Latvia's golden visa after the 2026 rewrite: a company stake, not a condo
The property and bank routes closed September 15, 2026. What's left is about $57,000 (€50,000) in a Latvian company, a one-time $11,400 (€10,000) state payment and a two-year permit.
This route now fits one kind of American: someone who wants to own part of a working, tax-paying Latvian business and live in the EU while doing it. Your spouse and kids can come too.
The news
What changed on September 15, 2026
Latvia's new Immigration Law took effect that day. Buying property (the old €250,000 route) or putting money into a bank's subordinated debt no longer earns a residence permit. The president asked lawmakers to consider keeping a property option for NATO citizens, and in August they passed the law again without it.
Applications filed by September 14 are still judged under the old rules. If you already hold a permit from a closed route, you renew with PMLP, Latvia's immigration office, while your ID card is still valid.
The company route in numbers (September 2026)
$57,000
Minimum stake in a smaller company
€50,000
$114,000
Stake in a larger company
€100,000; 50+ staff and €10M+ turnover
$11,400
One-time state payment
€10,000, due after approval
$45,500
Taxes the company pays each year
€40,000 for the smaller tier
2 years
Permit length
down from five
$182
Application review fee
€160, standard 30-day review
How it works
From share purchase to residence card
You either add new capital to an existing Latvian company or set up a new one. PMLP checks the company's size before the deal closes, so it knows which threshold applies to you.
- Choose a company with room: no more than 10 foreign investors can use the same one.
- Invest, then get a bank confirmation of the investment itself. Ordinary account statements often get rejected.
- Gather your passport, an apostilled U.S. criminal record certificate and health insurance valid across the EU with at least €30,000 (about $34,000) of coverage.
- File at a Latvian embassy or a PMLP office in Latvia. First applications can be in English; renewals must be in Latvian.
- PMLP has 30 days to decide, extendable to four months.
- Pay the €10,000 only after approval. If you're refused, you don't owe it.
Here's the catch: the tax test never ends
The company has to pay at least €40,000 (about $45,500) a year in Latvian state and municipal taxes, or €100,000 (about $114,000) for the larger tier, and it has to keep meeting that for you to renew. With two-year permits, you'll prove it every two years. A dormant holding company won't pass.
Who this route suits, and who should skip it
Business owners and partners
You want to run or buy into a real Latvian company with payroll and revenue, and live in the EU while you do it.
Families
Your spouse and children under 18 can get permits too, each on their own application, and they can work in Latvia.
Property buyers
Buying a home in Riga or Jūrmala no longer leads to a permit, whatever the price.
Retirees and remote workers
If your money comes from a pension or a remote paycheck, this route makes you own a tax-paying business you may not need.
After approval
What the permit lets you do, and where it leads
Travel and time in Latvia
The permit lets you live in Latvia and visit other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180. It doesn't let you work elsewhere in the EU. Law firm Bimaris says there's no general rule that you spend most of the year in Latvia, but permanent residence is built on years you actually live there.
Permanent residence and a second passport
After at least five years on a temporary permit, you can apply for EU long-term resident status, now Latvia's only permanent status. From December 31, 2027, that also means learning Latvian and taking a course on Latvian history and culture. Five years after that comes naturalization, with Latvian language, history and constitution tests and a €28.46 fee. Latvia allows dual citizenship with NATO countries, the U.S. included, so you keep your American passport.
Taxes on both sides
As a Latvian tax resident, you'd pay Latvian tax on worldwide income: 25.5% up to €105,300 (about $120,000), 33% above that, plus 3% over €200,000 (about $228,000). Dividends from a Latvian company that already paid corporate tax generally carry no further Latvian personal income tax. On the U.S. side, owning part of a foreign company can mean filing IRS Form 5471 with your return.
People who can help with the paperwork and the money
Holborn Assets
Portugal Golden Visa
Advisers who work on golden visa and investor residence applications. Ask them to confirm Latvia's current terms before you commit capital.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad, filed online with expat tax preparers.
Moneycorp
Currency Exchange
Currency exchange and international transfers, useful when you're moving a five-figure investment from dollars into euros.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
Global health insurance for people living abroad, including the policy you'll show with your permit application.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who helps you plan care abroad, including any conditions you're bringing with you.
Latvia golden visa questions
Can I still get a Latvian golden visa by buying property?
No. Latvia's new Immigration Law took effect on September 15, 2026, and buying real estate no longer qualifies for a residence permit at any price. Applications filed by September 14, 2026 are still examined under the old rules. The investment route that remains open is a stake in a Latvian company.
Can a Latvian investor permit lead to citizenship?
It can, slowly. After at least five years on a temporary permit you can apply for EU long-term resident status, and five years after that you can apply to naturalize, with Latvian language, history and constitution tests. Latvia allows dual citizenship with NATO countries, including the United States, so Americans don't have to give up U.S. citizenship.
How much does the Latvia golden visa cost in 2026?
The minimum is €50,000 (about $57,000) invested in a smaller Latvian company, or €100,000 (about $114,000) in a larger one, plus a one-time €10,000 (about $11,400) state payment due after approval. The standard application review fee is €160 (about $182) per applicant. Budget separately for translations, apostilles, legal help and running the company, which must pay at least €40,000 a year in Latvian taxes (€100,000 for the larger tier).
Do I have to live in Latvia to keep the investor permit?
Law firms report no general requirement to spend most of the year in Latvia while you hold the permit. But permanent residence requires at least five years of residence in Latvia on a temporary permit, so time away slows that path. With a Latvian permit you can visit other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180.
How long is the Latvian investor residence permit valid?
Up to two years for the company route under the law in force since September 15, 2026, down from five years under the old rules. Your ID card now runs as long as the permit, so there's no annual re-registration. To renew, the company has to keep meeting the tax payment test.
What is Latvia's €150,000 investment fund option?
The new law allows a residence permit for at least €150,000 (about $171,000) invested for five years through a state-established alternative investment fund manager, plus a €10,000 payment. Latvia's immigration office says the fund hasn't been created yet, so no one can use this option. A bill introduced on September 3, 2026 would remove it entirely.
I already hold a Latvian investor permit from the property route. What happens now?
Your permit isn't canceled by the new law. Holders who invested through the closed property or bank routes apply to PMLP, Latvia's immigration office, for renewal while their ID card is still valid. Renewal applications must be filed in Latvian.
Can my spouse and children come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and children under 18 can apply for residence permits based on your investment, each with their own application, and they can work in Latvia without restrictions.
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