Latvia Golden Visa for UK Citizens: 2026 Investment Guide

The Latvia Golden Visa for UK citizens offers a structured route to EU residency through qualifying investment. Since Brexit, UK citizens are treated as non-EU nationals and remain eligible for the program.

Following the 1 September 2026 Immigration Law reform, the previous real estate, government bond, and bank deposit routes have been abolished for new applicants. Investors can now qualify by investing €50,000 or €100,000 in a Latvian company, depending on the company’s size, or through the new €150,000 Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) route.

Residence permits under the company investment routes are now issued for two years at a time, while the AIFM route can provide a permit valid for up to five years. The program also provides access to the Schengen Area and does not require full-time residence in Latvia. 

Latvia Golden Visa: Key Takeaways

UK citizens can obtain a Latvia Golden Visa through investment in a Latvian company or the new AIFM route.
The company investment options are €50,000 or €100,000, depending on the size of the company.
The new AIFM route requires a minimum investment of €150,000, maintained for at least five years.
A one-time €10,000 state fee applies to the qualifying investment routes.
Company-based residence permits are now issued for two years at a time, while the AIFM route provides a permit valid for up to five years.
There is no requirement to live in Latvia full-time to maintain temporary residency.
The Golden Visa provides visa-free travel across the 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
The main applicant can include their spouse, children under 18, dependent children over 18, and potentially dependent parents.

What is the Latvia Golden Visa for UK citizens and how does it work in 2026?

View of Riga in Latvia

The Latvia Golden Visa allows UK nationals to obtain Latvian residency by making a qualifying investment. Applications are processed by the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.

Following the September 2026 reforms, UK investors can qualify by investing €50,000 or €100,000 in the share capital of a Latvian company, depending on the company’s size, or €150,000 in a State-established Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM).

Company-based residence permits are issued for two years at a time and can be renewed every two years. The AIFM route provides a residence permit valid for up to five years, provided the investment requirements continue to be met.

After five years of qualifying residence, applicants may be able to apply for permanent residence. Citizenship may be possible after ten years, subject to Latvian language, integration, and other legal requirements.

Benefits of the Latvia Golden Visa for UK Citizens (2026)

The Latvia Golden Visa for UK Citizens offers a fast and flexible path to EU residency and mobility. Key benefits include: 

  1. EU mobility and Schengen access: Latvia Golden Visa holders can live, work, and study in the country. They will obtain visa-free travel across all 29 Schengen Area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. 
  2. Low investment threshold: 
    As of 2026, Latvia offers one of the most affordable EU residency-by-investment options, with investments starting at €50,000 in a Latvian company.
  3. Family inclusion: UK citizens investing through one of the Latvia Golden Visa pathways are able to include their spouses, dependent children, and in some cases, dependent parents in their application.  
  4. Minimal stay requirements: The Latvia Golden Visa does not require UK citizens to live in Latvia full-time during temporary residence. However, residence requirements for permanent residency must be met separately. 
  5. Pathway to permanent residency and citizenship: Qualifying residents may apply for permanent residency after five years, subject to meeting the relevant residence and other requirements. Latvian citizenship may be possible after ten years, subject to language, civic knowledge, and other legal requirements.
  6. Tax considerations: Obtaining temporary residency through the Golden Visa does not automatically trigger tax residency. UK investors can benefit from favorable tax rules, including no tax on global income if spending less than 183 days per year in Latvia. 

Overall, the program offers an affordable, strategic gateway to the EU post-Brexit, offering mobility, family inclusion, and a clear long-term residency and citizenship path for UK investors. 

