Latvia's new Immigration Law is in force: the property and deposit routes are closed, and the new fund route is not yet usable
Latvia · Policy change · Published 2026-09-01, in force 09-15; filings up to 09-14 assessed under the old law
| Country / region | Latvia |
|---|---|
| Category | Policy change |
| Date | Published 2026-09-01, in force 09-15; filings up to 09-14 assessed under the old law |
| What happened | Latvia's new Immigration Law (re-passed by the Saeima on 2026-08-20, published 09-01) took effect on 2026-09-15, abolishing the EUR 250,000 property purchase and EUR 280,000 bank deposit routes to a temporary residence permit; applications filed on or before 2026-09-14 are still assessed under the old law (which granted a 5-year permit). Only two investment routes remain: company share capital of EUR 50,000 / EUR 100,000 plus a EUR 10,000 state budget payment, but the permit length falls from 5 years to 2; and a new EUR 150,000 investment in a state-established alternative investment fund manager plus EUR 10,000, for up to 5 years - except that the fund vehicle has not been established, so this route is not practically available. Russian and Belarusian citizens are excluded from all investment routes. Other changes: employment-based temporary residence is cut to 1 year (the EU Blue Card stays at 2); students may bring family members only if they are NATO member-state citizens or doctoral students; permanent residence is no longer granted on a first application and is replaced by EU long-term resident status, requiring 5 years of prior temporary residence; several renewal categories now require Latvian-language documents and A2 language ability; and the maximum processing time is standardised at four months. |
| Impact on applicants | Buying property for EUR 250,000 to obtain Latvian residence is over - do not quote or promise it on the old basis. Existing permit holders will face the new law's transitional rules on renewal, including the A2 language requirement, and should prepare in advance. Realistic options now are the company share-capital route (2-year permits only) and the fund route once implementing rules and the fund itself exist (due by 2027-12-01). |
| Source | Latvia's new Immigration Law (published in Latvijas Vestnesis on 2026-09-01, in force 2026-09-15) ↗ Note on scope: In force; implementing regulations due no later than 2027-12-01 |
Source: Latvia's new Immigration Law (published in Latvijas Vestnesis on 2026-09-01, in force 2026-09-15) ↗ · Last verified: 2026-10-14 · For reference only; not application or legal advice. Always check the official source for current rules.
FAQ
Latvia's new Immigration Law is in force: the property and deposit routes are closed, and the new fund route is not yet usable — what happened?
Latvia's new Immigration Law (re-passed by the Saeima on 2026-08-20, published 09-01) took effect on 2026-09-15, abolishing the EUR 250,000 property purchase and EUR 280,000 bank deposit routes to a temporary residence permit; applications filed on or before 2026-09-14 are still assessed under the old law (which granted a 5-year permit). Only two investment routes remain: company share capital of EUR 50,000 / EUR 100,000 plus a EUR 10,000 state budget payment, but the permit length falls from 5 years to 2; and a new EUR 150,000 investment in a state-established alternative investment fund manager plus EUR 10,000, for up to 5 years - except that the fund vehicle has not been established, so this route is not practically available. Russian and Belarusian citizens are excluded from all investment routes. Other changes: employment-based temporary residence is cut to 1 year (the EU Blue Card stays at 2); students may bring family members only if they are NATO member-state citizens or doctoral students; permanent residence is no longer granted on a first application and is replaced by EU long-term resident status, requiring 5 years of prior temporary residence; several renewal categories now require Latvian-language documents and A2 language ability; and the maximum processing time is standardised at four months.
What does this mean for applicants?
Buying property for EUR 250,000 to obtain Latvian residence is over - do not quote or promise it on the old basis. Existing permit holders will face the new law's transitional rules on renewal, including the A2 language requirement, and should prepare in advance. Realistic options now are the company share-capital route (2-year permits only) and the fund route once implementing rules and the fund itself exist (due by 2027-12-01).
Where does this information come from?
Latvia's new Immigration Law (published in Latvijas Vestnesis on 2026-09-01, in force 2026-09-15) (Note on scope: In force; implementing regulations due no later than 2027-12-01), verified by us on 2026-10-14.
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