Ways to live in Latvia
These are the residence routes in Bordr's guide that we have checked against official sources. Each one links to the government page.
Programme details are shown in English.
Work permit Work permits →
EU Blue Card (EU work permit for highly qualified specialists)
Residence permit for qualified specialists hired by a Latvian employer at a salary well above the national average. A lower salary threshold applies to professions on the government's labour shortage list.
- What you need
- Job offer with a gross salary of at least €2,723 a month (1.5 times the average gross wage), or €2,178 a month for shortage professions (from 1 April 2026), plus higher education or equivalent qualifications.
- Income
- from about $3,160 a month
- Renewable
- Yes
- How to apply
- Through the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA), with the employer's involvement
- Family
- Family members can come with you
Cost of living
Monthly amounts in US dollars.
| Room in a shared flat | $250 |
|---|---|
| One-bedroom flat | $300 |
| Two-bedroom flat | $500 |
| Bills | $280 |
| Typical local salary | $1,530 |
Cities to consider
Climate by month, neighbourhoods and costs for each city are in the Bordr guide.
What life is like
Programme details are shown in English.
Why people move
Riga has one of Europe's richest Art Nouveau districts, lively markets and a strong music tradition. Jurmala's beaches are a train ride away, and the countryside is full of lakes, saunas and mushroom forests.
Day to day
Buses connect most towns, with trains on main lines. Private clinics are easy to access, while public care can mean waits. Cards and contactless work everywhere. Latvian is official; English and Russian are common in Riga.
Trade-offs
Winters are dark and slushy. Outside Riga, job options and services thin out quickly. Language rules matter in official life, and older buildings can be poorly insulated.
Before you move: visa-free entry
Most people arrive as visitors first, then apply from inside the country or come back with the right visa. How long you can stay as a visitor depends on your passport:
United States90 days
United Kingdom90 days
Australia90 days
Canada90 days
New Zealand90 days
SwitzerlandVisa-free
NorwayVisa-free
Singapore90 days
Japan90 days
South Korea90 days
Israel90 days
United Arab Emirates90 days
Hong Kong90 days
South AfricaVisa
Mexico90 days
Brazil90 days
Questions
Does Latvia have a digital nomad visa?
Not among the routes we have checked. Remote workers usually come as visitors within the visa-free limit or use one of the other routes on this page.
How can I move to Latvia?
The routes we have checked are: Work permit.
Sources and last check
This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change; confirm with the official government page or a licensed adviser before you apply.