Latvia Golden Visa Investment Options for UK citizens in 2026

Here are the Latvia Golden Visa investment pathways for UK citizens:  

Investment TypeMinimum InvestmentGovernment FeeHolding PeriodKey Notes
Business Investment — Small Company€50,000€10,000OngoingInvestment in a company with fewer than 50 employees and annual turnover or balance sheet total below €10 million. The company must pay at least €40,000 in annual taxes.
Business Investment — Large Company€100,000€10,000OngoingInvestment in a company that, alone or together with Latvian subsidiaries, employs more than 50 people and has annual turnover or balance sheet total above €10 million. The company or group must pay at least €100,000 in annual taxes.
AIFM Investment€150,000€10,000At least 5 yearsInvestment in a State-established Alternative Investment Fund Manager. The investment must remain at or above €150,000 throughout the permit period.
sigulda-latvia

To explore which of the pathways
is ideal for you, read our full
Latvia Golden Visa Guide

Latvia Golden Visa Eligibility for UK citizens

To qualify for the Latvia Golden Visa, UK applicants must: 

  • Be at least 18 years old 
  • Hold a valid UK passport 
  • Have a clean criminal record 
  • Demonstrate legal source of funds 
  • Show sufficient financial means (€2,220 per month for the main applicant in 2026) 
  • Maintain the investment for five years 
  • Hold valid health insurance 

There are flexible physical stay requirements, with no obligation to live full-time in Latvia during temporary residence. 

How to get Latvia Golden Visa from the UK: Step-by-step

While every application is slightly different depending on your investment choice, here’s a clear outline of what UK applicants can expect: 

  1. Step One: Verify eligibility: Make sure you are 18 or older, a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, in good health, and have a clean criminal record. You will also need to provide proof of sufficient funds for yourself and any dependents. 
  2. Step Two: Choose and complete your investment: Decide on your investment route: €50,000 or €100,000 in a Latvian company, or €150,000 through the AIFM route. Complete the investment and keep all official proof and supporting documentation.
  3. Step Three: Gather required documents: Prepare your passport, proof of investment, health insurance, criminal record check, financial statements, photos, and family documents if applying with dependents. 
  4. Step Four: Submit your application: Applications must be submitted in person at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) in Latvia, or via a Latvian Embassy or Consulate in the UK. 
  5. Step Five: Attend biometrics in Latvia: Once your application is approved, you’ll receive an invitation to travel to Latvia to provide fingerprints and photos at OCMA. 
  6. Step Six: Maintain your residence permit: Maintain your residence permit: Residence permits under the company investment routes are issued for two years at a time and can be renewed every two years. The AIFM route provides a residence permit valid for up to five years, provided the investment requirements continue to be met. Full-time residence in Latvia is not required for temporary residency. Permanent residency may be available after five years, while citizenship may be possible after ten years if the relevant requirements are met.

Family Inclusion under the Latvia Golden Visa

Happy Family

UK investors may include the following family members in their Golden Visa application: 

  • Spouse – legally married partner. 
  • Children under 18 – biological or legally adopted. 
  • Dependent children over 18 – only if they are in full-time education and financially dependent. 
  • Parents – only if they are fully financially dependent on the main applicant. 

Family members receive Latvia residence permits linked to the main applicant. Global Citizen Solutions works alongside specialized Latvian immigration lawyers, ensuring all family members are included in the application, following all legal requirements.  

Permanent Residency and Citizenship for UK Citizens in 2026

One of the key advantages of the Latvia Golden Visa is its flexibility. 

  • Temporary residence: Residence permits are issued according to the selected investment route. Full-time residence in Latvia is not required to maintain temporary residency.
  • Permanent residency: After five years of qualifying temporary residence, applicants may apply for permanent residency if they meet the applicable residence, language, and other legal requirements.
  • Citizenship: Latvian citizenship may be pursued after ten years of qualifying residence, subject to Latvian language, civic knowledge, and other requirements.

Tax Residency in Latvia for UK Citizens

Holding a Golden Visa does not automatically trigger Tax Residency in Latvia. 

Tax residency typically applies if you spend 183+ days per year in Latvia or Latvia becomes your center of vital interests 

Non-residents are taxed only on Latvian-sourced income. Residents are subject to progressive income tax rates of 20–33%. 

UK investors are advised to seek tax advice if they are planning to move to Latvia full time. Luckily, the UK and Latvia have a double tax treaty.  

