Latvia Immigration Rules in 2026: What Applies Now and What Is Still Under Review

Long lists of “new immigration rules” are circulating on social media. Many of them present proposed changes as though they already apply.

The Saeima approved a new Immigration Law on 11 June 2026, but President Edgars Rinkēvičs returned it to Parliament for a second review on 19 June. The proposed law is therefore not yet final.

Current status: Latvia’s existing Immigration Law and the regulations already in force continue to apply. The new law approved by the Saeima is being reconsidered.

This guide explains what foreign residents and travellers need to know now, which recent changes are already in force, and which widely reported proposals remain under review.

At a glance

- The proposed new Immigration Law is not currently in force.
- Existing residence permits do not need to be replaced because of the parliamentary debate.
- Some third-country nationals must already submit an electronic declaration before entering Latvia.
- Changing employers became simpler for many work-based residence permit holders in July 2026.
- Proposed rules concerning students, integration and investment residence permits are not yet final.
- Current OCMA procedures still apply to residence permit applications and renewals.

The current immigration rules still apply

The Saeima adopted the new law in its third reading, but the President sent it back for reconsideration before it could enter into force.

For foreign residents, the practical message is straightforward:

continue following the conditions of your current visa or residence permit;
check its expiry date;
use the application procedures currently published by OCMA;
do not submit additional documents or register for a new language examination solely because of social-media posts about the proposed law.

A valid residence permit remains subject to its existing conditions unless OCMA makes an individual decision concerning that permit.

Some travellers must already submit an entry declaration

One important immigration-related rule is already in force.

Since 1 September 2025, certain third-country nationals who do not hold a visa or residence permit issued by Latvia must provide information before entering the country. This also applies to travellers passing through Latvia in transit.

The declaration must normally be submitted through eta.gov.lv at least 48 hours before arrival.

It asks for information including:

the purpose of the journey;
the expected duration and place of stay;
the planned route;
contact details;
certain government, military, security-service or public-office connections involving the traveller or close relatives.

After submission, the traveller receives an automatic confirmation. There is no separate entry authorisation to wait for.

The requirement does not apply to every non-EU citizen. According to the Ministry of the Interior, it generally applies to people who:

are not citizens of the EU, EEA, Switzerland, NATO or OECD countries, or Brazil; and
do not hold a Latvian visa or Latvian residence permit.

There are also specific exemptions. Travellers should check the official guidance before departure rather than relying on a general list shared online.

Changing employers became simpler in July 2026

Another change that already applies concerns third-country nationals working in Latvia with residence permits connected to a particular employer.

From 10 July 2026, changing employers generally no longer requires obtaining a completely new temporary residence permit solely because of the employer change.

The new employer must still submit a sponsorship request to OCMA. The authorities then review the new position, salary and employment conditions. When the worker may start the new job depends on the type of permit and the status of the request.

This is a separate change that is already in force. It should not be confused with the larger Immigration Law currently under parliamentary review.

For the full procedure, see:

Changing Jobs in Latvia on a Work-Based Residence Permit: What Changed in 2026

Residence permit applications and renewals continue under the current system

Anyone applying for or renewing a residence permit should continue using the existing OCMA procedure for their specific basis of residence.

Requirements differ depending on whether the permit is connected to:

employment;
studies;
family reunification;
business or self-employment;
investment;
another legal basis.

OCMA states that a repeated residence permit may be requested while the previous permit remains valid or, during a period of lawful stay, within 90 days after it expires. Applicants must also consider the time needed to examine the application and produce the new residence permit.

This should not be understood as an automatic extension of every right attached to an expired permit. For example, the right to continue working may depend on the person’s status and the basis of the pending application.

The practical approach is to apply early, retain proof of submission and request written clarification from OCMA if the circumstances are unusual.

What is still under review?

The version approved by the Saeima proposed a broad restructuring of Latvia’s immigration system. It covered the entry, residence, employment, integration and return of third-country nationals.

The proposals included:

wider screening at external borders;
greater use of biometric data and EU databases;
broader grounds for refusing or cancelling residence permits for security or public-order reasons;
stronger monitoring of foreign employment and studies;
greater responsibility for employers and educational institutions;
a broader integration framework, including Latvian-language requirements.

Some or all of these measures may appear in a revised version. However, they should not currently be presented as obligations that already apply.

International students

The proposed framework would strengthen supervision of third-country nationals studying in Latvia and increase the responsibilities of educational institutions.

For now, students should continue following the current requirements connected to their university and residence permit. Announced reporting rules and other changes should not be treated as final until Parliament completes the review and practical instructions are published.

Latvian language and integration

The Saeima-approved version referred to an early integration programme and knowledge of the Latvian language.

However, it is not accurate to say that all foreign residents must now pass a new Latvian-language examination. The affected groups, language level, deadlines, exceptions and implementation process have not yet been finalised.

Existing language requirements for particular immigration statuses continue to apply, but they should not be confused with the proposed broader framework.

The proposed €150,000 investment residence permit

The investment route was one of the main issues raised by the President when returning the law.

The version approved by the Saeima would have allowed a foreign national to apply for a temporary residence permit for up to five years after investing at least €150,000 for a minimum of five years through a state-established alternative investment fund manager and paying €10,000 into the state budget.

The President requested further work on matters including:

verification of the origin of the invested funds;
how the investment could be used;
whether additional Cabinet regulations were necessary;
restrictions concerning Russian and Belarusian citizens;
whether the legal mechanism was sufficiently complete.

The proposed route is therefore not an operational residence permit programme. Potential applicants should not transfer money or rely on intermediaries claiming that applications under the new route are already open.

What should foreign residents do now?

For most people, the parliamentary review does not require immediate action.

The useful steps are:

Continue following the conditions of your current visa or residence permit.
Check whether the electronic entry declaration applies before travelling.
Submit residence permit renewal documents early.
Keep proof of documents submitted to OCMA.
Use the current employer-change procedure when moving to a new employer.
Do not treat proposed student, language or investment rules as already effective.
Follow official updates after the Saeima completes its second review.

FAQ

Is Latvia’s new Immigration Law already in force?

No. The Saeima approved it on 11 June 2026, but the President returned it for a second review on 19 June.

Do I need to replace my current residence permit?

No. A valid residence permit does not need to be replaced solely because Parliament considered a new law.

Continue following its current conditions and expiry date unless OCMA informs you otherwise.

Do all foreign travellers need to use eta.gov.lv?

No. The declaration applies only to specified groups. Whether it is required depends on citizenship, immigration status and whether the traveller holds a Latvian visa or residence permit.

Can third-country workers change employers under the new procedure now?

Yes. The simplified employer-change procedure took effect in July 2026. The new employer must submit a sponsorship request, and the permitted starting date depends on the worker’s permit and the status of the request.

Do all foreign residents now need to pass a Latvian examination?

No new universal language-examination requirement is currently in force as a result of the proposed law.

Existing requirements for particular residence statuses still apply.

Can I apply for the proposed €150,000 investment residence permit?

No operational application route under this proposal has been confirmed. The investment provision is one of the issues returned to Parliament for further review.

Where should I check the current requirements?

Use OCMA for residence permits and employment procedures, the Ministry of the Interior for entry requirements, and Likumi.lv for legislation currently in force.

This guide provides general information and does not replace individual advice from OCMA or a qualified immigration specialist.

Official sources

Information checked on 13 July 2026