Moving to Latvia
13 ways to move to Latvia in our guide: 1 nomad / remote-work visa, 2 investor routes, 1 pay-to-stay route, 2 business / startup routes, 5 work visas, 1 student visa, 1 spouse visa.
Remote workers: Digital nomad visa, €4,538+ a month ≈ $5,070. Smallest investment: Investor · €50k share capital, from €50k ≈ $56k. Checked against official sources on .
Latvia offers a handful of clear routes for non-EU newcomers: investing in a company, founding a start-up, taking a highly qualified job, filling a sponsored vacancy, or studying full-time. Each route has its own gatekeeper and paperwork, so the right starting point depends on what you plan to do here.
Nomad / Remote work · 1
Digital nomad visa
Income needed: €4,538+ a month ≈ $5,070
Investing · 2
Investor
Investment needed: from €50k ≈ $56k
Retire or live on savings · 1
Retiree residence
Income needed: €1,231+ a month ≈ $1,380
Business / Startup · 2
Company board member permit
Assets needed: €2,800+ ≈ $3,130
Startup founder permit
Income needed: €780+ a month ≈ $870
Work · 5
Student · 1
Student permit
First stay: 2 yrs
Spouse visas · 1
For people married to, or in a partnership with, a citizen or permanent resident.
Spouse visa
Income needed: €780+ a month ≈ $870
Free movement and visa-free stays · 1
EU free movement · Lets you live here
Open to 31 passports: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Tax
Latvia's personal income tax is progressive, with a non-taxable minimum per month.
Standard rules
Personal income tax 2026
Worldwide income
Details
- On: Worldwide income of residents
- Limit: €105k/yr ≈ $118k
Residents are taxed on worldwide income: 25.5% on annual income below EUR105,300 (≈ $118,000) and 33% above, plus an additional 3% on annual income over EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000); non-taxable minimum EUR550 (≈ $610) a month in 2026.
Taxed on
Worldwide income of residents, including foreign-source income declared in annex D2 of the annual return; capital income and capital gains are taxed at 25.5%.
Who it applies to
- Latvian tax residents: persons with a declared place of residence in Latvia or who stay in Latvia 183 days or more in any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year.
Limits
- EUR 105,300 a year (≈ $118,000) · 33% rate above this annual income.
- EUR 200,000 a year (≈ $223,000) · Additional 3% on income above this amount.
- EUR 550 a month (≈ $610) · Non-taxable minimum for 2026 (EUR 6,600 (≈ $7,370) per year).
Days in the country
- At least 183 days in any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year · A person staying in Latvia 183 days or more is a tax resident; a declared place of residence in Latvia also makes the person resident.
Tax residence
Residency is also decided by the permanent place of residence; a person who leaves Latvia is not treated as resident for the part of the year after leaving if closer ties to a foreign country exist (family, property or social insurance abroad).
Visas
Independent of permit.
Other taxes
Mandatory state social insurance contributions total 34.09% (employer 23.59%, employee 10.5%) on salary up to EUR105,300 (≈ $118,000) a year.
Checked against official sources on Change log
Checked against official sources on Change log
Latvia in pictures
Switch to later · 1
Work
Post-study job search
Income needed: €780+ a month ≈ $870
Path to permanent residence · 1
- PR after 5 years · Permanent resident of the European Union status
Arriving in Latvia: first steps
- Make sure your invitation or sponsorship is approved by OCMA before you submit your permit application.
- Arrange health cover as required for your route; for employment, the employer is responsible for health care.
- Have proof of subsistence ready for yourself and any family members applying with you.
- Submit documents in Latvian or English for initial permit and visa applications.
- Once settled, register your address and open a bank account for local payments.
- Keep your tax position separate: declare foreign-source income as a resident where required.
Questions people ask
What is the Latvia digital nomad visa income requirement in 2026?
Latvia has 1 nomad or remote-work visa. Digital nomad visa asks for an income of at least EUR 4,538 a month (≈ $5,070) and gives a first stay of 1 year that can be renewed.
How much do you need to invest for residency in Latvia?
Latvia has 2 investor routes. Investor · €150k fund asks for an investment of at least EUR 150,000 (≈ $168,000) and gives a first stay of 5 years. Investor · €50k share capital asks for an investment from EUR 50,000 (≈ $55,900) and gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed.
Can I retire or live in Latvia on my savings or pension?
Latvia has 1 retirement or pay-to-stay route. Retiree residence asks for an income of at least EUR 1,231 a month (≈ $1,380) and gives a first stay of 2 years.
Can I move to Latvia by starting a business?
Latvia has 2 business or startup routes. Company board member permit asks for assets of at least EUR 2,800 (≈ $3,130) and gives a first stay of 2 years. Startup founder permit asks for an income of at least EUR 780 a month (≈ $870) and gives a first stay of 3 years.
What work visas does Latvia offer foreigners?
Latvia has 5 work visas. Blue Card asks for a salary from EUR 2,178 a month (≈ $2,430) and gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed. Seasonal work visa asks for a salary from EUR 1,516 a month (≈ $1,690) and gives a first stay of 6 months that can be renewed. Work visa (D) asks for a salary of at least EUR 1,815 a month (≈ $2,030) and gives a first stay of 1 year.
How do I get a student visa for Latvia?
Latvia has 1 student visa. Student permit gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed.
Can I join my spouse or partner in Latvia?
Yes. Latvia has 1 spouse visa. Spouse visa asks for an income of at least EUR 780 a month (≈ $870) and gives a first stay of 2 years that can be renewed.
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≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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