A new Immigration Law, adopted by the Saeima on August 20 of this year, takes effect on September 15. While the new Immigration Law largely preserves the principles of the previous regulatory framework, it also introduces several significant changes.
Applicants for visas and residence permits must henceforth take into account stricter requirements regarding the languages in which documents may be submitted. When applying for a visa and an initial temporary residence permit, documents may be submitted in Latvian or English, whereas applications for renewal of a temporary residence permit or permanent residence permit, as well as documents submitted by inviters to be attached to an invitation or sponsorship application, must be in Latvian.
While the procedure for applying for a long-term visa remains unchanged, applicants for residence permits will be affected by major changes. The law provides for changing the validity periods of temporary residence permits, in several cases establishing a two-year term while simultaneously abolishing the requirement for annual permit registration. At the same time, the law no longer provides the option of granting temporary residence permits to real estate purchasers or investors in subordinated liabilities of credit institutions. Conversely, opportunities for startup founders to apply for a temporary residence permit have been expanded, with restrictions imposed only on citizens of countries with elevated terrorist risks.
Significant changes will also affect permanent residency rights, where moving forward only a single type will be retained—the status of a permanent resident of the European Union, which is granted by applying for a new permit or by registering an existing one. Henceforth, permanent residency rights will no longer be granted to any category of persons upon a first application; a mandatory criterion will be at least five years of residence in Latvia with a temporary residence permit, which alters conditions for applicants for refugee status and minor children.
Additionally, the law introduces a new type of investment—a 150,000 EUR investment in a manager of an alternative investment fund established by the state, though it must be noted that such a fund has not yet been established, making this provision inapplicable for the time being.
Changes will also affect students, as the right to enter together with family members will henceforth be restricted to those who are citizens of NATO member states or are doctoral students. At the meantime, for the optimization of administrative processes, the maximum processing time for a residence permit application has been shortened to no more than four months from the date of submission.
Furthermore, the law includes a section on the integration of foreigners, establishing an obligation to master the state language and a course on Latvian history and culture. A transition period has been set for this obligation, and the provision will enter into force on December 31, 2027.