Latvia’s New Immigration Law: The Key Points

This week Latvia’s new Immigration Law came into force. It substantially overhauls the rules on entry, residence, employment and monitoring of foreign nationals’ stay in the country.

In particular, the list of grounds on which Russian nationals can obtain a residence permit has been cut back. And Ukrainian citizens will no longer be able to obtain a residence permit while holding temporary protection status.

Chuzhie‘s lawyer in Latvia, Jelizaveta Krivcova, has studied the law and summarised the most important changes to the migration rules.

Hello everyone!

So, here is what you need to know:

1. The validity periods of many residence permits have been substantially shortened, and at the same time their annual registration has been abolished. Most residence permits will be issued for 1–2 years, after which a new permit must be obtained.
2. The rules on work-based residence permits have been tightened. They are now issued for 1 year. Unpaid leave of more than 1 month per year is prohibited. It is no longer possible to switch from a board member’s residence permit to a work permit if the company has failed to meet its tax thresholds.
3. It will be harder for foreign nationals to start a business in Latvia. A board member can obtain a residence permit only in a company that is already operating and paying taxes. The startup route has been closed both to Russian and Belarusian citizens and to citizens of countries subject to additional security screening.
4. The investment residence permits for property purchases and bank deposits have been replaced by a new investment permit requiring an investment of €150,000 into a state investment fund. The permit based on investment in a Latvian company remains, but becomes more expensive: the annual payment into the state budget has risen to €5,000, and each permit is now valid for 2 years with no annual registration.
5. Russian citizens can obtain residence permits on a very limited set of grounds — family, historical roots, continuation of employment or an EU Blue Card, and full-time study at a university. Belarusian citizens can additionally obtain an ordinary work permit, a permit as board members of an already operating company, a permit for religious activity, and a six-month permit to visit relatives.
6. Ukrainian citizens can obtain residence permits on all grounds, but permanent residence can no longer be obtained while holding temporary protection status.
7. From 2028, most residence permit holders will be required to complete an integration course at their own expense. It covers Latvian history and culture, as well as Latvian language at the most basic A1 level. Failure to comply carries an administrative fine.
8. Permanent residence and EU long-term resident status have been merged into a single permanent residence permit, which in legal terms is an EU permit. In addition to 5 years of residence, financial requirements and a Latvian language test at A2 level, applicants must now also complete a course on Latvian history and culture. To maintain the status, you must be present in Latvia for at least 1 day every 6 years, and in the EU for at least 1 day a year.
9. There are several procedural improvements. Documents can be submitted by email if the applicant has a qualified electronic signature recognised in the EU. In addition, once a residence permit application has been accepted for consideration, the applicant has the right to stay in Latvia. If a foreign national has lived in Latvia for 3 years, then in the event of refusal or cancellation of their permit for any reason other than state security, they have the right to remain in Latvia for the entire duration of the appeal.

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