- Digital nomad visa
- Yes
Long-Stay Visa for Remote Work
Overall5/10Harder visas than about 65% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- The 90-day limit applies across the whole Schengen Area combined — time spent in Estonia, Lithuania, or any other Schengen country before or after Riga counts against the same 90/180-day allowance, so multi-country Baltic hopping eats into your total.
- Passport stamps aren't always clear, and the EU's new Entry/Exit System is rolling out through 2026 to digitally track entries and exits — keep your own log of entry/exit dates to avoid an accidental overstay.
- A Schengen visa-free stay or Type C visa does not permit paid work in Latvia — nomads working remotely for a foreign employer generally rely on the tourist rules for short stays, but should check current guidance if planning to stay long-term or seek a dedicated remote-work/residence route.
- Once ETIAS launches (expected late 2026), visa-exempt nomads will need to apply online in advance of travel — it's a quick, cheap process but adds a step that doesn't exist today.
- The income bar for Latvia's digital nomad visa is recalculated every year against the national average wage, so always check the current figure directly on the PMLP (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) site before applying — many blog guides online quote outdated, lower numbers.
- You cannot legally work for a Latvian company or Latvian clients on this visa — it's strictly for remote work tied to an employer or self-employed business registered in an OECD country.
- Stay under 183 days in a 12-month period (and keep tax residency elsewhere) if you want to avoid becoming a Latvian tax resident on your worldwide income.
- The much-discussed 15% flat tax rate for digital nomads is not yet law — as of now, becoming a Latvian tax resident means standard progressive income tax rates apply.
- Family members cannot be added to this visa, so it suits solo remote workers rather than those relocating with dependents.
Visa Free Entry
- Process
- No advance application is currently required for visa-exempt nationalities — travelers simply present a valid passport at the border. This is expected to change once the EU's ETIAS pre-travel authorization system launches (expected late 2026), after which visa-exempt travelers will need to apply online in advance for a small fee before flights and trips.
- Framework
- Latvia is a full member of the Schengen Area, so entry rules for most nomads follow the standard Schengen short-stay policy rather than a Latvia-specific one.
- Who Qualifies
- Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not need a visa at all, and citizens of roughly 59 visa-exempt 'third countries' (including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most Latin American nations) can enter visa-free for short stays.
- Beyond 90 Days
- For stays longer than 90 days, a national long-stay (Type D) visa or a Latvian residence permit is required, applied for either in advance at a Latvian consulate/embassy or, for some nationalities, in person at Latvia's Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) within the first 30 days of a visa-free stay.
- Purpose Allowed
- Tourism, short-term business visits, and private/family visits only — visa-free entry does not permit employment or long-term study.
- Overstay Consequences
- Exceeding the 90/180 limit can lead to fines, deportation, and Schengen-wide entry bans typically ranging from 1–5 years.
- Official Source Note
- The definitive, nationality-by-nationality list of who is visa-exempt is maintained by Latvia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not by generic travel sites — always cross-check there before booking.
Max Stay
- Detail
- This limit is cumulative across the entire Schengen Area, not per country — days spent in Latvia, Estonia, France, etc. all count toward the same 90-day allowance.
- Duration
- Up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period
- Extension Note
- Some visa-exempt nationalities have additional bilateral visa-waiver agreements with Latvia that allow up to another 90 days beyond the standard Schengen 90/180 limit without leaving the country, but this only applies to specific listed nationalities and does not increase the combined Schengen-wide limit if traveling elsewhere in the zone.
ETIAS Upcoming
- Visa fee
- €20
- Status
- Not yet in effect
- Validity
- Valid for 3 years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first, allowing multiple entries into Latvia and the wider Schengen Area
- Expected Launch
- Late 2026 (exact date to be confirmed by the EU at least 6 months in advance)
Passport Requirements
- Validity
- Must remain valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen Area
- Issue Date
- Must have been issued within the last 10 years at the time of entry
Digital Nomad Visa And Tax
- Visa Name
- Long-Stay Visa for Remote Work (Type D national visa, commonly called the Latvia Digital Nomad Visa)
- Renewal Path
- Renewal is filed before the initial visa expires and requires re-demonstrating the same core conditions: qualifying income, valid health insurance, proof of accommodation, and continued remote employment/self-employment tied to an OECD-registered employer or business.
