In July 2010 Latvian Immigration Law introduced the golden visa scheme, expanding the right of foreigners to obtain temporary residence permits for up to five years in exchange for their investment in the development of the Latvian economy
In September 2014, Immigration Law amendments increased the threshold for obtaining a residence permit and introduced other conditions and costs, if a foreigner’s real estate was registered in the Land Register after September 1, 2014:
- Minimum transaction value of real estate located anywhere in Latvia must be €250,000.
- The total cadastral value of the property at the time of acquisition should be at least €80,000.
- Payment of a state budget contribution worth 5% of the real estate’s transaction value.
Latvia further made amendments to golden visa law to include residency bond option. Foreigners Investing in government bond option receive a five year TUA residence permit in the Republic of Latvia as a person who acquires interest-free government bonds determined for special purpose with the nominal value of 250 000 euro, plus with the state fee of 38,000 euros for first residence permit.
Currently, The Latvian golden visa scheme requires, the minimum investment plus payment of state fees and other legal charges
- €50,000 to €100,000 Business investment or
- €250,000 real estate investment or
- €250,000 in Government bonds
- €280,000 Bank deposit with financial institution
As of July 2018 of Migration office statistics, Foreigners living in Latvia with temporary residence permits, including investor and family members issued for economic investment reasons
Business Capital | Real estate/ Property | Bank / Financial institution | Government securities or bonds | |
Russia | 152 | 6493 | 243 | 46 |
Belarus | 3 | 194 | 14 | 10 |
Azerbaijan | 5 | 133 | 9 | 2 |
China | 10 | 826 | 1 | 0 |
Israel | 2 | 50 | 3 | 0 |
Kazakhstan | 0 | 314 | 17 | 4 |
Ukraine | 40 | 610 | 78 | 19 |
Uzbekistan | 6 | 275 | 22 | 0 |
USA | 1 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
Egypt | 0 | 39 | 1 | 0 |
Georgia | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 |
India | 3 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
Iraq | 0 | 49 | 0 | 6 |
Israel | 3 | 50 | 3 | 0 |
Lebanon | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
- Government bonds: 36 applications, 51 family members, total 87
- Business Investment: 139 (investors), 159 (family members), total 298
- Real estate: 4284 (investors) , 5036 (family members), total 9320
- Bank deposit: 182 (investors), 246 (family), total 398