Latvia Residence Permit from €50,000? What the Investment Route Really Looks Like in 2026
Latvia’s new Immigration Law took effect on 15 September 2026. The company share-capital investment route remains available, with a minimum investment of €50,000 for a company that meets the statutory criteria.
For an investor, the decisive issue is not the headline amount but the legal basis: which company qualifies, what additional payments apply and which requirements must continue to be met after the residence permit is issued.
The 30-second summary
A temporary residence permit can be requested through an investment in the share capital of a Latvian company: from €50,000 or €100,000, depending on the company’s statutory indicators.
A €10,000 payment to the state budget is also required with the first application.
Making the investment does not automatically guarantee a residence permit. The applicant and company must meet the applicable requirements.
A temporary residence permit under the company-capital route may be issued for up to two years.
The new law no longer provides the previous property-purchase and certain bank-investment grounds for new applicants. Earlier permits and applications require a separate assessment under the transitional provisions.
The law also provides a separate €150,000 investment basis. Its practical availability depends on the specific investment mechanism required by the law.
Why the €50,000 figure still matters
The Immigration Law allows a foreign national to request a temporary residence permit for up to two years after investing in the share capital of a Latvian company, either by increasing existing share capital or by contributing capital to a newly established company.
Where the company employs no more than 50 people and its annual turnover or balance sheet total does not exceed €10 million, the minimum investment is €50,000. With the first residence permit application, the investor must also pay €10,000 to the state budget.
No more than ten foreign investors may rely on the same company under this specific basis, provided that each makes the required investment and state-budget payment.
The minimum investment is €100,000 where the company, on its own or together with one or more subsidiaries registered in Latvia, employs more than 50 people and its annual turnover or balance sheet total exceeds €10 million.
The company’s figures and structure should therefore be checked before selecting the investment route.
€50,000 is not the “price of a residence permit”
This distinction is essential. €50,000 is the amount of the capital investment for one specific legal basis. The €10,000 state-budget payment is additional, and the company must satisfy the legal criteria beyond the date of filing.
The applicant may also incur state fees for processing and document issuance, translation, legalisation or apostille costs, insurance, proof of accommodation and other case-specific expenses. Company registration, accounting and legal assistance may add to the overall budget.
An investor should assess the total cash outlay, liquidity, ongoing company requirements, refusal risks and the documentation needed for family members before committing funds.
What happened in 2026 and where the €150,000 figure comes from
The new Immigration Law, effective from 15 September 2026, provides a separate basis involving an investment of at least €150,000 for a minimum of five years through the state-established alternative investment fund manager specified in the law. An additional €10,000 payment to the state budget is required.
This is a separate legal basis from the €50,000 or €100,000 investment in company share capital. It is not an increase in the minimum amount for the company-capital route.
The existence of the provision does not mean that an investor can transfer €150,000 to any investment fund and apply for residence. Before relying on this basis, the availability of the prescribed investment mechanism, the contract and the practical application procedure must be confirmed.
The key issue: the company must remain genuinely compliant
The company-capital route does not end when the money is transferred. Under the new law, the company’s tax payments to the state and municipal budgets must total at least €40,000 in each reporting year for the €50,000 investment route, or at least €100,000 for the €100,000 route, during the validity of the permit.
Tax amounts refunded or refundable from the state budget are excluded from the calculation. For the €100,000 basis provided by the law, tax payments made by subsidiaries registered in Latvia are also included.
The residence permit regulations contain a separate calculation for an incomplete first reporting year following the issue of the permit: an average of at least €3,300 per month for the €50,000 route and €8,300 for the €100,000 route.
Following the entry into force of the new law, the earlier regulations apply subject to its transitional provisions and only insofar as they do not conflict with the new law. The application of the incomplete-year calculation to a particular permit should be checked separately.
For an investor, this means that choosing a company simply because it is cheap to enter can be risky. The business model, taxes, real operations, future reporting and the company’s ability to maintain the legal conditions should be assessed before the investment is made.
