Latvia Golden Visa
Latvia offers EU residency through a residence-by-investment framework — one of Europe's more affordable Schengen-access routes. Successful applicants receive a Temporary Residence Permit (biometric eID card), not a passport. Multiple investment routes exist today, but pending 2027 reforms would leave only the €50,000 business investment route.
Program at a glance
- Minimum investment
- €60,000 total minimum via the business route (€50,000 business investment + €10,000 state fee). Real estate, deposit, and bond routes require higher thresholds but are being phased out under the pending 2027 reform.
- Processing time
- 1-3 months
- Schengen access
- Schengen Area (29 countries, 90 days per 180-day period)
- Family included
- Yes
- Tax rate
- Latvian resident rules
Legal framework
Not technically called a 'golden visa' in law — successful applicants receive a Temporary Residence Permit (biometric eID card) issued under Section 23 of the Immigration Law. 'Golden Visa' is market convention, not the legal product name.
Administering body: OCMA (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) — also referred to as PMLP
Investment routes
| Route | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Business investment (primary route) | €50,000 + €10,000 state fee = €60,000 minimum | Active — only route after Jan 1, 2027 reform |
| Real estate | €250,000+ | Active currently — being eliminated under pending 2027 reform |
| Bank deposit | €280,000 | Active currently — being eliminated under pending 2027 reform |
| Government bonds | €250,000 | Active currently — being eliminated under pending 2027 reform |
Application process
- 01
Apply via a Latvian embassy abroad, or directly at OCMA in Latvia.
- 02
After a positive decision, the investor and any family members must arrive in Latvia within 3 months to collect residence permit ID cards.
- 03
Renewal (at the relevant interval) requires an additional €5,000 payment to the state budget.
Cost breakdown
| Route | Minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Business route | €60,000 minimum (€50K investment + €10K state fee) | Only route after Jan 1, 2027 reform |
| Real estate route | €250,000+ | Being phased out — see disclosure banner |
These are program-mandated minimums, not inclusive of legal or advisory fees.
Path to permanent residency and citizenship
Permanent residency available after 5 years; citizenship after 10 years, subject to language (A2 level) and civic knowledge requirements.
Program activity
OCMA data shows 206 residence permits issued through this programme in 2025 — a 51% year-over-year increase — with the €50,000 business route accounting for the majority of approvals.
Compliance note
OCMA compliance scrutiny has intensified in 2025-2026. Investment vehicles must demonstrate genuine economic activity; structures lacking real operations risk permit revocation.
Program history
Latvia introduced its residence-by-investment framework on July 1, 2010, originally as an economic stimulus measure following the 2007-2009 financial crisis. The real estate route has been under political review since 2022.
Related programs
Advantages
- Among the more affordable EU residence-by-investment routes
- Schengen Area access (90 days per 180-day period)
- Family members can be included in the application
- Path to permanent residency and citizenship over time
Considerations
- 2027 reform would eliminate all routes except the €50,000 business investment
- Business route permit validity may shorten from 5 years to 2 years
- OCMA compliance scrutiny has intensified — genuine economic activity required
- Does not grant passport-level visa-free travel beyond Schengen rules