Latvia jobs and work permits for Indians
A Latvian employer can hire you after testing the local market. Short-term work uses a D visa filed at VFS in India after a Hello Verify document check; longer work uses a residence permit filed at the Embassy in New Delhi. A new Immigration Law takes effect mainly on 1 January 2027; a law-firm summary says it shortens employment permits to one year and refuses invitations from recruiters for elementary jobs.
What is happening now in Latvia
Open, but tightening. A new Immigration Law adopted on 11 June 2026 takes effect mainly on 1 Jan 2027. Per a law-firm summary it cuts employment residence permits from up to 5 years to up to 1 year, and refuses invitations from labour-supply providers and recruiters for elementary occupations (ISCO Major Group 9) and for new or tax-non-compliant providers.
www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026saeima.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026cobalt.legalchecked 24 Oct 2026(secondary)
Latvia at a glance
| Status for applicants in India | Open. Stricter from 1 Jan 2027 |
|---|---|
| Usual route | Temporary residence permit with the right to employment pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026 |
| Who applies | Your employer, then you pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026 |
| Where to apply in India | D visa: VFS Global centres in India after a Hello Verify document check. Residence permit: Embassy of Latvia, New Delhi, by appointment www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026 |
| Official decision time | Set by the fee paid: within 30 days, 10 working days or 5 working days (processing starts when PMLP in Riga receives the file). pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026 |
| English test such as IELTS | Not in the official document lists we checked; employers may ask www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026 |
| EU Blue Card minimum pay | 1.5 times the previous year's average gross monthly wage: EUR 2,723 a month; 1.2 times (EUR 2,178) for professions on the Cabinet's list of expected significant labour shortages (PMLP, from 1 April 2026). home-affairs.ec.europa.euchecked 24 Oct 2026 |
Latvia is in the EU and the Schengen area. Capital: Riga. Currency: Euro (EUR).
Which Latvia work permit fits you?
Latvia has 3 work routes that matter for candidates from India. Temporary residence permit with the right to employment is the usual first route; the details below come from the official pages linked under each one.
Temporary residence permit with the right to employment
Termiņuzturēšanās atļauja ar tiesībām uz nodarbinātību
- Who it is for
- Third-country nationals hired by a Latvian employer for long-term work (a residence permit is required for long-term employment).
- Who applies
- Your employer, then you
- Labour market test
- Yes. The employer publishes the vacancy on the State Employment Agency (NVA) CV and vacancy portal and justifies the number of vacancies; it must assess candidates NVA proposes and give reasons for rejecting them. NVA gives its opinion within 10 working days of publication; the opinion is valid for 1 month, within which the invitation must be filed with PMLP (rules from 1 Jan 2025). PMLP says the vacancy must be open at least 10 working days; NVA's page says it must stay on the portal at least two months from publication.
- Quota
- No numerical quota found on PMLP or NVA pages (not confirmed that none exists).
- Minimum pay
- At least the previous year's average gross monthly wage in the employer's sector, or the minimum set by a sectoral general agreement; where the sector average is above the national average, at least the national average: EUR 1,815 a month from 1 April 2026 (PMLP).
- How long it lasts
- Currently up to 5 years for the employment period; the ID card is issued for one year and must be re-registered every year (EU Immigration Portal). From 1 Jan 2027: up to 1 year for employment (Cobalt, secondary).
- Renewal
- A new permit is needed to change employer or position; renewal terms not confirmed.
- Family
- Family reunification is possible (EU Immigration Portal).
- Long-term residence
- Permanent residence after 5 continuous years and a Latvian language test at least at A2 level (PMLP).
- Official decision time
- Set by the fee paid: within 30 days, 10 working days or 5 working days (processing starts when PMLP in Riga receives the file).
- Government fees
- Temporary residence permit examination from 1 Jan 2025: EUR 160 (30 days), EUR 280 (10 days), EUR 560 (5 days); invitation approval EUR 10 (e-service) or EUR 17 (PMLP). An older PMLP table still shows EUR 100/200/400.
Steps, in order
- 1Employer self-publishes the vacancy on the NVA CV and vacancy portal and justifies the vacancies.