What changed for other investment-related routes
From 15 September 2026, the new Immigration Law no longer provides the previous property-purchase and certain bank-investment grounds for new applicants.
Previously issued residence permits and applications submitted before the new law took effect must be assessed under the applicable transitional provisions. Buying property before that date does not, by itself, guarantee eligibility under the previous rules.
An existing permit holder and a person planning a new investment may therefore face different requirements. Their situations should not be treated as interchangeable.
Who should consider an investor residence permit
The company-capital route is generally relevant to entrepreneurs and investors who have a genuine economic reason to invest in Latvia: operating their own business or participating in an existing Latvian company.
Where the investment exists only to obtain a residence card and there is no plan for maintaining the legal basis, the risk of expensive mistakes increases significantly.
Citizenship must also be checked. The Immigration Law contains special restrictions for citizens of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, so availability cannot be determined by the investment amount alone. The specific basis must be verified for the applicant and family members before any transaction.
Seven costly investor mistakes
Transferring funds before checking citizenship, transaction structure and legal eligibility.
Treating €50,000 as the total process cost and failing to budget for the state payment, fees and supporting documents.
Investing in a company that qualifies on the transaction date but cannot maintain the required tax indicators.
Failing to prepare source-of-funds evidence and a clear banking and documentary trail in advance.
Confusing the €50,000 company-capital route with the separate €150,000 investment mechanism.
Relying on outdated information about property or bank investments without checking the changes effective from 15 September 2026.
Leaving family applications until later instead of checking spouse and child documents, means of subsistence, insurance and accommodation from the outset.
Investor checklist before transferring money
Identify the exact residence-permit basis and confirm that it is available for your citizenship.
Prepare a full budget covering the investment, mandatory state payment, government fees and document costs.
Carry out due diligence on the company before signing and transferring funds.
Prepare source-of-funds evidence and a transparent payment trail.
Assess compliance for the initial application and throughout the permit’s validity.
Check the basis and document package for family members at the same time.
Immediately before the final transfer, recheck the current law and the applicable PMLP/OCMA procedure.
How NBC.LV can help
If you are considering residence in Latvia through investment, start by checking whether the legal basis and the planned company structure fit your circumstances.
NBC.LV can review the legal basis, planned transaction and applicant documents, assist with company due diligence, prepare the immigration package and establish the appropriate sequence of steps.
If a company has not yet been established, we can also assist with company registration in Latvia and ongoing accounting services.
The purpose of the consultation is to determine before the transaction whether there is a lawful and sustainable basis, which documents will be required and where the principal risks lie.
Book a consultation with NBC.LV.
This material provides general information and does not replace advice on an individual case. Check the current requirements before entering into a transaction or filing an application.
FAQ
Can I get a Latvian residence permit simply by investing €50,000?
No. €50,000 is the minimum share-capital investment for a particular category of Latvian company, not the total cost of obtaining residence. A €10,000 payment to the state budget is required with the first application. The applicant and company must also meet the other statutory requirements, including the applicable ongoing tax-payment conditions.
How long can the residence permit be issued for?
A temporary residence permit based on a €50,000 or €100,000 investment in the share capital of a Latvian company may be issued for up to two years under the Immigration Law effective from 15 September 2026. Continued validity depends on meeting the applicable requirements.
Do I have to live in Latvia permanently?
A temporary residence permit, permanent residence status and tax residence are different matters. The rules on actual presence, absences and maintaining your permit must be checked for your circumstances. Holding a residence permit does not, by itself, determine your tax-residence position or eligibility for permanent residence.
Is the new €150,000 state-fund route already operational?
The Immigration Law effective from 15 September 2026 provides this investment basis. However, the legal provision alone does not establish that the required investment mechanism is available for applications. Before relying on this route, confirm the designated mechanism, investment contract and practical application procedure. An investment in an arbitrary fund does not qualify merely because it amounts to €150,000.
What should I check first?
Check your citizenship, the precise legal basis, the investment structure, the source of funds and the company’s ability to meet the required conditions throughout the permit’s validity. Calculate the full budget and check the documents needed for family members before signing binding agreements or transferring money.