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Latvia · Spouse visas

Latvia Spouse visa

Income needed: €780+ a month ≈ $870

Temporary residence permit for the spouse of a Latvian citizen, non-citizen or permanent resident (Immigration Law, Section 27(1)(2))

First checked against official sources on Change log

Key facts

Spouse visa is a spouse visas route for Latvia. Applicants need income of €780+ a month ≈ $870. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.

Money needed
€780+ a month ≈ $870
Government fees
€160 ≈ $180
Processing
Up to 30 days
First stay
2 yrs

Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fee €160 ≈ $180; income to show €780+/mo ≈ $870; decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

Government fees€160 ≈ $180
  • EUR 160 (≈ $180)State fee for document review within 30 days; EUR 280 (≈ $310) within 10 working days, EUR 560 (≈ $630) within 5 working days.
Shown, not spent€780+/mo ≈ $870
  • EUR 780 a month (≈ $870)Means of subsistence per adult, equal to the minimum monthly wage; EUR 234 (≈ $260) for a minor child.
RenewalRenewable

Temporary permit of up to two years, then EU long-term resident status after five years of residence.

Saeima / Latvijas Vēstnesis

Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence

EU long-term resident status after 5 years of continuous, lawful residence; half of study time counts.

Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs

CitizenshipAfter 5 years as a permanent resident

Naturalisation needs 5 years of residence on a permanent residence permit, knowledge of Latvian and the Constitution, and a legal source of income.

Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP), Latvia

ProcessingUp to 30 days

The authority answers on a temporary residence permit within 30 days of receiving all documents.

Saeima of the Republic of Latvia

Presence rulesAbsence limits

For long-term status, absences must not exceed six successive months or ten months in total over the five years.

Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs

Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

  • Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

What you'll need

Who can apply3

  • The applicant is the spouse of a Latvian citizen, a Latvian non-citizen or a foreigner with a permanent residence permit.
  • The spouses will live together and keep a joint household.
  • A permit is refused if there are grounds to believe the marriage was concluded to obtain residence.

What you must show3

  • Means of subsistence of EUR 780 (≈ $870) per month for an adult and EUR 234 (≈ $260) per month for a minor child.
  • The state fee for document review is EUR 160 (≈ $180) within 30 days, EUR 280 (≈ $310) within 10 working days or EUR 560 (≈ $630) within 5 working days.
  • The spouse in Latvia pays EUR 17 (≈ $19) for approval of the invitation, or EUR 10 (≈ $11) when filed on latvija.lv.

Documents4

  • Copy of the passport, application form and a photograph.
  • Criminal record statement from the country of citizenship or residence for applicants over 14 who lived there over 12 months.
  • Documents confirming the relationship, proof of subsistence and proof of payment of the state fee.
  • From 15 September 2026 documents for an initial permit may be submitted in Latvian or English.

Steps2

  1. The spouse in Latvia first has the invitation approved by OCMA electronically; this takes two working days.
  2. The maximum processing time of a residence permit application is four months.

After you arrive2

  • The permit is granted for up to two years.
  • EU permanent resident status needs at least five years of residence in Latvia on a temporary residence permit.

What happens at day 183

How Latvia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

Stay on this route

Up to 2 years at first, renewable

Tax residence
  • At least 183 days in any 12-month period starting or ending in the tax yearA person staying in Latvia 183 days or more is a tax resident; a declared place of residence in Latvia also makes the person resident.
Foreign-source income

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.

All tax rules for Latvia Tax records checked

Official site
Full official text

Temporary residence permit for the foreign spouse of a Latvian citizen, Latvian non-citizen or foreigner with a permanent residence permit, granted for up to two years; permanent resident status follows after five years of residence. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

What you must show and pay

  • Income of at least EUR 780 a month (≈ $870) · Means of subsistence per adult, equal to the minimum monthly wage; EUR 234 (≈ $260) for a minor child. 5
  • A fee of EUR 160 (≈ $180) · State fee for document review within 30 days; EUR 280 (≈ $310) within 10 working days, EUR 560 (≈ $630) within 5 working days. 3

Requirements

  • The applicant is the spouse of a Latvian citizen, a Latvian non-citizen or a foreigner with a permanent residence permit. 1
  • The spouses will live together and keep a joint household. 1
  • A permit is refused if there are grounds to believe the marriage was concluded to obtain residence. 1
  • Means of subsistence of EUR 780 (≈ $870) per month for an adult and EUR 234 (≈ $260) per month for a minor child. 5
  • The state fee for document review is EUR 160 (≈ $180) within 30 days, EUR 280 (≈ $310) within 10 working days or EUR 560 (≈ $630) within 5 working days. 3
  • The spouse in Latvia pays EUR 17 (≈ $19) for approval of the invitation, or EUR 10 (≈ $11) when filed on latvija.lv. 3
  • Copy of the passport, application form and a photograph. 2
  • Criminal record statement from the country of citizenship or residence for applicants over 14 who lived there over 12 months. 2
  • Documents confirming the relationship, proof of subsistence and proof of payment of the state fee. 2
  • From 15 September 2026 documents for an initial permit may be submitted in Latvian or English. 6
  • The spouse in Latvia first has the invitation approved by OCMA electronically; this takes two working days. 2 4
  • The maximum processing time of a residence permit application is four months. 6
  • The permit is granted for up to two years. 1
  • EU permanent resident status needs at least five years of residence in Latvia on a temporary residence permit. 6

