Moving Your Business to Latvia: Visa Routes for Founders and Investors

This guide covers the 2 verified routes for founders and investors moving a business to Latvia. Every figure comes from our program review dated September 15, 2026. Rules change often, so treat this as a starting point and confirm the details with an expert before you commit money or time.

Startup Visa

Latvia's Startup Visa has no minimum investment requirement — applicants instead need to show proof of funds of roughly €5,160. It supports teams of up to 5 co-founders applying together, issued as a temporary residence permit renewable annually for up to 3 years.

Who it suits: Non-EU founders (individually or as a team of up to 5 co-founders) building an innovative, scalable startup. Minimum investment: None — proof of funds ~€5,160. Active involvement: Yes. What you receive: Temporary residence permit, up to 3 years (annual renewal). Family: Yes — spouse and minor children. Path to permanent residence: Conditional — PR after 5 years; citizenship after a further 5 years.

Golden Visa (Business Investment Route)

Latvia's business-investment residency route requires €50,000 invested in a Latvian company, with that company required to pay at least €40,000 in tax annually. Currently this grants a 5-year residence permit. However, the Latvian Parliament approved amendments on June 11, 2026, effective January 1, 2027, that will remove the real-estate, government-securities, and bank-deposit golden-visa routes entirely — leaving only the business-investment route — while also shortening the permit validity from 5 years to just 2 years.

Who it suits: Investors willing to put capital into an actively operating Latvian company. Minimum investment: €50,000 in a Latvian company (company must pay ≥€40,000 tax annually). Active involvement: Partial — investment-based, less hands-on than the Startup Visa. What you receive: Currently a 5-year residence permit; dropping to 2 years starting January 1, 2027. Family: Yes. Path to permanent residence: Conditional — PR after 5 years; citizenship after a further 5 years.

Worth knowing: Time-sensitive: the real-estate, securities and deposit golden-visa routes end on 1 January 2027, and the permit term for the business route is due to shorten from 5 to 2 years. Check the current terms before you plan.

This guide is directional guidance only and is not legal or immigration advice. A consulting session will tell you which route fits your business and what to prepare first.