Processing Time for UK applicants

The Latvia Golden Visa for UK citizens generally take 30 days to 3 months for standard processing. It may take up to 6 months in complex cases. Processing speed depends on documentation quality and background checks.  

It is highly recommended to work with a trusted migration agency. Global Citizen Solutions works alongside the best Latvian Golden Visa lawyers, ensuring you application is compete and legal, working with you every step of the way to avoid delays and rejections.  

GCS Client Testimonials

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0 stress with GCS
I had such a good experience with GCS & would absolutely recommend it for anyone wanting a smooth, stress free visa process. This process would have been so difficult to do without them & I am so glad I opted for this route.
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I highly recommend GCS
I highly recommend GCS – the entire team has been there for us every step of the way to help us obtain our residency. They have provided valuable advice and insight into the process and we’ve already had our friends use them for their Golden Visas.
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Outstanding Experience
Global Citizen Solutions has been fantastic every step of the way. From the very beginning, they’ve been incredibly gracious, responsive, and thorough. They made sure all of our questions and concerns were fully addressed, and often anticipated things we hadn’t even thought about—providing helpful information and thoughtful suggestions throughout the process.

Why Work with Global Citizen Solutions? 

  • Specialist expertise in the Latvia Golden Visa 
  • Access to pre-vetted qualifying investment opportunities 
  • Trusted by 15,000+ clients worldwide 
  • Over a decade of advisory expertise 
  • Dedicated relationship manager 
  • Transparent fees and guidance 
  • Support beyond approval 
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, UK passport holders are considered non-EU citizens, meaning they are eligible to receive the temporary residence permit through the Latvia Golden Visa.

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Hold a valid UK passport
  • Have a clean criminal record
  • Demonstrate legal source of funds
  • Show sufficient financial means (€2,220 per month for the main applicant in 2026)
  • Maintain the investment for five years
  • Hold valid health insurance

Following the 1 September 2026 reforms, UK citizens can qualify through:

  • €50,000 investment in a qualifying Latvian company
  • €100,000 investment in a qualifying larger Latvian company
  • €150,000 investment in a State-established Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM), maintained for at least five years

The previous real estate, government bond, and bank deposit routes have been abolished for new applicants.

The Latvia Golden Visa for UK citizens typically takes between 30 days and three months to process under standard procedures. In more complex cases, it can take up to six months. Processing times depend largely on the quality of the submitted documentation and the outcome of background checks.

A one-time €10,000 payment to the state budget applies to the qualifying investment routes upon approval of the residence permit. Applicants should also budget for additional costs such as legal fees, translation and certification of documents, health insurance, and biometric residence card issuance fees.

Yes, Latvian applicants can include their spouse and dependent children on the same application. UK citizens may also be able to include parents if they are financially dependent on the main applicant.

UK investors do not need to live in Latvia full-time to maintain their temporary residence permit. However, separate residence requirements apply when applying for permanent residency, so applicants should ensure they meet the relevant physical-presence requirements.

Yes. UK investors can apply for permanent residency after five years on a temporary Latvia Golden Visa. To qualify, you must have lived in Latvia for at least four out of those five years and pass a basic A2-level Latvian language test. This provides a clear path to long-term EU residency, with the option to pursue Latvian citizenship after ten years.

Yes. UK investors with a Latvia Golden Visa can travel visa-free across all 29 Schengen Area countries. Temporary residence permit holders may stay in other Schengen states for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

Yes. British citizens can live in Latvia under the Golden Visa, but as post-Brexit third-country nationals, they must follow local immigration rules. Short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period are visa-free. For longer-term residence, work, or study, a temporary or permanent residence permit through the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) is required.

The Latvia Golden Visa offers UK investors a relatively low-cost route to EU residency, with qualifying investments starting at €50,000. Following the 1 September 2026 reforms, investors can choose between qualifying company investments and the new AIFM route, while benefiting from Schengen access and a potential pathway to permanent residency and citizenship.

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