Latvia temporary residence permit through investment in a company’s share capital

Latvia offers a route to a temporary residence permit where the legal basis is an investment into a Latvian company’s share capital. This guide explains the typical process, the core thresholds published by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP), and the practical points that usually decide whether an application is smooth or painfully slow.

Disclaimer

This is general information. Requirements may change and can differ depending on your personal situation, your document country, and whether family members are included. Always confirm the latest rules with PMLP and the applicable legislation.

What a temporary residence permit means in practice

A temporary residence permit gives you the right to reside in Latvia for a defined period under a defined purpose. It may also allow short trips within the Schengen Area under the 90/180-day rule (travel, not residence in another country)

Key investment thresholds (share capital route)

PMLP describes two investment levels depending on the company’s size (employees) and financial indicators (turnover/balance sheet). In addition, a one-time payment to the state budget and minimum subsistence amounts are mentioned for this route.

Your investment should be fully traceable (bank transfer chain, corporate resolutions, company register entries, shareholder register updates). In practice, applications get delayed or refused when the documentation is incomplete or the source of funds is unclear.

Documents and filing: how to think about it

PMLP publishes the filing procedure and outlines options for submitting documents in electronic form (with a qualified electronic signature) and for communicating via Latvia’s official e-address where applicable. At the same time, Latvia.gov.lv may indicate that a specific service is not available as an e-service, so it is important to follow PMLP’s submission rules.

Typical document groups

• application form and identity document;
• company documentation and proof of share capital investment;
• proof of subsistence (bank statements, etc.);
• health insurance policy meeting the minimum coverage requirement;
• proof of paid state fees;
• family documentation (marriage/birth certificates, custody/representation for minors, additional subsistence/insurance);
• translations and, where required, document certification/legalisation.

Step-by-step timeline

1. ‍Set up the company structure and execute the investment
   Incorporate a company or increase the share capital in an existing one. Execute the investment via bank transfer and keep confirmations.‍
2. Register the corporate changes properly‍
   Make sure the Latvian register entries and internal company documents reflect the investment and shareholder status.‍
3. Prepare the application package (and invitation where relevant)‍
   Depending on your situation, an invitation/other supporting documents may be used. Follow the official procedure described by PMLP.‍
4. Submit documents (in Latvia or abroad)‍
   Submit to PMLP in Latvia or via a Latvian diplomatic/consular mission abroad, depending on your case.‍
5. Pay the state fee and wait for the decision‍
   The review period depends on whether you choose standard or accelerated processing.‍
6. After a positive decision: D visa (if abroad) + residence card in Latvia‍
   If you are outside Latvia, you typically obtain a long-stay (D) visa to enter and complete the residence card formalities in Latvia.‍
7. Maintain compliance for renewals‍
   Keep the legal basis valid and maintain ongoing compliance (company accounting/tax discipline, insurance, and other applicable requirements).

State fees and processing times (common options)

PMLP publishes the state fee amounts for reviewing residence permit documents and for producing the residence card. Below is a practical summary of the common options (always verify the latest official table).

Additional costs may include translations, document certification/legalisation, and consular fees if the submission is done abroad. Long-stay visa (D) information is published by Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

How long can the permit be issued for

For the investor route, PMLP indicates that the temporary residence permit may be issued for up to 5 years. Renewal typically requires maintaining the legal basis and meeting general requirements.

Health insurance

Health insurance is a frequent blocker. PMLP describes minimum insurance coverage for D visas and residence permits (commonly EUR 42,600). Make sure the policy meets the required territory and validity period.

Permanent residence and EU long-term resident status

If your long-term goal is to settle in Latvia, your next milestone after a period of lawful and continuous residence may be permanent residence or EU long-term resident status. PMLP and the Immigration Law describe the requirements, including residence duration and Latvian language knowledge.

Social benefits: avoid assumptions

Do not assume that a residence permit automatically grants access to every benefit. In Latvia, social insurance benefits (such as unemployment) are typically connected to mandatory social insurance contributions and specific eligibility criteria, while state social benefits are governed by separate rules and personal scope. Check the official information and the relevant law before relying on any benefit.

Common pitfalls

• incomplete evidence of the investment (missing corporate resolutions, register entries or bank trail);
• incorrectly applying the EUR 50k/EUR 100k threshold to the company’s indicators;
• weak proof of subsistence or short-lived account balances;
• insurance not meeting coverage/territory/validity requirements;
• translations not meeting the formal requirements;
• poor company compliance (accounting/taxes), which can create renewal risk.

How Oceans can support you

Oceans can support the practical side: company incorporation, accounting, payroll, tax compliance, and coordination of document preparation. Where legal advice is required, the process can be coordinated with partner lawyers. The goal is a transparent investment trail and strong compliance - the two most important risk reducers in real-life cases. What Oceans offers: Immigration compliance and residence permit documentation

Official sources

Short list of official references used for this article:

• PMLP: Investor route (equity/share capital)
• PMLP: How long a residence permit may be issued for
• PMLP: Approval of a letter of invitation
• PMLP: State fees (LV page - same fees apply)
• PMLP: Filing procedure (LV page)
• PMLP: Documents can be filed in electronic form
• Latvia.gov.lv: Service information
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Long-stay (D) visa
• PMLP: Health insurance policy (LV page)
• European Commission: Schengen / visa policy
• VSAA: website (benefits/services)
• Ministry of Welfare: website (benefits)
• Likumi.lv: State Social Benefits Law
• Official Statistics Portal (Latvia): Migration

Last updated 2026, February 9