Residence Permit Renewal in Latvia: What Happens to Existing Permits After 15 September 2026

Residence Permit Renewal in Latvia: What Happens to Existing Permits After 15 September 2026

Latvia’s new Immigration Law has been in force since 15 September 2026. What will happen to residence permits obtained under the previous rules? Will existing permits remain valid, and what will change at the next renewal?

The key point: the new law does not automatically cancel temporary residence permits issued previously.

The key points in 1 minute

• Temporary residence permits issued before 15 September 2026 remain valid until the end of their established registration period or validity period.
• Applications for temporary residence permits submitted before 15 September are considered under the previous Immigration Law.
• At the next renewal, the new law and its transitional provisions will need to be taken into account.
• Special transitional rules apply to certain investment-based residence permits.
• The fact that a previous residence permit route is no longer available to new applicants does not automatically cancel residence permits already granted.

What happens to an existing residence permit?

If a temporary residence permit was issued before the new law entered into force, it remains valid until the end of the established registration period or, if no registration period has been established, until the permit expires.

Therefore, holders of valid residence permits do not need to obtain new documents urgently on 15 September simply because the legislation has changed.

However, at the next renewal, the situation will depend on the basis on which the residence permit was originally obtained.

What if the documents were submitted before 15 September?

The law also provides a transitional rule for this situation.

If documents for a temporary residence permit were submitted before the new law entered into force, the application will be considered under the previous Immigration Law.

This means that the date on which the documents were submitted is important, not only the date on which the decision is made.

What happens at the next residence permit renewal?

This is where the most important issue arises.

The fact that an existing residence permit remains valid does not mean that the previous rules will automatically apply at the next renewal.

It is necessary to determine:

• the basis on which the residence permit was obtained;
• whether that basis continues to exist under the new law;
• whether special transitional provisions apply.

For certain investment-based residence permits obtained previously, the new law establishes a special procedure that may allow another temporary residence permit to be obtained on the same basis if the relevant conditions are met.

Each investment-based residence permit therefore needs to be assessed individually.

What happens to residence permits based on real estate and bank investments?

For new applicants, the previous investment routes involving real estate and certain bank investments are no longer included in the new list of temporary residence permit grounds in their previous form.

Real estate. If your residence permit was issued under the former property purchase route (Section 23(1)(29) of the previous law), paragraph 10 of the new law’s transitional provisions allows you to apply for a repeat residence permit on the same ground for up to five years. This option is available to existing permit holders and their family members; it is not a new route for property buyers.

Bank investment. The same transitional option applies to residence permits issued under Section 23(1)(30) of the previous law. This concerns investments that met the specific requirements for subordinated liabilities with a Latvian credit institution, rather than any ordinary bank deposit. The investment must continue to meet the applicable requirements.

Neither route provides an automatic renewal. You must apply while your previous permit is still valid, retain a qualifying investment, pass the statutory checks and make the required payment to the state budget, taking account of earlier payments. If your permit has a registration deadline, the next procedure requires an application for a repeat residence permit. Paragraphs 7 and 10 of the transitional provisions set out these rules.

What about a residence permit based on investment in a company?

The new law retains this route.

A residence permit may continue to be linked to an investment in the share capital of a Latvian company, provided that the requirements established by law are met.

If a residence permit has already been obtained on this basis, it will not cease to be valid on 15 September. However, at the next renewal it will be necessary to verify whether the company continues to meet the applicable requirements.

What happens during the transitional period?

The new law provides for a transitional period during which the implementing regulations will be updated.

The Cabinet of Ministers must adopt a number of regulations required by the new law by 1 December 2027.

Until the relevant new regulations enter into force, the existing regulations specified in the transitional provisions continue to apply to the extent that they do not conflict with the new law, but no later than 1 December 2027.

What should residence permit holders do now?

If you already have a valid residence permit, there is no need to panic or urgently reapply simply because the new law is entering into force.

However, if your next registration or renewal is approaching - particularly if your residence permit is based on real estate, a bank investment or an investment in a company - it is advisable to check in advance which transitional provisions apply to your particular situation.

Important to Consider

The procedure for further residence permit renewal depends on the basis on which the residence permit was obtained, the date it was obtained, and the individual circumstances of the applicant. Therefore, before the next registration or renewal of a residence permit, it is important to check which provisions of the new law apply to your specific situation.

NBC.LV specialists monitor changes in immigration legislation and its practical application and can help you understand the applicable requirements based on your individual circumstances.

This material is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual legal advice. The possibility of obtaining or renewing a residence permit depends on the applicable legal basis, the applicant’s individual circumstances, and the legislation in force at the time of application.

Legal basis and sources

• Transitional provisions of Latvia’s Immigration Law: rules for previously issued residence permits and submitted applications.
• Cabinet Regulation No. 564, “Regulations Regarding Residence Permits”: residence permit application and registration procedures, subject to the law’s transitional provisions.