- 2Employer assesses NVA-proposed candidates (by the 8th working day) and reports results; NVA issues its opinion within 10 working days.
- 3Within 1 month of a positive NVA opinion, employer submits an invitation/summons request to PMLP with the employment contract (or draft) and the worker's education documents, electronically signed (fee EUR 10 via latvija.gov.lv e-service, EUR 17 otherwise).
- 4Worker files residence-permit documents at a Latvian embassy abroad (in India: Embassy in New Delhi, by appointment) or with PMLP if legally in Latvia.
- 5PMLP decides within the paid timeframe and emails the decision to the worker and employer.
- 6If approved, worker gets a 90-day long-stay visa to travel, then collects the permit card at PMLP.
- 7On arrival: declare place of residence, provide a radiologist's report on an X-ray done in Latvia, register with the State Revenue Service.
Documents
- Valid travel document
- Application form and photograph
- Criminal record certificate from the country of citizenship or residence (if lived there more than 12 months; visa-free nationals exempt)
- Proof of necessary subsistence
- Health insurance of at least EUR 42,600 covering medical costs and repatriation
- Documents issued abroad legalised and translated into English or Latvian
Sources for this route
pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026nva.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026em.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026home-affairs.ec.europa.euchecked 24 Oct 2026cobalt.legalchecked 24 Oct 2026(secondary)
Long-stay (D) visa with the right to employment (short-term work)
Short-term employment; the visa carries the right to work. This is the route India-based applicants file through VFS.Show the rules, steps and documents
Ilgtermiņa vīza (D) ar tiesībām uz nodarbinātību
- Who it is for
- Short-term employment; the visa carries the right to work. This is the route India-based applicants file through VFS.
- Who applies
- Your employer, then you
- Labour market test
- Same NVA vacancy and opinion process before the employer's invitation is approved by PMLP.
- Quota
- No numerical quota found (not confirmed).
- Minimum pay
- Same as the residence-permit route: sector average, capped at the national average of EUR 1,815 (from 1 April 2026).
- How long it lasts
- Not confirmed (maximum D-visa length for employment not stated on the pages read).
- Renewal
- Not confirmed .
- Family
- Not confirmed .
- Long-term residence
- None directly; long-term work requires a residence permit.
- Official decision time
- Not confirmed .
- Government fees
- Long-stay visa EUR 90 (PMLP fee rules from 1 Jan 2025; Embassy in New Delhi). VFS and Hello Verify charges extra (amounts not confirmed).
Steps, in order
- 1Employer registers the vacancy with NVA and obtains a positive opinion.
- 2Employer gets the invitation approved by PMLP (it must be dated no more than 6 months before the visa application).
- 3India, Nepal or Sri Lanka applicants: verify visa support documents with Hello Verify India (visa.helloverify.com) first; without the Hello Verify transaction number VFS will not give an appointment.
- 4Apply at a VFS Global centre in India (Sri Lankans in Colombo); pay the visa fee.
- 5After arrival, register with the State Revenue Service as a taxpayer.
Documents
- Passport valid 3+ months after departure with two blank pages, plus copies
- Printed and signed long-stay visa e-application form; one 35x45 mm photo
- PMLP-approved employer invitation
- Signed employment agreement; personal bank statements for the last 3 months and a bank balance letter
- Proof of accommodation (notarised owner consent and land registry statement)
- Proof of previous employment and Indian income tax returns (ITR-V with Form 26AS and Form 16/16A)
- Proof of education in the same field as the job
- Travel medical insurance valid in Schengen, minimum EUR 42,600
- Hello Verify confirmation slip
EU Blue Card (Latvia)
Highly qualified workers: degree from a 3+ year programme, or at least 5 years of professional experience in the field.Show the rules, steps and documents
ES zilā karte
- Who it is for
- Highly qualified workers: degree from a 3+ year programme, or at least 5 years of professional experience in the field.
- Who applies
- Your employer, then you
- Labour market test
- Employer's invitation must be approved by PMLP first; whether the NVA vacancy step applies to Blue Cards: not confirmed.
- Quota
- No quota found (not confirmed).
- Minimum pay
- 1.5 times the previous year's average gross monthly wage: EUR 2,723 a month; 1.2 times (EUR 2,178) for professions on the Cabinet's list of expected significant labour shortages (PMLP, from 1 April 2026).
