Latvia EU Blue Card

You need a job offer in a highly qualified post and either higher education relevant to it or professional experience. For managers and specialists in the first two major groups of the Latvian classification of occupations, OCMA accepts at least five years of professional experience in the profession or sector instead of a degree, shown with a certificate from the former employer and a tax or social insurance record. For regulated professions a recognition of qualifications is required.

The salary must be at least 1.5 times the previous year’s average monthly gross wage, which OCMA’s current Blue Card checklist gives as EUR 2,723. For occupations on the list of significant labour shortage in Cabinet Regulation No. 108 the coefficient is 1.2, giving EUR 2,178. Accompanying family members need means of EUR 780 per adult and EUR 234 per minor child per month.

Regulation No. 731 sets a separate, faster Blue Card tariff: EUR 160 for a decision within 10 working days and EUR 280 within 5 working days. Add the card (EUR 45), the employer’s sponsorship fees and the EUR 90 entry visa.

The employer has the sponsorship approved by OCMA with the contract and your qualification documents. You then lodge the application at the Latvian embassy responsible for your place of residence; if you already hold a residence permit of another Schengen state, OCMA in Latvia also accepts the file. After approval you take a 30-day D visa at the Latvian embassy or its visa application centre and collect the card in Latvia.

Your spouse and minor or dependent children can apply together with you, with proof of kinship and, for a child, the consent of a parent who does not travel. Their permits follow the validity of your card.

A refusal is contested within 30 days, in Latvian, to the Head of OCMA, and can then be appealed to court.