Latvia investor residence 2026: property route closed and €150,000 fund route faces repeal

Latvia’s investor-residence rules changed materially in September 2026. From 15 September 2026, the new Immigration Law stopped granting new temporary residence permits on the basis of buying Latvian real estate or investing in subordinated liabilities of credit institutions. The law also introduced a new €150,000 state alternative-investment-fund route, but Latvia’s immigration authority says the required fund has not yet been established, so that route is not currently usable.

There is now a second important development: Bill 1521/Lp14 seeks to remove the new fund provision before it becomes operational. The proposal has entered the Saeima process, but it is not enacted law. Investors should distinguish between rules already in force and a proposal that may still change.

Last verified: 21 September 2026 against Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, the official Immigration Law and the Saeima legislative process.

What changed on 15 September?

Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) says the new Immigration Law, adopted by the Saeima on 20 August 2026, took effect on 15 September.

OCMA states that the new law no longer provides temporary residence permits to real-estate purchasers or investors in subordinated liabilities of credit institutions. Buying Latvian property is therefore no longer, by itself, a route to a new temporary residence permit under the former property-purchaser provision, and the former subordinated-bank-investment route has also been removed.

Is the new €150,000 fund route open?

No. The law introduced a new qualifying investment of €150,000 in a manager of an alternative investment fund established by the state. OCMA says the required fund has not yet been established, making the provision currently inapplicable.

Prospective applicants should therefore not transfer money or sign investment commitments on the assumption that this route is already operational.

Why could the new route disappear?

Bill 1521/Lp14, submitted by Progressives MPs, proposes removing the alternative-investment-fund residence provision from the Immigration Law. The bill was referred into the Saeima committee process on 10 September 2026.

If the bill ultimately passes, the new fund provision could disappear before the required state fund becomes operational. However, the bill has not yet abolished the route. As of 20 September, it remains a legislative proposal.

The current position is unusual: the law contains the €150,000 provision, OCMA says it cannot yet be used because the required fund does not exist, and lawmakers are separately considering removing it. Investors should check the latest official status before committing capital. The relevant proceedings can be followed through the Saeima sitting record.

Does Latvia still have other business or investment residence options?

The official OCMA summary confirms the removal of the property and subordinated-liability routes and describes the new fund provision. It does not justify a blanket claim that every company, business or entrepreneurial residence basis has ended.

Anyone considering a company-based or startup route should verify the specific statutory provision that applies to their case rather than relying on older descriptions of Latvia’s former residence-by-investment programme.

What about existing investor permit holders?

The official Immigration Law contains specific transitional protection for applications and existing permits. Applications for a visa or temporary residence permit that were submitted before the new law took effect are processed under the previous Immigration Law. Temporary residence permits issued before 15 September 2026 remain valid until their registration or validity period ends.

For holders whose permits were granted under the former property-purchase or subordinated-bank-investment routes, the transitional provisions allow a repeated temporary residence permit for up to five years on the same basis if the application is made while the previous permit is still valid, the qualifying investment still meets the former conditions, no statutory refusal ground applies and the required state-budget payment is made. These provisions do not create a new route for new investors.

Individual cases can still depend on nationality, the original legal basis and the permit’s history, so existing holders should confirm their own renewal position with OCMA before relying on a deadline or making investment decisions.

What should prospective investors do now?

• Do not buy property expecting it to qualify you for a new investor residence permit. OCMA says that route has been removed.
• Do not assume the €150,000 fund route is open. The required state fund has not yet been established.
• Monitor Bill 1521/Lp14. It seeks to remove the fund provision and remains in the parliamentary process.
• Verify alternative business or company routes separately.
• Existing property and bank-investor permit holders may have transitional renewal rights. Check the statutory conditions and apply while the previous permit is still valid where required.

Compare other European relocation routes

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Frequently asked questions

Can I still get a Latvian residence permit by buying property?

For a new application under the former property-purchaser route, OCMA says no. The new Immigration Law no longer provides that option from 15 September 2026.

Can I still qualify through a subordinated bank investment?

OCMA says the new law also removes the temporary residence permit option for investors in subordinated liabilities of credit institutions.

Is the €150,000 fund route open now?

No. OCMA says the required state-established alternative investment fund has not yet been created, so the route is currently inapplicable.

Has the fund route already been cancelled?

No. Bill 1521/Lp14 seeks to remove the provision, but it remains a proposal in the parliamentary process.

Are existing investor permits automatically cancelled?

No. The new law says temporary residence permits issued before 15 September 2026 remain valid until the end of their registration or validity period. It also provides a transitional route for eligible holders of former property and subordinated-bank-investment permits to request repeated permits on the same basis, subject to the statutory conditions and required state payment.

Featured image: Martti Salmi / Unsplash.

Babylon provides general information for internationally mobile residents and investors. Immigration and investment rules can change, and this article is not individual legal, immigration, investment or tax advice.