Stay

  • Temporary residence permit for up to two years; EU permanent resident status follows after five years of residence on a temporary permit.
  • First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
  • Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Unrestricted employment rights for the spouse of a Latvian citizen, non-citizen or permanent resident (Immigration Law Section 44).

Family

A minor child of the Latvian citizen, non-citizen or permanent resident can request a permit of up to six years; other family members of the holder can request a permit for the same term (Immigration Law Section 27(1)(3) and (3)).

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

  1. Immigration Law (Imigrācijas likums), in force from 15 September 2026 · Saeima / Latvijas Vēstnesis (likumi.lv) · checked 2026-10-11
  2. Family unification (documents for a residence permit) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-11
  3. State fee for issuing the residence permit · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-03-18
  4. Approval of a letter of invitation · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-12-04
  5. The necessary subsistence (from 1 April 2026) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-03-16
  6. New Immigration Law takes effect (15 September 2026) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-09-15
  7. Immigration Law (adopted 20 August 2026, in force 15 September 2026) · Saeima of the Republic of Latvia (likumi.lv) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-09-01
  8. Initial residence permit, spouse: documents to be submitted · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-12-29
  9. The long-term resident status of the European Community in Latvia · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2020-10-06
  10. Naturalisation (Latvian citizenship) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP), Latvia · checked 2026-10-11

Spouse visa and its alternatives

RouteMoney neededStayWork
Spouse visaNeeds income of €780+ a month ≈ $8702 yr, renewableYes
Spouse of a citizen Portugal–––
Spouse of a resident SpainNeeds income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010–Yes
Spouse of a resident Georgia–1 yr, renewable–
Spouse of a resident ItalyNeeds income of €11k+ a year ≈ $12k–Yes

Questions people ask

How much money do I need for the Spouse visa?

Income of at least EUR 780 a month (≈ $870). Means of subsistence per adult, equal to the minimum monthly wage; EUR 234 (≈ $260) for a minor child. A fee of EUR 160 (≈ $180). State fee for document review within 30 days; EUR 280 (≈ $310) within 10 working days, EUR 560 (≈ $630) within 5 working days.

How long can I stay on the Spouse visa?

Temporary residence permit for up to two years; EU permanent resident status follows after five years of residence on a temporary permit.

How long does the Spouse visa take to process?

The authority answers on a temporary residence permit within 30 days of receiving all documents.

Can I work on the Spouse visa?

Yes. Unrestricted employment rights for the spouse of a Latvian citizen, non-citizen or permanent resident (Immigration Law Section 44).

Can I bring my family on the Spouse visa?

A minor child of the Latvian citizen, non-citizen or permanent resident can request a permit of up to six years; other family members of the holder can request a permit for the same term (Immigration Law Section 27(1)(3) and (3)).

Who can apply for the Spouse visa?

Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Does the Spouse visa lead to permanent residence in Latvia?

Time on the Spouse visa counts toward permanent residence in Latvia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Spouse visa counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years as a permanent resident.

How are Spouse visa holders taxed in Latvia?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse visa. The standard rules apply: 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.

More in Latvia

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Spouse and partner visas elsewhere

🇬🇷 Spouse of a citizen🇫🇷 Spouse of a resident🇬🇧 Fiancé visa🇳🇱 Spouse of a citizen🇨🇾 Spouse of a resident🇦🇱 Spouse of a resident

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about this route AI

An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.

How this was checked

Checked on 2026-10-11 against 10 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

  1. Immigration Law (Imigrācijas likums), in force from 15 September 2026 · Saeima / Latvijas Vēstnesis (likumi.lv) · checked 2026-10-11
  2. Family unification (documents for a residence permit) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-11
  3. State fee for issuing the residence permit · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-11
  4. Approval of a letter of invitation · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-11
  5. The necessary subsistence (from 1 April 2026) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-11
  6. New Immigration Law takes effect (15 September 2026) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-11
  7. Immigration Law (adopted 20 August 2026, in force 15 September 2026) · Saeima of the Republic of Latvia (likumi.lv) · checked 2026-10-11
  8. Initial residence permit, spouse: documents to be submitted · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
  9. The long-term resident status of the European Community in Latvia · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-10
  10. Naturalisation (Latvian citizenship) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP), Latvia · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.