Latvia Digital Nomad Visa: Requirements And How To Apply

What this visa is

Latvia doesn’t call it a “digital nomad visa” in law. It’s a national long-stay visa, category D, issued for the purpose of remote work. Everyone calls it the digital nomad visa anyway, so this page does too. It lets you live in Latvia for up to a year while you keep working for an employer registered outside Latvia, or run your own business registered outside Latvia.

Eligibility

You qualify if you’re a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, and you meet one of these two conditions:

• You’re employed by a company registered in an OECD member state, and you can do your job remotely.
• You’re self-employed and registered as such in an OECD member state.

Either way, you need at least six months of history in that job or that self-employment before you apply. Citizens of Russia and Belarus are not eligible, under changes Latvia made to its immigration law in 2022.

This visa does not cover your spouse or children. There’s no dependent route attached to it, so if you’re bringing family, you’ll need to look at a separate visa or residence permit for them.

Income requirement

You need to earn at least €4,213 a month. This figure isn’t fixed. It’s set at 2.5 times the average monthly gross wage in Latvia from the previous year, using the latest figures published by Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau, so it moves each time that data updates. €4,213 is the figure PMLP (Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) had published as of February 2026. Check the source below before you apply, in case the figure has been updated since.

How you prove it depends on how you work:

If you’re an employee

Your employer needs to confirm your salary meets the threshold and that you’ve worked for them for at least six months. You’ll also need a document from the tax or social insurance authority in the employer’s country confirming your employment.

If you’re self-employed

You need a document from your country’s tax authority showing your self-employment income over the past six months averages at least €4,213 a month.

Required documents

• A valid passport
• The completed and signed visa application form
• A passport photo taken in the last six months
• Proof of health insurance valid in Latvia and the rest of the Schengen area, with at least €42,600 in coverage
• Proof of where you’ll be staying in Latvia
• Employment confirmation from the tax administration in your employer’s country, plus an employer certificate (employees), or tax authority proof of six months’ self-employment income (self-employed)
• Proof you’ve paid the state fee

How to apply

1. Confirm you meet the income threshold and gather six months of proof, either from your employer or your own tax records.
2. Arrange health insurance that covers you in Latvia and the Schengen area for at least €42,600.
3. Fill in the national long-stay (D) visa application form.
4. Pay the state fee.
5. Submit your application and documents to a Latvian embassy or consulate, or to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) if you’re already in Latvia. Applications by post are also accepted.
6. Wait for a decision. PMLP normally processes complete applications within 15 calendar days, though it can take up to 60 days if they need more information.

Costs and fees

The state fee for a national long-stay (D) visa is €90. If you apply less than three working days before your current legal stay in Latvia runs out, the fee rises to €180 for expedited processing.

On top of that, budget for your health insurance policy and any costs of getting documents translated or notarized, since these vary by provider and by your home country.

Permit duration and renewal

The visa is issued for one year. You can apply for a second D visa on the same remote work basis for a further year, so two years total is the practical limit. After that, you can’t renew on this basis again straight away. You’d need to wait six months before reapplying, or switch to a different visa or residence permit if you want to stay in Latvia without a gap.

Health insurance

Your policy needs to be valid across Latvia and the Schengen area and cover at least €42,600. Buy this before you apply, since a copy of the policy is one of the required documents.

What you can’t do on this visa

Holding this visa doesn’t give you the right to work for a Latvian employer. You’re in Latvia to keep doing your existing remote job or run your existing foreign business, not to take local work. You also can’t claim Latvian social assistance while on this visa.

Taxes

If you become a Latvian tax resident while holding this visa, you may be able to apply a reduced 15% personal income tax rate on your remote work income for up to 365 days. This isn’t automatic. You need to register for it separately and meet the conditions at the time, so check your position with a Latvian tax adviser or accountant before you rely on it.

FAQ

Do I need to already have a job before I apply? Yes. You need at least six months of employment with your current employer, or six months of self-employment income, before you apply. You can’t use this visa to move to Latvia and then look for remote work.

Can I work for a Latvian company on this visa? No. The visa is specifically for people whose employer or business is registered outside Latvia. Taking local work isn’t allowed.

Does the €4,213 income threshold ever change? Yes. It’s recalculated as 2.5 times Latvia’s average gross monthly wage from the previous year, based on the latest figures from the Central Statistical Bureau. It typically moves upward each time that data is updated, so confirm the current figure with PMLP before you apply.

Can my partner or children join me on this visa? No. This visa doesn’t include a dependent route. Family members need their own visa or residence permit.

Are Russian or Belarusian citizens eligible? No. Latvia excluded citizens of Russia and Belarus from this visa under 2022 changes to its immigration law.

How long does approval take? PMLP aims to process complete applications within 15 calendar days, with a maximum of 60 days if they need to request more information or documents.

What happens after the visa expires? You can apply for a second D visa on the same basis for one more year. After two years total, you need to wait six months before reapplying on this basis, or apply for a different visa or residence permit.

See if this fits your situation

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