Latvia’s Replacement Immigration Law Is Now in Force
Briefing summary
- The replacement Immigration Law took effect on 15 September 2026.
- Qualifying company investments remain, with permits of up to two years and annual company-tax requirements.
- A separate €150,000 state-fund basis exists in law, but PMLP confirms it cannot yet be used because the fund has not been established.
- The former property, bank and State-securities categories are not a menu for new applications under the replacement law.
- Pending applications and existing permit holders must use the transition provisions.
The law is no longer awaiting publication or a general January 2027 start. Parliament readopted it on 20 August 2026, it was published on 1 September, and the official legal database records commencement on 15 September. The Latvia investor pathway now describes the replacement framework.
New applications
Section 27(1)(10) retains the qualifying company-capital categories. The smaller-company category starts at €50,000, with a €10,000 State-budget payment and at least €40,000 in annual Latvian tax payments by the company. The larger-company category starts at €100,000 plus the same State payment and requires at least €100,000 in annual tax payments, with qualifying Latvian subsidiaries included as the statute permits. Company permits can be issued for up to two years.
Section 27(1)(36) provides a separate basis involving an agreement and transfer of at least €150,000 for at least five years in a state-established alternative investment fund manager, plus €10,000 to the State. The agreement must remain in force and the investment balance must not fall below €150,000. The statutory permit period is up to five years. PMLP’s September 15 notice confirms that the fund has not been established and this provision cannot currently be used. A private fund marketed at the same price is not a substitute for the required state-established arrangement. Citizeo excludes this option from assessment matches while a separate implementation watch follows its availability.
The law restricts these investment grounds for Russian and Belarusian citizens and permits further country-specific suspensions. A headline investment amount does not override those restrictions.
Existing investments and applications
The replacement law does not simply cancel every permit issued under the former law. Transitional provisions distinguish applications submitted before commencement, existing permits, registration dates and subsequent applications.
Applications for temporary residence submitted before commencement are considered under the former law. Existing temporary permits remain valid until their registration deadline or expiry where no registration deadline applies. Continuing residence after that point requires the appropriate new application and transition analysis.
Former real-estate and bank-liability permit holders have specific provisions allowing a further application, subject to maintaining the qualifying investment, timely filing, admissibility and State payments. Company-investor transition payments are addressed separately. A former State-securities case also needs individual analysis under the general transition rules. These protections should not be marketed as permission for a new applicant to buy property, make a bank deposit or acquire old investment securities today.
What still needs checking
Some implementing regulations remain to be replaced; compatible existing regulations may continue under the law's transitional timetable. Applicants should check the current PMLP document list, nationality restrictions, the exact investment and renewal conditions, and any operational instructions for the fund basis.
Citizeo has moved the original legislative watch to in force. A separate watch now follows the unavailable state-fund option, so the law’s commencement is not confused with an operational launch. Some residents will also face later integration duties from December 31, 2027; an investment permit does not provide a general exemption.