- How long it lasts
- EU Immigration Portal: up to 5 years; if the contract is one year or less, contract plus 3 months. Cobalt (secondary) describes the current Blue Card term as up to 2 years, unchanged by the 2027 law. Sources conflict.
- Renewal
- Renewal depends on the work agreement.
- Family
- Spouse and minor or dependent children may enter with the applicant, with proof of kinship.
- Long-term residence
- 5 years of legal residence in Latvia (or 5 years in the EU with the last 2 in Latvia for Blue Card holders from another member state), sufficient Latvian, regular means and a place of residence.
- Official decision time
- 10 or 5 working days depending on the fee (older PMLP fee table).
- Government fees
- EUR 100 (10 working days) or EUR 200 (5 working days) in the older PMLP table; 2025 Blue Card fee not confirmed.
Steps, in order
- 1Employer gets its invitation approved by a PMLP branch.
- 2Worker applies at a Latvian diplomatic or consular office abroad, which forwards the file to PMLP (or directly to PMLP if legally in Latvia).
- 3After arrival: declare residence, provide the X-ray report, hold EUR 42,600 health insurance.
Documents
- Application form and photograph
- Proof of sufficient financial means (salary threshold)
- Criminal record certificate (home country, or country of residence if more than 12 months there)
- Diploma or proof of 5 years' experience
Where do you apply for a Latvia work visa in India?
Long-stay (D) visa for employment: VFS Global visa application centres in India, after Hello Verify document verification (visa.helloverify.com). Residence permit: in person at the Embassy of Latvia, B8 Anand Niketan, New Delhi 110021, by appointment only via pieraksts.mfa.gov.lv/en/india.
The Embassy in New Delhi accepts residence-permit files from citizens of India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and from residents of those countries who hold a residence permit there. Fees are paid by card only and are not refunded on refusal; processing starts when PMLP in Riga receives the file. Nepal, Maldives and Myanmar nationals use the VFS centres in India for D visas; Bangladesh nationals apply at the Embassy.
www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026
The Latvia process step by step, and how to check your status
Can you apply for Latvia from Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, Ireland or New Zealand?
PMLP's rule is residence-based: 'Foreigners residing outside Latvia may submit documents to the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia abroad.' The London embassy explicitly accepts UK and Ireland residents. Its 2021 page listed a EUR 110 consular fee for residence-permit files and EUR 60 for a D visa; current amounts are not confirmed.
| If you live in | What the official pages say |
|---|---|
| CanadaRule says where you live; mission not confirmed | PMLP: foreigners residing outside Latvia may file at a Latvian embassy abroad. Which Latvian mission serves Canada residents: not confirmed. |
| United StatesRule says where you live; mission not confirmed | PMLP: foreigners residing outside Latvia may file at a Latvian embassy abroad. Which Latvian mission serves US residents: not confirmed. |
| United KingdomYes, confirmed by the mission | Yes, per the Embassy of Latvia in London: third-country nationals resident in the UK can submit residence-permit documents there; a UK residence permit or long-term visa is needed for a D visa (page last updated April 2021). |
| AustraliaRule says where you live; mission not confirmed | PMLP: foreigners residing outside Latvia may file at a Latvian embassy abroad. Which Latvian mission serves Australia residents: not confirmed. |
| IrelandYes, confirmed by the mission | Yes, per the Embassy of Latvia in London: third-country nationals resident in Ireland can submit residence-permit documents at the London embassy (page last updated April 2021). |
| New ZealandRule says where you live; mission not confirmed | PMLP: foreigners residing outside Latvia may file at a Latvian embassy abroad. Which Latvian mission serves New Zealand residents: not confirmed. |
pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026
Which jobs are in demand in Latvia?
These occupations appear on official shortage lists, quotas or forecasts; each links its source. A list is not a job offer: every route still needs an employer who hires you.
Welders and flame cutters
Shortage occupation for Latvia in the ELA/EURES 2025 annex (Table 21).
Heavy truck and lorry drivers
ELA/EURES 2025 shortage list for Latvia.
Building and related electricians
ELA/EURES 2025 shortage list for Latvia.
