Latvia Golden Visa — EU Residency by Investment
The lowest-cost EU residency-by-investment program available today, starting from EUR 50,000. Important: three of the four current investment routes may close as early as 1 January 2027 — see the 2026 legislative update below before you plan your timeline.
— Last updated: July 2026 · 8 min read
2026 Legislative Update — Read This First
On 11 June 2026, Latvia's Saeima (Parliament) passed a new Immigration Law in its third and final reading, by a vote of 65 to 17. As drafted, it would remove the real estate, government bond, and bank deposit residency-by-investment routes entirely, replacing them with a new EUR 150,000 state-established investment fund route (plus a EUR 10,000 government contribution) and retaining the business equity route. These changes were scheduled to take effect 1 January 2027.
On 19 June 2026, President Edgars Rinkevics declined to promulgate the law and returned it to the Saeima for a second review, specifically citing unresolved issues with the investment-residence provisions and the newly proposed fund route. Latvia's spring parliamentary session closed on 18 June 2026, meaning the earliest the Saeima can vote again is the autumn 2026 session.
What this means in practice:
- The reform is not yet in force. All four current investment routes — real estate, business, government bonds, and bank deposit — remain technically available under the existing Immigration Law.
- Applications submitted and accepted before any new law takes effect are expected to continue under the current rules, and existing permit holders retain their status until their permit's registered expiry.
- If the law passes largely unchanged in autumn 2026, real estate, government bonds, and bank deposit routes would close from 1 January 2027, leaving only the business investment route (and the new, not-yet-operational investment fund route) available going forward.
- The business investment route's permit validity was also under discussion for reduction from five years to two years during the 2026 review — this was not settled as of the most recent legislative update.
We track this legislation actively and update this page as the Saeima's autumn session progresses. If you are considering the real estate, government bond, or bank deposit route specifically, this is a closing window, not a stable long-term option — talk to us about timing before committing capital.
Overview
Latvia's residence-by-investment program — commonly called the Latvia Golden Visa, though Latvian law does not use that term officially — has operated since 1 July 2010 under Section 23, Paragraph 1, Clause 28 of the Immigration Law (Imigracijas likums), administered by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA). It grants a five-year temporary residence permit (issued as a biometric eID card) to non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss nationals who make a qualifying investment in the Latvian economy, with permanent residency available after five years and citizenship after ten.
Latvia is a full EU member state and Schengen Area participant, giving permit holders visa-free travel across the Schengen zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, along with access to EU healthcare, education, and services while resident. There is no minimum physical stay requirement to maintain the permit, though holders must enter Latvia at least once a year to renew the residence card itself. This is a residency program, not a citizenship-by-investment scheme — citizenship becomes possible only after ten years of lawful residence.
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Section 23, Immigration Law (Imigracijas likums) |
| Administering authority | Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) |
| Program launched | 1 July 2010 |
| Minimum investment (business route) | EUR 50,000 (small business) / EUR 100,000 (large business) |
| Minimum investment (real estate route) | EUR 250,000 — status pending 2026/27 reform |
| Minimum investment (government bonds) | EUR 250,000 — status pending 2026/27 reform |
| Minimum investment (bank deposit) | EUR 280,000, 5-year term — status pending 2026/27 reform |
| Government fee | EUR 10,000 (business route) / 5% of purchase price (real estate route) |
| Processing time | 2-4 months |
| Initial permit validity | 5 years |
| Permanent residency | Available after 5 years (A2 Latvian language test required) |
| Citizenship | Available after 10 years lawful residence (language & civic requirements) |
| Minimum physical stay | None, but annual visit required to renew the ID card |
| Family inclusion | Spouse, children under 18, financially dependent parents |
| Restricted nationalities | Russian and Belarusian citizens excluded from first-time applications since 2022 |
| 2025 Golden Visas issued | 109 (approx. half via real estate, remainder via business/financial routes) |
Investment Routes (Current, Pending 2026/27 Reform)
1. Business Investment — from EUR 50,000
Invest at least EUR 50,000 in equity capital into a Latvian company with fewer than 50 employees and annual turnover under EUR 10 million (Option A), or at least EUR 100,000 into a larger company exceeding those thresholds (Option B). A one-time EUR 10,000 government processing fee applies after approval. This is the lowest-cost EU residency-by-investment route currently available anywhere in Europe, and the only route not scheduled for removal under the pending reform.
