Self-Employed Visa in Latvia

A self-employed visa in Latvia (also freelance visa, freelancer visa, entrepreneur visa or startup visa) is the everyday name for a residence permit for a foreigner who earns a living from their own work rather than from an employer in Latvia. In Latvian a self-employed person is a pašnodarbinātā persona, registered for tax with the State Revenue Service (VID); the permit itself, the uzturēšanās atļauja, is decided by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP).

Who it is for

Freelancers and consultants with their own clients, craftspeople and professionals who want to work for themselves, and founders of new, innovative companies.

The routes in Latvia

• Self-employed person. The foreigner registers an economic activity with VID and applies for a permit on that basis, showing the activity, the means to live on and, at renewal, the taxes actually paid.
• Startup visa. A residence permit for founders of an innovative startup. The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) first assesses the business idea, then PMLP decides on the permit; the founder later joins the board of the startup company.
• Own company. A board member of a Latvian limited company (SIA) can apply on that basis under its own conditions, which sit close to the investment route of the golden visa.

A new Immigration Law has recently come into force, and the conditions of these routes have changed more than once; a lawyer confirms the current ones.

What to watch for

• A “Latvia business visa” is usually a short-stay Schengen visa for meetings and trips, not a residence permit for working in Latvia.
• The activity has to be real: contracts, invoices and tax records are checked when the permit is renewed.
• Self-employment and a company are taxed differently, and the choice affects both tax and the permit.
• Some professions need a licence or a recognised qualification before work can start.

What a lawyer does

A lawyer compares the routes for the person's plans, helps register the activity or set up the business, checks client agreements through contract review and advice, prepares the PMLP or LIAA file and plans renewals.

Questions and answers

Does Latvia have a freelance visa?

There is no document with that exact name. Freelancers usually rely on the self-employed route or on a company of their own.

What does LIAA look at for a startup visa?

Mainly whether the business idea is innovative and able to grow. An ordinary small business usually fits the self-employed or company route better.

Can the family come too?

As a rule, a spouse and minor children can apply for permits linked to the main applicant; see family reunification visa.

Can a self-employed foreigner work for Latvian clients?

Usually yes, within the activity registered with VID; the conditions of the permit are confirmed for each case.

Does the permit lead to permanent residence?

Years spent on temporary permits can count towards permanent residence, which also involves a Latvian language test.