New Immigration Law 2026: Key Residence Permit Changes from 15 September

Latvia’s new Immigration Law (Imigrācijas likums) has been in force since 15 September 2026. It replaces the previous law and changes a number of rules for obtaining temporary residence permits.

The most significant changes concern investors and entrepreneurs: the possibility of obtaining a residence permit through investment in a Latvian company remains, the law provides for a new investment route starting from €150,000, while some previous options are no longer available to new applicants.

Here are the key changes – explained briefly and without complicated legal terminology.

Key points in 1 minute

• The new Immigration Law has been in force since 15 September 2026.
• The investment residence permit route through the capital of a Latvian company remains available. Investments of €50,000 or €100,000 are provided for depending on the company’s parameters. A residence permit under these grounds may be granted for up to 2 years.
• The law provides for a new investment route starting from €150,000. The minimum investment period is 5 years. Before investing, check whether the mechanism is available in practice.
• Previous grounds related to real estate and certain bank investments are not included in the new list for new applicants.
• Separate transitional rules apply to residence permits that have already been issued.

The new Imigrācijas likums was officially adopted by the Saeima on 20 August 2026 and published on 1 September 2026. It entered into force on 15 September 2026.

Residence permits through investment in a Latvian company remain available

One of the key points of the new law is that the investment route through a Latvian company is not being abolished.

The law provides for investments of €50,000 or €100,000 in the share capital of a company, depending on its size, number of employees and financial indicators.

When obtaining a residence permit for the first time, the investor must also pay €10,000 into the state budget.

However, simply investing money in a company is not enough. To maintain the grounds for the residence permit, the company must conduct genuine business activities and meet the requirements established by law, including those relating to tax payments.

Under these investment grounds, a temporary residence permit may be granted for up to two years.

Citizens of Russia and Belarus are not entitled to apply for a residence permit under this investment ground. Previously issued permits must be assessed separately under the transitional provisions.

Detailed conditions are explained in our article on a residence permit through a €50,000 investment in company share capital.

New investment route – from €150,000

The new law provides for another investment option.

It provides for an agreement and a transfer of at least €150,000 for an investment in an alternative investment fund manager established by the state.

A key requirement is:

the minimum investment period for the €150,000 is 5 years.

An additional payment of €10,000 to the state budget is also required.

Citizens of Russia and Belarus are excluded by law from using this new investment route.

However, the existence of this provision in the law and the practical availability of the new mechanism are not the same thing. Before making an investment, it is necessary to check whether the mechanism provided for by law has been launched and whether applications are actually being accepted.

The conditions and preparation steps are explained in our practical guide to a residence permit through a €150,000 investment.

What changes for real estate and bank investments?

The new list of grounds for temporary residence permits does not include some of the previous investment grounds related to real estate and certain bank investments. However, this primarily concerns new applications.

Temporary residence permits issued before the new law entered into force remain valid until the end of their registration period or, if no registration period is set, until their expiry date. Further applications depend on the grounds for residence and the transitional provisions of the new law. Read more in our article on transitional rules for previously issued residence permits.

What should you consider if you are planning to obtain a residence permit in Latvia?

Since 15 September 2026, when choosing the appropriate grounds for a residence permit, it is particularly important to consider more than just the required investment amount.

Relevant factors include the applicant’s citizenship, the purpose of relocation, whether the applicant has a business in Latvia, the company’s parameters, the investment period and the ability to continue meeting the requirements of the chosen residence permit route.

It is therefore advisable to first determine the appropriate legal grounds and only then establish a company, make an investment and prepare the necessary documents.

Information checked: 23 September 2026
Official source: new Imigrācijas likums, Likumi.lv

This material is for informational purposes only. Eligibility for obtaining or renewing a residence permit depends on the individual circumstances of the applicant and the legislation in force at the time of application.

Planning to obtain or renew a residence permit in Latvia?

The new rules have been in force since 15 September 2026, so before submitting your documents, it is important to determine which residence permit route applies to your particular situation.

NBC.LV specialists can help you assess the available residence permit options, check the requirements of the new legislation and prepare the necessary documents for submission.