Expected to remain available after any reform
2. Real Estate — EUR 250,000
Purchase residential or commercial real estate valued at a minimum of EUR 250,000, already built, located in Riga or within 30 kilometers of the city. Multiple properties can be combined to reach the threshold. A state fee of 5% of the purchase price applies. This has historically been the most popular route, accounting for roughly half of all Golden Visas issued in 2025 — but it is the route most directly targeted for removal from 1 January 2027 under the pending Immigration Law.
Status pending reform
3. Government Bonds — EUR 250,000
Invest a minimum of EUR 250,000 in interest-free Latvian government bonds. Also targeted for removal under the pending reform.
Status pending reform
4. Bank Deposit — EUR 280,000
Place EUR 280,000 as subordinated capital with a Latvian credit institution for a minimum five-year term. Also targeted for removal under the pending reform.
Status pending reform
All routes additionally require proof of sufficient means to support the applicant and any accompanying family members without reliance on state assistance — a minimum annual income threshold starting at approximately EUR 15,480 for a single applicant, increasing with family size, along with minimum bank account balances demonstrated at application (specific figures vary by route and should be confirmed at the time of application given the current legislative uncertainty).
Application Process
Route selection and structuring
Determine the most suitable investment route given your objectives and the current legislative timeline.
Investment execution
Complete the qualifying investment (business equity injection, property purchase, bond acquisition, or bank deposit, depending on route).
Documentation preparation
Proof of investment, source of funds, clean criminal record, health insurance, proof of sufficient means.
Application submission
Filed with OCMA or a Latvian embassy/consulate abroad.
Review and approval
2–4 monthsTypically 2-4 months.
Permit collection
Applicant must visit Latvia within a defined period after approval to collect the physical residence permit ID card.
Annual renewal
ID card renewed annually; investment must be maintained for a minimum of five years, aligned with the initial permit term.
Why Latvia — For Investors Comparing EU Options
Latvia offers the lowest entry threshold of any active EU residency-by-investment program via its business route, no minimum physical presence requirement, and a comparatively fast 2-4 month processing timeline. Set against a backdrop where Spain closed its golden visa route in April 2025, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK have already closed theirs in prior years, and Malta's citizenship-by-investment scheme was ordered ended by the European Court of Justice in April 2025, Latvia remains one of a shrinking number of active European investment migration options — a status that itself is now under legislative review, reinforcing that this is a window worth acting inside rather than waiting on.
For investors who don't need the real estate or passive-investment routes specifically, the business investment route offers a stable, lower-risk path forward regardless of how the pending reform resolves — making it the route we most commonly recommend structuring toward for new 2026 applicants.
How Zitadelle AG Assists
- •Route selection aligned to the current legislative timeline
- •Latvian company structuring for the business investment route
- •Source-of-funds documentation and compliance preparation
- •Application submission and OCMA liaison
- •Family application coordination (spouse, children, dependent parents)
- •Ongoing monitoring of the pending 2026/27 reform and its impact on your route
- •Integration with our Latvia company formation and payment-licensing services
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. As of mid-2026, all four current investment routes — real estate (EUR 250,000), business investment (from EUR 50,000), government bonds (EUR 250,000), and bank deposit (EUR 280,000) — remain formally in force under Section 23 of Latvia's Immigration Law. A new Immigration Law was passed by the Saeima on 11 June 2026 that would remove the real estate, government bond, and bank deposit routes, but President Edgars Rinkevics returned it for a second review on 19 June 2026. With Latvia's spring parliamentary session closed, the second vote is expected in the autumn 2026 session, and the reform is not yet in force.
Considering the Latvia Golden Visa?
Our advisors track this legislation in real time and can help you structure the right investment route for your timeline and objectives — before the current window narrows further.
Quick Facts
- Program Type
- RBI (Residency by Investment)
- Min. Investment (business)
- EUR 50,000
- Processing Time
- 2–4 months
- Initial Permit
- 5 years
- Schengen Access
- Yes
- Min. Physical Stay
- None
- Permanent Residency
- After 5 years
- Citizenship
- After 10 years
- Family Inclusion
- Yes
- Legal Basis
- Section 23, Immigration Law
- Reform Status
- Pending (autumn 2026)
- Updated
- July 2026
Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Requirements, timelines, and fees are subject to change. Always consult directly with the relevant regulatory authority or a qualified professional for the most current information. Zitadelle Advisory Group LTD is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.