Published: 26.02.2026.

The right to employment is confirmed by a corresponding remark in the visa issued to the foreigner.

A visa with the right to employment must be obtained by the foreigner prior to entering Latvia – at a Latvian representation abroad that is competent to examine visa applications. This requirement also applies to foreigners who do not require a visa to enter the Republic of Latvia. If a foreigner does not require a visa to enter Latvia for another purpose, a visa containing confirmation of the right to employment must nevertheless be obtained in cases of employment.

A foreigner who intends to be employed on the basis of a visa may be issued:

  • a short-stay visa (C visa) – if the employment is related to short-term or irregular stay in the Republic of Latvia not exceeding 90 days within a 180-day period;

  • a long-stay visa (D visa) – for a period not exceeding one year. A long-stay visa for seasonal work may be issued for a period of up to six months within a 12-month period.

To obtain a visa with the right to employment:

  1. The employer must obtain an opinion from the State Employment Agency;

  2. The employer must arrange an invitation at any division of the OCMA;

  3. The foreigner must submit the documents required for obtaining a visa with the right to employment at the competent Latvian representation abroad.

The decision granting the right to employment is included in the decision on issuing the visa. Depending on the purpose of entry and the type of employment, the visa sticker issued to the foreigner must contain one of the following remarks confirming the right to employment in Latvia:

  • BUSINESS

  • THE RIGHT TO WORK WITH A SPECIFIC EMPLOYER

  • THE RIGHT TO WORK 20 H PER WEEK

  • SEASONAL WORK

  • VOLUNTARY WORK

  • THE RIGHT TO WORK WITH NO RESTRICTIONS

Foreigners are permitted to engage in paid employment only if confirmation of the right to employment has been obtained (Section 9 of the Immigration Law and Cabinet Regulation No. 55).

  • Participation in guest performances (guest concerts) as a creative artist or performing artist, or as administrative or technical staff involved in the organisation of performances (concerts), provided that the intended period of stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 14 days;

  • An invitation from an educational institution, research institution or an individual researcher to carry out scientific research or to participate in the implementation of educational programmes, provided that the intended period of stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 14 days;

  • That the person is a researcher residing in the Republic of Latvia in accordance with Section 5.^2, Paragraph one of the Immigration Law and has been elected to an academic position at a college, higher education institution or research institution in the Republic of Latvia, or is a student residing in the Republic of Latvia in accordance with Section 5.^3 of the Immigration Law whose employment does not exceed 20 hours per week;

  • That the person is a crew member of a vessel engaged in international voyages and registered in the Latvian Ship Register;

  • That the person is a crew member of a vehicle registered abroad and engaged in international transport operations;

  • That the person is lawfully employed in another Member State of the European Union, a State of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation, and has been posted by the employer to provide services in Latvia for a period not exceeding 90 days within six months;

  • That the person is a sole trader registered in the Commercial Register, a member of the management board or supervisory board, a procurator, administrator, liquidator or a member of a partnership with the right to represent the partnership, or a person authorised to represent a merchant (including a foreign merchant) in activities related to a branch, or is a self-employed person, provided that the period of stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 90 days within six months;

  • That the person is an intra-corporate transferee whose period of stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period and who holds a valid temporary residence permit issued by another Member State of the European Union as an intra-corporate transferee;

  • That the person is employed in the Republic of Latvia and the period of stay in the Republic of Latvia does not exceed 14 days within any 180-day period;

  • Carrying out a traineeship within the framework of a study programme;

  • Acquiring relevant professional experience as a trainee no later than two years after obtaining higher education.