Who the Client Was
Changing employers under the Blue Card does not reset the clock on permanent residency.
A major Latvian IT company asked us to handle the Blue Card process for a new hire.
The candidate — a Kazakhstani national and IT specialist — was already in Latvia on a Blue Card tied to a previous employer. The company wanted him onboard fast, with no forced gaps or extra immigration steps.
At the time, he was living in Latvia with his wife. They were expecting a child.
The Task
What the Client Needed
Four things:
change employers under the Blue Card as quickly as possible;
keep uninterrupted residence and work rights throughout;
avoid any requirement to leave the country;
obtain a residence permit for both the employee and his wife.
For the company, one point overrode everything else: the specialist had to be able to start work officially as early as possible.
Why Latvia
Why Latvia
He was already here. A better offer came from an international IT company, and there was no reason to move countries. The question was purely how to make the transition without losing his status.
Main Challenges
The Core Problem
Speed, and sequencing. Under the Blue Card rules, the right to work for a new employer must be secured before the employee ends his contract with the previous one. That gap is exactly where the risk sits: if the existing Blue Card is cancelled before the new basis is registered, the status is lost.
Concerns
What the Client Was Afraid Of
- Losing current immigration status in Latvia.
- A refusal on the new residence permit application.
- Being required to leave the country.
- Losing the continuous period of residence already accumulated toward permanent residency.
Why Us
Why the Client Chose Us
The company had already worked with us on immigration matters and knew how we handle Blue Card cases. They weren’t looking for general advice. They needed a specific outcome, with minimal risk to the employee.
Work Scope
What We Did
We handled the full employer change process under the Blue Card:
Process
How It Unfolded
Under Latvian immigration law, a valid Blue Card holder may begin working for a new employer as soon as the new employer invitation is registered with the immigration authority. That is the procedure we applied.
The sequence:
The new employer issued an invitation for the employee
We submitted the documents to the immigration authority
Within 5 working days, the invitation was registered
The employee received the right to start work with the new employer officially
He then concluded his employment with the previous company
We submitted applications for new Blue Cards for him and his wife
The new residence permits were issued within 10 working days. Both received Blue Cards valid for 2 years.
Features
What Made This Case Unusual
Result
The Outcome
Within 5 working days, the employee was officially working at the new company. Within 10 working days, he and his wife had their new Blue Cards. No one left the country. The continuous residence period toward permanent residency was preserved in full.
For the employer: the specialist was working, and there were no immigration risks.
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