Latvia Visas, Taxes and Money for Digital Nomads

Who can apply

Non-EU nationals who work remotely for an employer registered in an OECD member country, or who are self-employed through a business registered in an OECD country. You need at least six months’ history with that employer or business, and you must be able to do your job remotely from Latvia. You can’t work for a Latvian employer on this visa.

Income

Your monthly gross income must be at least 2.5 times the Latvian average gross monthly wage of the previous year, as published by the Central Statistical Bureau. The 2025 average was €1,815, which puts the 2026 bar at about €4,540 a month (about $5,250). Employees prove it with an employer’s letter showing salary and remote-work permission; self-employed applicants with a tax authority document showing income over the last six months.

Documents

• Long-stay visa application form, completed online and signed
• Passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure, and a recent photo
• Employer’s letter (or self-employed tax document) confirming six months’ work, income and that the work can be done remotely
• Proof of current employment from your home tax or social insurance authority
• Health insurance valid in Latvia and the Schengen Area for the whole stay, with cover of at least €42,600
• Proof of accommodation in Latvia

Length, renewal and fees

The visa is issued for up to one year and can be extended once for a second year. The state fee for a long-stay visa is about €60, with higher fees for urgent processing, and embassies using visa centres may charge more (around €90 in some). Processing usually takes a few weeks.

How to apply

Apply at a Latvian embassy or consulate, or a visa centre that handles Latvian visas, in your country of residence. If you are already legally in Latvia, you can apply to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) in Riga.

Family

The remote work visa has no dedicated family route. Spouses and children usually need their own visa or Schengen allowance, or the family moves on a residence permit instead. Check with PMLP before planning a family move.

Tax and social insurance

Remote work visa holders are not socially insured in Latvia and can’t claim social assistance. There is no special tax regime: if you stay 183 days or more, you can become tax resident like anyone else (see the tax section below).

Latvia is in the Schengen Area. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries can enter without a visa and stay 90 days in any 180-day period. The count covers all Schengen countries together, so time in Estonia, Lithuania or anywhere else in Schengen uses up the same allowance.

• EES: the Entry/Exit System has been fully live since April 2026. Non-EU travellers have their fingerprints and a photo taken at the first Schengen border, and entries and exits are recorded digitally instead of stamped, so the 90/180 count is automatic.
• ETIAS: the online travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers has no confirmed start date yet; the EU will give several months’ notice.
• Overstays: overstaying can mean a fine, removal and an entry ban, and with EES it is recorded automatically.

Nationalities that need a Schengen visa apply for a short-stay (C) visa at a Latvian embassy.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no visa and can live and work in Latvia freely. If you stay more than three months, register with PMLP for a registration certificate. A personal code (personas kods) helps with banks, leases and doctors.

You are tax resident in Latvia if you declare your residence there, or spend 183 days or more in any 12-month period that starts or ends in the tax year.

• Residents pay personal income tax on worldwide income, at 25.5% on annual income up to €105,300 and 33% above that (the rates since 2025), with an extra 3% on income over €200,000. There is a monthly tax-free allowance (€550 in 2026).
• Non-residents are taxed only on Latvian-source income.

Latvia has double tax treaties with most OECD countries, which decide where your income is taxed and give credit for foreign tax. There is no special exemption for remote work visa holders, so a long stay can make you taxable in Latvia. This is a general guide, not tax advice; see our digital nomad taxes guide and talk to a Latvian accountant if you stay most of a year.

Latvia uses the euro. Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere, including in markets, taxis and on Riga’s public transport, and cash is rarely needed. ATMs are common; use bank-owned machines and always decline the ATM’s currency conversion.

The main banks are Swedbank, SEB, Citadele and Luminor. Opening an account as a non-resident is possible but slow, because banks run strict anti-money-laundering checks and usually want a Latvian address, a personal code and proof of your income source. Many nomads skip it and use Wise or Revolut, which give a euro IBAN and work for rent and bills.