Latvia · Student
Latvia Student permit
First stay: 2 yrs
Temporary residence permit for study
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Student permit is a student route for Latvia. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €160 ≈ $180
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee €160 ≈ $180; decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€160 ≈ $180
- EUR 160 (≈ $180)State fee for review of documents for a temporary residence permit within 30 days; EUR 280 (≈ $310) within 10 working days and EUR 560 (≈ $630) within 5 working days.
Shown, not spent€780+/mo ≈ $870
- EUR 780 a month (≈ $870)Financial means equal to the minimum monthly wage where no special category applies (Cabinet Regulation 225); EUR 234 (≈ $260) per month for a minor child.
RenewalRenewable
Issued for up to two years and renewable.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Half of study time counts toward the 5 years for EU long-term resident status.
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.
ProcessingUp to 30 days
The authority answers on a temporary residence permit within 30 days of receiving all documents.
Presence rulesAbsence limits
For long-term status, absences must not exceed six successive months or ten months in total over the five years.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a place at a school or university in Latvia
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
What you must show2
- Financial means equal the minimum monthly wage of EUR 780 (≈ $870) where no special category applies.
- An additional EUR 234 (≈ $260) per month applies for a minor child.
Documents1
- A study contract with an accredited institution is submitted.
Steps1
- The institution's invitation is approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
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
Full official text
Temporary residence permit for full-time study at an accredited university or college; the invitation is approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs and a study contract is required. Family members may accompany only students who are citizens of NATO member states or who study in a doctoral programme. 1 2 3 4 5
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least EUR 780 a month (≈ $870) · Financial means equal to the minimum monthly wage where no special category applies (Cabinet Regulation 225); EUR 234 (≈ $260) per month for a minor child. 1
- A fee of EUR 160 (≈ $180) · State fee for review of documents for a temporary residence permit within 30 days; EUR 280 (≈ $310) within 10 working days and EUR 560 (≈ $630) within 5 working days. 6
Requirements
- Financial means equal the minimum monthly wage of EUR 780 (≈ $870) where no special category applies. 1
- An additional EUR 234 (≈ $260) per month applies for a minor child. 1
- A study contract with an accredited institution is submitted. 2
- The institution's invitation is approved by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. 2
Stay
- Up to two years, renewable.
- First stay: up to 24 months, decided case by case.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. 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
Up to 20 hours a week, or 40 in holidays, with any employer; no hour limit for full-time master's and doctoral students without a study break (Immigration Law Sections 44-45).
Family
Spouse and minor children may join only students who are citizens of NATO member states or who are in a doctoral programme.
Official sources
- The necessary subsistence (from 1 April 2026) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-03-16
- Residence permit to study: documents (2021) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-10
- New Immigration Law takes effect (15 September 2026) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-09-15
- 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
- Initial residence permit, studies: documents to be submitted · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2025-12-29
- State fee for issuing the residence permit · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-03-18
- 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
- Naturalisation (Latvian citizenship) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP), Latvia · checked 2026-10-11
Student permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student permit | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Student permit Portugal | Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030 | 3 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Internship permit Spain | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| D3 study visa Georgia | – | 1 yr, renewable | No |
| Student visa Italy | Needs savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k | – | Yes |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Student permit?
Savings of at least EUR 780 a month (≈ $870). Financial means equal to the minimum monthly wage where no special category applies (Cabinet Regulation 225); EUR 234 (≈ $260) per month for a minor child. A fee of EUR 160 (≈ $180). State fee for review of documents for a temporary residence permit within 30 days; EUR 280 (≈ $310) within 10 working days and EUR 560 (≈ $630) within 5 working days.
How long can I stay on the Student permit?
Up to two years, renewable.
How long does the Student permit take to process?
The authority answers on a temporary residence permit within 30 days of receiving all documents.
Can I work on the Student permit?
Yes. Up to 20 hours a week, or 40 in holidays, with any employer; no hour limit for full-time master's and doctoral students without a study break (Immigration Law Sections 44-45).
Can I bring my family on the Student permit?
Spouse and minor children may join only students who are citizens of NATO member states or who are in a doctoral programme.
Who can apply for the Student permit?
Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. 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 Student permit lead to permanent residence in Latvia?
Time on the Student permit counts toward permanent residence in Latvia, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Student permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 5 years as a permanent resident.
How are Student permit holders taxed in Latvia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Student permit. 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
Study visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 8 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.
- The necessary subsistence (from 1 April 2026) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit to study: documents (2021) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-10
- New Immigration Law takes effect (15 September 2026) · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP) · checked 2026-10-11
- Immigration Law (adopted 20 August 2026, in force 15 September 2026) · Saeima of the Republic of Latvia (likumi.lv) · checked 2026-10-11
- Initial residence permit, studies: documents to be submitted · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs · checked 2026-10-11
- State fee for issuing the residence permit · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs of Latvia (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-11
- The long-term resident status of the European Community in Latvia · Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) · checked 2026-10-10
- 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.