Latvia · Residency by investment

Temporary Residence Permit for Share Capital Investors

Open Last verified July 2026

This is the only investment route that survives the new Immigration Law. Once that law commences, though, it gets downgraded from five-year to two-year permits.

At EUR 50,000, this is the cheapest headline investment-residence figure in the EU, and it is the one Latvian route with a legislated future. Paired with Latvia's 0% tax on retained corporate earnings, it makes a coherent case for an operating business. But it only works for someone who actually wants to run a Latvian company.

Qualifying routes

€50k
Equity in a small Latvian company

Company with up to 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet up to EUR 10m. This tier allows a maximum of 10 foreigners per company.

€100k
Equity in a larger Latvian company

Company with over 50 employees and turnover or balance sheet over EUR 10m

€100k
Equity in a parent company with Latvian subsidiaries

The group must exceed 50 employees and EUR 10m combined

The facts

Minimum investment
€50k
Total landed cost
EUR 50k-100k equity plus a EUR 10,000 state budget payment plus incorporation and ongoing compliance costs
Route type
Residency by investment
Timeline
1–3 months (PMLP standard processing)
Physical presence
None required for the permit. PR still requires real residence.
Family
SpouseMinor childrenDependent family members
Permanent residency
5 years, subject to the 4-of-5-years physical presence test and A2 Latvian
Citizenship
5 further years holding PR, so roughly 10 years total.
Language test
Latvian language, history and Constitution exams
Dual citizenship
Not permitted. You would have to renounce.
Requirements
EUR 10,000 payment into the state budgetSubsistence of EUR 500 per monthA clean criminal record and a documented source of fundsGenuine business activity
What can go wrong
  • Permits drop from five years to two once the new law commences. That roughly triples renewal friction and cost.
  • The EUR 10,000 state payment is 20% of a EUR 50,000 investment. That puts the effective entry price at EUR 60,000.
  • PMLP scrutinises whether the company is a genuine operating business. A shelf company with no activity will not survive renewal.
  • The EUR 50,000 tier caps out at 10 foreigners per company. Promoters who keep recycling the same company will eventually hit that ceiling. Check how many permits the target company already carries before you commit.
  • Russian and Belarusian citizens are barred from investment-based permits under the June 2026 amendments.
  • The brief's tax payment condition does not appear anywhere in current PMLP text. The only requirement on record is the EUR 10,000 budget payment. If an advisor claims there is a corporate-tax-paid test, verify it directly with PMLP before you rely on it.
Sources (1)

Path to permanent residence and citizenship

Permanent residency. 5 years, subject to the 4-of-5-years physical presence test and A2 Latvian

Citizenship. 5 further years holding PR, so roughly 10 years total.

Language test. Latvian language, history and Constitution exams

Dual citizenship. Not permitted. You would have to renounce.

Frequently asked

How long until citizenship through the Temporary Residence Permit for Share Capital Investors?

5 further years holding PR, so roughly 10 years total. A language requirement applies: latvian language, history and Constitution exams.

What does the Temporary Residence Permit for Share Capital Investors cost?

The minimum qualifying investment is €50k. EUR 50k-100k equity plus a EUR 10,000 state budget payment plus incorporation and ongoing compliance costs.

How much time must I spend in Latvia?

None required for the permit. PR still requires real residence.

Who can I include in the application?

Spouse; Minor children; Dependent family members.

Before you commit capital to this

Tell us your citizenship, your tax exposure and where your family wants to be in ten years. If this route is wrong for you, we will say so.

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