- Who It Is For
- Third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA/Swiss) who work remotely as an employee of a company registered in an OECD member state, or who are self-employed with a business registered in an OECD member state.
- Visa Ease Tier
- moderate
- Key Restriction
- Holders cannot take up employment with a Latvian employer or work for Latvian clients/companies; the visa is only for remote work performed for entities abroad.
- Official Source Page
- https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/article/obtaining-long-stay-visa-remote-work
- Visa Ease Tier Rationale
- Latvia offers a standard 90/180 Schengen entry plus a dedicated digital nomad visa renewable to 2 years, but the visa requires a high income threshold (~€4,213/month), 6-month work history proof, and no family accompaniment, making it moderately burdensome despite being a realistic legal pathway.
- Work History Requirement
- Employees must show at least 6 months of prior employment with the same employer; self-employed applicants must show at least 6 months of self-employment income at the qualifying level, both verified via a tax or social insurance authority document from an OECD country.
Duration
- Renewal
- Renewable once for an additional year, for a maximum total of 2 years, provided the holder continues to meet all eligibility requirements
- Path After Visa
- Sources differ on whether the 2 years under this visa count toward permanent residency; standard Latvian permanent residency generally requires 5 years of continuous legal residence, so nomads should not assume automatic PR eligibility after 2 years
- Initial Validity
- Up to 1 year
Tax Notes
- Standard Rates If Resident
- If a nomad becomes a Latvian tax resident (e.g., by exceeding 183 days), Latvia's standard progressive personal income tax applies, with rates reported around 20% at lower bands rising to roughly 25.5%–33% (per Latvia's income tax law) depending on income level; social security contributions may also apply.
- Under 183 Days
- Digital nomad visa holders who stay 183 days or fewer in Latvia per relevant period and maintain tax residency elsewhere are generally not treated as Latvian tax residents and are not taxed by Latvia on foreign-sourced income.
- Tax Residency Trigger
- An individual becomes a Latvian tax resident if they have a declared place of residence in Latvia or stay 183 days or more within any 12-month period; tax residents are taxed on worldwide income.
- Special Nomad Tax Regime
- Latvia does not currently have an enacted special reduced tax rate for digital nomad visa holders. A proposal for a 15% flat income tax rate for registered nomad visa holders has been discussed/proposed but was not yet enacted as of mid-2026.
- Permanent Establishment Caveat
- Employers of nomad visa holders should be aware of potential corporate tax 'permanent establishment' exposure if the employee begins soliciting or servicing Latvian clients from within Latvia.
Application Path
- Family Members
- The visa does not currently include provisions for accompanying family/dependents
- Where To Apply
- Through a Latvian embassy/consulate (commonly via VFS Global where used), or the online e-form/portal for the long-stay visa; some applicants already legally in Latvia without needing an entry visa may apply locally
- Processing Time
- Standard decision typically within 15 days of full document submission; can be extended up to 60 days if the consulate requests additional information
Fees
- Standard Fee
- €60
- Expedited Fee
- €120
Income Requirement
- Rule
- Monthly gross income of at least 2.5 times the previous year's average monthly gross salary in Latvia, as published by Latvia's Central Statistical Office
- Applies To
- Both employees (evidenced via employer certificate + OECD tax/social insurance authority document) and self-employed applicants (evidenced via an OECD country's tax authority document)
- Current Official Threshold
- €4,213
- Note On Figure
- This threshold is recalculated annually against the national average wage, so it rises most years; some older guides still cite lower figures (roughly €2,540–€3,400) from previous years that are now out of date.
Required Documents
- Valid passport (validity should cover the intended stay)
- Completed and signed visa application form (e-form)
- Recent passport-style photograph
- Proof of health insurance valid in Latvia and the Schengen area for the full stay, with minimum coverage of €42,600
- Document confirming the expected place of residence/accommodation in Latvia
- For employees: a certificate from the OECD country's tax administration or social insurance institution confirming current employment, plus an employer certificate confirming at least 6 months' prior employment, the salary level, and that duties can be performed remotely
- For self-employed applicants: a document from an OECD country's tax administration confirming self-employment income over the past 6 months at the required threshold
- Proof of payment of the state visa fee
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this visas research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Riga
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.