Structural metal preparers and erectors; sheet metal workers
ELA/EURES 2025 shortage list for Latvia.
Concrete placers and finishers; plasterers
ELA/EURES 2025 shortage list for Latvia.
Mechanical machinery assemblers
ELA/EURES 2025 shortage list for Latvia.
All 8 occupations, with sources, and how hiring works in Latvia
Do you need IELTS or the local language?
No English or Latvian test appears in the official work-permit or D-visa document lists we checked. Documents issued abroad must be translated into English or Latvian and legalised. Permanent residence requires Latvian at least at A2 level. The 2027 Immigration Law adds integration and state-language requirements (level not stated in the Saeima release).
What we can and cannot do for a Latvia work permit
What we do
- Check your profile against the Latvia rules on this page, and tell you plainly if a route is not open to you.
- Put your profile forward when an employer we work with in Latvia is hiring for your occupation. We publish a vacancy only when we hold the employer’s demand letter and power of attorney. Open vacancies
- Help you prepare a complete, honest application file.
What no one can do, including us
- Guarantee a job, a permit or a visa. The Latvia authorities decide.
- From 1 January 2027, according to a law-firm summary of the new Immigration Law, invitations from labour-supply providers and recruiters for elementary jobs (ISCO group 9) will be refused. Our Latvia work therefore focuses on skilled trades and professional roles. cobalt.legalchecked 24 Oct 2026(secondary)
What changed recently in Latvia?
1 Jan 2027 (scheduled)
Per Cobalt (secondary): employment residence permits up to 1 year (now up to 5); invitations refused for Major Group 9 roles via labour-supply providers/recruiters and for providers under 6 months old or with tax-compliance problems.
cobalt.legal11 Jun 2026
Saeima adopted a new Immigration Law; most provisions in force 1 Jan 2027: tighter supervision of employment and studies, more employer liability, wider refusal grounds, integration and state-language requirements.
saeima.lv1 Apr 2026
New salary and means figures: national average EUR 1,815; EU Blue Card EUR 2,723 (1.5x) or EUR 2,178 (1.2x for shortage professions).
pmlp.gov.lv1 Jan 2025
New state fees: temporary residence permit EUR 160 / 280 / 560 by processing speed; long-stay visa EUR 90; invitation approval EUR 10 / 17.
pmlp.gov.lv1 Jan 2025
Stricter NVA rules (Cabinet Regulation 55 amended): employers must justify vacancies, assess NVA candidates and give reasons; NVA opinion in 10 working days, valid 1 month.
em.gov.lvFeb 2024
Cabinet Regulation 225 amended: third-country workers must be paid at least their sector's average gross wage (capped at the national average). Secondary source.
ellex.legal
Questions about Latvia work permits
How do Indians apply for a Latvia work visa?
Your Latvian employer first advertises the job through the State Employment Agency and gets its invitation approved by PMLP. For a long-stay (D) work visa, you then verify your documents with Hello Verify India and apply at a VFS Global centre in India. For a residence permit, you apply in person at the Embassy of Latvia in New Delhi, by online appointment.
www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026
What is the minimum salary for a Latvia work permit in 2026?
From 1 April 2026 a non-EU worker must earn at least the average gross wage of their sector for the previous year, or the sectoral agreement minimum, but never more than the national average is required: EUR 1,815 a month. For an EU Blue Card the minimum is EUR 2,723, or EUR 2,178 for listed shortage professions.
Does a Latvian employer have to advertise the job before hiring me?
Yes. The vacancy must be published on the State Employment Agency's CV and vacancy portal. The employer must assess candidates the agency sends and explain any rejection. The agency gives its opinion within 10 working days, and the employer then has 1 month to file the invitation with PMLP.
nva.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026em.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026
How long does a Latvia residence permit take?
You choose the speed when you pay: within 30 days, 10 working days or 5 working days. The clock starts when PMLP in Riga receives your file, not when you submit it at the embassy.
pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026
What are the government fees for a Latvia work permit?
