150,000 euro state fund route replaces Latvia property investment on Sept. 15

Latvia will abolish residence permits tied to real estate purchases and subordinated bank deposits on Sept. 14. The new Immigration Law that takes effect the next day adds a state-managed fund option, but the state fund has not been set up yet.

Shift from real estate to state-managed funds

Starting Sept. 15, Latvia's new Immigration Law eliminates the ability to secure residency by purchasing property worth at least €250,000 ($270,000) or placing a €280,000 ($302,000) subordinated bank deposit.

In their place, the law adds a route through a state-run investment vehicle, which cannot be used until the state sets up the fund. The route requires applicants to:

• Transfer at least €150,000 ($162,000) into a state-established alternative investment fund manager for at least five years.

• Pay a one-time state budget contribution of €10,000 ($10,800).

• Maintain the minimum investment balance throughout the five-year temporary residence permit period.

Deadlines and transitional protections

Foreigners planning to use the real estate or bank deposit routes under the outgoing criteria must submit their applications to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) on or before Sept. 14. Filings received after that date won't be processed under the discontinued categories.

Existing permit holders may remain in the country until their current residence cards expire. Those settling in Latvia under active property or deposit permits can request a new permit of up to five years on the same grounds before their current card lapses, provided they aren't citizens of Russia or Belarus, who are barred from renewing investment-based residence permits under the revised rules.

Business investment thresholds remain intact

Applicants seeking residence through corporate channels can still use the company equity route, though immigration authorities will subject businesses to stricter scrutiny regarding genuine economic activity and tax compliance. Qualifying investments require €50,000 ($54,000) or €100,000 ($108,000) into Latvian company share capital depending on the company's size, employee count and annual turnover, granting residence permits renewable in two-year increments.

Correction, Sept. 24, 2026: An earlier version of this article gave the fund investment in its headline as 162,000 euros. It was 150,000 euros (about $162,000) when this article was published. The earlier version also said investors seeking residency through capital must use the fund route and that renewed property and deposit permits run five years. In fact the share capital route stayed open and renewed permits run up to five years. The state fund had not been set up, so the fund route could not yet be used.