Residence Permit in Latvia Under the Payroll (Employment) Programme

What Is the Latvia Payroll Work Permit?

Around 1,685 euros gross per month, an employment contract, and documented qualifications — that is the core of the Payroll programme. It is one of the most common work visa Latvia routes for foreign nationals planning official employment at a Latvian company.

Conditions for Employing a Foreign National

A foreign national can be employed in Latvia under this programme if they hold:

• more than 3 years of documented work experience, or
• vocational or higher education qualifications

Salary Requirements

• Minimum gross monthly salary: 1,685 euros before taxes
• Spouses are not required to receive a salary

The salary amount and actual tax contributions are among the factors PMLP (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) and tax authorities look at most carefully during the review. In practice, verified payroll records and tax payments carry more weight than the employment contract alone — make sure payments are running before submission.

Confirming Work Experience and Qualifications

Work experience must be documented. Acceptable evidence includes:

• an educational diploma with apostille, plus a transcript of grades
• a certificate from the employer stating: company name, registration number, legal address, period of employment, job title or profession, and main responsibilities

Advantages of a Latvian Residence Permit

• Right to reside, study, receive medical care, and conduct business in Latvia — for the applicant and family members
• Free movement across the Schengen Area
• Simplified visa procedures for the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan
• Preferential admission to European universities
• Eligibility for permanent residency after 5 years, and citizenship after 10 years

Steps to Obtain a Work Visa Latvia — Payroll Route

1. Company Registration in Latvia

Registering a new company takes around 7 business days on average. We prepare all documents and send them electronically for signing via eSignature Latvia. We also assist with opening a corporate bank account and VAT registration.

Two points worth confirming before submission:

• the company name must include the management form: SIA
• the types of activity must be clearly specified in the registration documents

2. Vacancy Publication and Invitation Processing

Publishing a job vacancy with the State Employment Agency and processing the invitation takes around 15 business days. We publish the vacancy on behalf of the company and handle the invitation with the Latvian Migration Service. Residence permit documents are submitted once this period has elapsed.

3. Submitting the Employed Person Residence Permit Latvia Documents

Documents for the employed person residence permit Latvia can be submitted in three ways:

• through the Latvian Embassy or Consulate in the applicant’s country of citizenship or permanent residence
• through the Latvian Migration Service by post, if the applicant is already in a Schengen country
• by signing documents with an electronic signature

The review period is 5 to 30 days.

4. Receiving the Decision and Visiting PMLP

After a positive decision, the applicant has 3 months to collect their ID card Latvia in person at PMLP (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs). We prepare the document list, assist with arranging health insurance, paying state fees, and obtaining the property owner’s consent to register a declaration of residence Latvia.

5. Formally Hiring the Employee

Once the latvia residence permit employment card is issued, the holder receives a personal code Latvia and we assist with the official employment registration, including confirmation of tax resident Latvia status. Ongoing accounting and business support is available after that.