an alternative immigration route in advance.