Latvia’s New Immigration Law 2026: What Changed for the €50,000 Investor Residence Permit

On 15 September 2026 Latvia’s new Immigration Law (Imigrācijas likums) came into force, replacing the law that had governed residence permits since 2002. Since then I have had the same question from partners and families almost every day: is the €50,000 investor route still open?

The short answer is yes. The route continues, the price is unchanged, and in some practical respects it has become easier for families who do not plan to live in Latvia full time. Some things did change, though, and every investor should understand them before applying.

Old law vs new law at a glance

1. The investment amount did not change

The route still requires a €50,000 investment into the share capital of a qualifying Latvian company, plus a €10,000 payment to the Latvian state budget. Our all-in programme cost therefore remains from €65,000, with every fee published on the homepage.

Some commentary about the new law mentions options that were removed or reshaped. Do not confuse those with this route: the €50,000 company route has been carried over into the new law.

2. Two-year renewable permits instead of five-year permits

Under the old law the permit could be issued for up to five years. Under the new law it is issued for up to two years and is renewed for as long as the conditions continue to be met. In practice the investor visits Riga briefly at each renewal for biometrics and to collect the new residence card. The renewal application itself can be prepared and filed by our advocate.

For our clients we have made one commercial decision to keep this simple: we charge no assistance fee for renewals during the first five years.

3. No more annual registration

This is the change families welcome most. The old law required the permit holder to register with the migration authority every year, which in practice meant a trip to Latvia or careful planning around deadlines. The new law abolishes this. Between renewals you have no obligation to be physically present in Latvia. You keep your home, business and life in your own country.

4. A cap of 10 investor permits per company

A single company can now support no more than 10 investor residence permits. In practice this means the number of places with any given company is limited. We take on a small number of families and pre-screen each one carefully, so please speak to us early if you are planning an application.

5. Who is excluded and what Article 28 means

Article 27(7)–(8) excludes Russian and Belarusian nationals from the investor route. Article 28 gives the Cabinet of Ministers the power to suspend the route for nationals of other specified countries for up to five years. As of the date of this article, no such regulation has been issued, and the route is open to the nationalities we work with, including Egyptian, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Turkish families and GCC residents. We will update this page if that changes.

6. What did not change: the honest part

Permanent residence remains a separate route (Article 31). It requires five years of genuinely continuous residence in Latvia (absences of no more than six consecutive or ten cumulative months), Latvian language at A2, sufficient means and a Latvian history and culture course. It is not an automatic result of holding an investor permit. A family that visits Latvia a few days a year does not accumulate it, and we say so on the first call.

The source-of-funds review is also as strict as ever. Applications are examined by several state bodies, including the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the origin of the €50,000 has to be documented clearly. That is why our advocate reviews each file before anyone pays anything.

What this means if you are applying now

1. New applications are filed under Article 27(1)(10) and receive a two-year renewable permit.
2. If you already hold a permit issued under the old law, contact us before your next registration or renewal date. We confirm the transitional position for each family individually.
3. If you were waiting to see whether the route would survive, it has. Because of the 10-permit cap, it makes sense to start the free document pre-screen early.

Read the law yourself

The full text of the Immigration Law is published on the official Latvian legal portal at likumi.lv/ta/id/370622. The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA, PMLP) publishes procedural information at pmlp.gov.lv. I would always rather you check the source than take any advisor’s word for it, including mine.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Latvian €50,000 investor residence route still open under the new law?

Yes. The new Immigration Law in force from 15 September 2026 keeps the route: a €50,000 investment into the share capital of a qualifying Latvian company plus a €10,000 payment to the state budget. The legal basis is now Article 27(1)(10).

How long is the Latvian investor residence permit valid under the new law?

Up to two years, and renewable. Under the old law it was issued for up to five years with an annual registration; the annual registration has been abolished.

Do I need to visit Latvia every year?

No. The annual registration of the old law no longer exists. The only regular in-person step is a short visit to Riga at each two-year renewal for biometrics and collection of the new residence card.

Who is excluded from the investor route?

Russian and Belarusian nationals are excluded by Article 27(7)–(8). Under Article 28 the Cabinet of Ministers may suspend the route for nationals of other specified countries for up to five years; no such regulation has been issued.

Does the investor permit lead to permanent residence automatically?

No. Permanent residence (Article 31) is a separate route requiring five years of genuinely continuous residence in Latvia, Latvian language at A2, sufficient means and a Latvian history and culture course. Most investor families simply keep renewing the two-year permit.