Is the Latvia Golden Visa Still Open? What Changed on 15 September 2026

Amir Ismail & Associates · Updated Oct 24, 2026 · 4 min read

No. Latvia stopped granting residence permits for real estate purchases and for investments in subordinated bank liabilities when its new Immigration Law took effect on 15 September 2026, according to the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. A new EUR 150,000 route through a state alternative investment fund is in the law, but the fund has not been set up, so nobody can use it yet.

If a seller still offers you Latvian property for a residence permit, ask for the official notice that you can still file. This guide shows what closed, what exists on paper only and what to check next.

Key Takeaways

Real estate route closed. New residence permits for property buyers ended with the new law.
Bank liability route closed. Investments in subordinated liabilities of credit institutions no longer qualify.
The dates. The Saeima adopted the law on 20 August 2026, and it took effect on 15 September 2026.
The fund route is not live. The law adds a EUR 150,000 investment in a state-established alternative investment fund manager, but the fund does not exist yet.
Some permits now last two years. The law sets a two-year term in several cases and ends the yearly permit registration.

What closed on 15 September 2026

Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs says the new law no longer allows temporary residence permits for people who buy real estate or invest in subordinated liabilities of credit institutions. These were the two routes that most sellers advertised.

Check the date you filed. The official article does not say whether applications filed before 15 September are still decided under the old rules. Ask the authority or your lawyer in writing.

What is in the law but not usable yet

The law adds an investment of EUR 150,000 in a manager of an alternative investment fund established by the state. The Office states that such a fund has not yet been established, so this provision cannot be used for the time being.

Until the fund exists, treat this route as a plan, not a product. Do not pay anyone for it.

What the official notice does not cover

Some reports describe a company share capital route that continues with lower thresholds. The official article does not mention it, so we list no amounts or terms here. If you want to build or buy a Latvian company, ask the Office for its current guidance on share capital investors before you spend money.

A government plan reported on 23 September 2026 also points to tighter rules. The Latvian public broadcaster says it includes closing the residence permit programme in exchange for investment, and the amendments still have to be drafted. Nothing further is law yet.

What to do if you were offered Latvia

Step 1: Ask the seller which legal ground the permit uses, and ask for the official notice that confirms it is still open.
Step 2: Ask in writing whether your filing date falls under the old law or the new law.
Step 3: Do not pay a deposit on a property for a residence permit until both answers are in writing.
Step 4: Compare programmes that are open today.

Programmes that are open today

Latvia is not one of the programmes we cover. We track it so you know what changed. Programmes with stable official fee tables include Portugal, Greece and the UAE.

For the wider picture, read our guides to European golden visas and to why a residence permit is not a passport.

Can I still buy property in Latvia to get a residence permit?

No, not for new permits. The new law that took effect on 15 September 2026 no longer provides residence permits to real estate purchasers, according to the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. Ask in writing about any application you filed earlier.

Is the EUR 150,000 fund route open?

Not yet. The law provides for it, but the Office says the state fund has not been established, so the route cannot be used for the time being.

Do investors now get two-year permits?

The Office says the law sets a two-year term in several cases and ends the yearly registration of permits. The article does not say which investor routes this affects.

Does Latvia still have an investor route for companies?

The official article does not mention it. Reports describe a share capital route, so ask the Office for its current guidance before you invest.

Will Latvia close investor residence completely?

A government plan reported on 23 September 2026 points that way, but the amendments still have to be drafted. Nothing further is law yet.

Compare the programmes that are open today. See every programme side by side.

Written by Amir Ismail & Associates, which helps families compare residence by investment programmes and brings in a local partner in each country once a case is qualified. This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. A residence permit is not a passport.