From 1 January 2025: EUR 160 (30 days), EUR 280 (10 days) or EUR 560 (5 days) to examine a temporary residence permit; EUR 90 for a long-stay visa; EUR 10 or EUR 17 for the employer's invitation approval. VFS and Hello Verify charge their own service fees.
pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026
Is IELTS required for a Latvia work visa?
No English test such as IELTS appears in the official document lists. Documents issued abroad must be translated into English or Latvian and legalised. For permanent residence you need Latvian at least at A2 level.
www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026
What changes in Latvia's immigration law from 2027?
The Saeima adopted a new Immigration Law on 11 June 2026, mostly in force from 1 January 2027. It tightens checks on foreign workers' employment, makes employers more liable and adds integration and Latvian language requirements. A law-firm summary says employment permits will last up to 1 year and invitations from labour-supply agencies for elementary jobs will be refused.
saeima.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026cobalt.legalchecked 24 Oct 2026(secondary)
Can I apply for a Latvian work permit from the UK or Ireland?
Yes, according to the Embassy of Latvia in London: non-EU citizens who live in the UK or Ireland can submit residence-permit documents there. For a D visa you need a UK residence permit or long-term visa. That page was last updated in April 2021, so confirm the current process.
www2.mfa.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026
Can I change employer in Latvia?
Not on the same permit. Your right to work is tied to one employer and position, so a new residence permit is needed. If you lose your job you lose the legal basis to stay. EU Blue Card holders need a new Blue Card application to change employer.
home-affairs.ec.europa.euchecked 24 Oct 2026home-affairs.ec.europa.euchecked 24 Oct 2026
How do I get permanent residence in Latvia?
After 5 continuous years on temporary residence permits and passing a Latvian language test at least at A2 level. You also need regular income and a place to live in Latvia.
pmlp.gov.lvchecked 24 Oct 2026home-affairs.ec.europa.euchecked 24 Oct 2026
What we have not confirmed yet
We would rather show a gap than guess. These points are still open; a consultant checks them for your case.
- How long the vacancy must stay open (PMLP: at least 10 working days; NVA: at least two months on the portal).
- Maximum length of a D visa for employment and its processing time.
- Current EU Blue Card validity (EU portal: up to 5 years; Cobalt: up to 2 years) and the 2025 Blue Card fee.
- Which Latvian missions serve residents of Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand, and current London fees.
- Whether any annual quota or cap on third-country workers exists.
- Exact provisions of the 2027 Immigration Law (official text not read; employment-permit length and Major Group 9 rule are from a law-firm summary).
- VFS and Hello Verify service charges in India.
- WebSearch budget was exhausted before these items could be searched further.
Sources
- 1.Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP/OCMA) — Employment of foreigners pmlp.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 2.PMLP — How to recruit a citizen of another country (short-term and long-term employment steps) pmlp.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 3.State Employment Agency (NVA) — Employment of third-country nationals in Latvia nva.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 4.Ministry of Economics — Stricter requirements for recruiting foreign labour from 2025 em.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 5.PMLP — Necessary subsistence / salary amounts from 1 April 2026 pmlp.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 6.PMLP — New regulations on state fees for migration services from 1 January 2025 pmlp.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 7.PMLP — State fee for issuing a residence permit (older table citing Cabinet Regulation 557 of 2017) pmlp.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 8.Embassy of Latvia in India — Applying for a residence permit (last updated 17 Apr 2024) www2.mfa.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 9.EU Immigration Portal — Employed worker in Latvia (last updated 1 Apr 2025) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 10.Cobalt — New Immigration Law in Latvia: what employers, investors and temporary residence holders need to know (secondary) cobalt.legal, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 11.Embassy of Latvia in India — Long-stay (D) visa for employment (last updated 25 Mar 2025) www2.mfa.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 12.Embassy of Latvia in India — Applying for a long-stay visa www2.mfa.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 13.EU Immigration Portal — Highly-qualified worker in Latvia (EU Blue Card, last updated 1 Apr 2025) home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 14.PMLP — Where documents for a first residence permit may be filed pmlp.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 15.Embassy of Latvia in the UK — Residence permits (last updated 14 Apr 2021) www2.mfa.gov.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
- 16.Saeima — Saeima supports stricter immigration regulation (new Immigration Law, 11 June 2026) saeima.lv, checked 24 Oct 2026
Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.