Work authorisation
Temporary residence permit (uzturēšanās atļauja) with the right to employment, for long-term work. For short-term work, a visa with the right to employment can be used instead. The Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP / OCMA) issues both permissions.
The employer registers the vacancy with the State Employment Agency (NVA). A non-EU worker can be hired only if the vacancy stays unfilled for at least 10 working days. Then the employer submits an invitation (short-term work) or a sponsorship request (long-term work) to PMLP. The worker then applies for the residence permit.
How you enter the country
Most workers apply at a Latvian embassy or consulate abroad. Nationals of visa-free countries, people with a valid Schengen residence permit, and holders of a visa with the right to employment can submit to PMLP in Latvia. A D visa (up to 1 year) with the right to employment must be obtained before entry, even by people who are otherwise visa-free. Official pages do not describe biometrics at the embassy.
Processing times
No standard processing time is stated. The state fee sets the speed of the residence permit review: within 30 days, within 10 working days, or within 5 working days.
Documents you usually provide
- Valid travel document recognised in Latvia
- Residence permit application form
- Photograph
- Criminal record certificate from your country of citizenship or residence, if you lived there more than 12 months (EU portal says visa-free nationals do not need it)
- Proof of subsistence. From 1 April 2026, for ordinary employment, pay must meet the sector average gross wage, but not more than the national average of EUR 1,815 per month (PMLP). The minimum floor in other cases is EUR 780.
- Employment contract or draft, sent with the employer's sponsorship request
- Health insurance policy (needed to register the permit; EU portal says at least EUR 42,600 cover including repatriation)
- X-ray or fluorography result done in Latvia (EU portal); PMLP says such a result is valid for 1 year
After arrival
Register the residence permit and get the residence permit ID card. Declare your place of residence: in person at the municipality or PMLP, or free online at latvija.lv. Declare any change of address within 1 month. Not declaring can lead to a fine of up to EUR 350. Register with the State Revenue Service as a taxpayer. The permit is tied to one employer and job. A change needs a new permit. The EU portal says the ID card is issued for 1 year and renewed every year, and the permit can last up to 5 years.
How Worrki helps
We confirm the job with the employer, coordinate the employer documents and check your package before you apply. You submit the application yourself and the authorities make the decision. See jobs and conditions in Latvia.
This summary was checked against the official pages listed below on 2 November 2026. Fees are set by the authorities and change often, so we do not quote them here. Always confirm the current requirements and fees with the consulate that serves your country of residence.