Residence Permits
Digital Nomad Visa in Latvia
The digital nomad visa in Latvia is valid for 1 year, extendable once. After two consecutive years, you must leave Latvia for at least 6 months before applying again under this category. It is a visa — not a residence permit — and it does not create a direct path to permanent residency. What it does give you: legal residence in Latvia and the right to move freely across the Schengen Area while continuing to work for employers or clients based abroad.
Afortis provides legal and administrative assistance: we prepare and file your application. Applications are decided by the Latvian migration authority (OCMA), not by Afortis.
Overview
What This Visa Actually Is
The programme launched in 2022 and is open to citizens of third countries only (non-EU, non-EEA). The defining eligibility criterion is not where you live — it is where your employer, business, or primary clients are registered. That must be an OECD member state.
Who Is It For
Who Qualifies for a Digital Nomad Visa in Latvia
Three routes into the programme:
You are employed remotely by a company registered in an OECD country
You own a business or operate as a sole trader registered in an OECD country
You provide services to clients in OECD countries and can document that this is your primary income source
In all three cases, your professional activity must be entirely remote and must have no connection to the Latvian labour market. PMLP (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) looks at this closely — a contract that could be read as local engagement will raise questions.
Minimum income threshold: €3,433 per month.
Who This Visa Is For
Foreign nationals who are already working remotely and want a stable EU base. That typically means IT specialists, consultants, freelancers, and remote employees of international companies — anyone seeking a remote work visa in Latvia or a freelancer visa Latvia route into the EU. It also suits people who plan to transition later to a different Latvian residence permit — employment-based, start-up, or otherwise — and want a foothold in the EU while they get there.
It is not suitable for anyone planning to take up work with a Latvian employer or whose income comes primarily from Latvian clients.
Process
Processing Time
Average: 30 working days. That figure can stretch if PMLP requests additional documentation on your income source. In our experience, source-of-funds questions are the most common cause of delays — prepare bank statements and contracts before you submit, not after.
Required Documents
Digital Nomad Visa Latvia — Requirements and Documents
Valid passport
Confirmation of employment with an OECD-registered company, or evidence of sole trader / business activity in an OECD country
Documentation confirming remote work (employment agreement or service contract)
Proof of income meeting the minimum monthly threshold of €3,433
Valid medical insurance with coverage of at least €42,600
Practical Advantages
- Free movement across the Schengen Area
- Legal residence in Latvia for the visa’s duration
- Solid urban infrastructure, co-working spaces in major cities, reliable high-speed internet
- A stable, secure EU environment with a reasonable cost of living relative to Western Europe
Tax Position
Tax status is assessed individually. It depends on how long you actually spend in Latvia and how your income is structured. If you stay long enough to become a tax resident in Latvia, double taxation becomes a real issue depending on your home country’s treaty arrangements with Latvia. Sort out a tax consultation before you arrive, not after you have been here six months.
What Comes Next
When the digital nomad visa Latvia expires, several onward routes are available:
- Employment-based residence permit (payroll route)
- Start-up residence permit
- Any other Latvian or EU residence permit for which you meet the conditions at that point
The visa does not count toward permanent residency timelines, but it keeps you legally present and gives you time to build the basis for a stronger permit.
Get an Assessment
Want to know whether you qualify for a digital nomad visa in Latvia? We can review your employment structure, income documentation, and OECD connection, and tell you directly whether an application is worth pursuing — and what gaps to address before submitting.
Reach Out
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