Latvia self-employed residence permit

You plan to work in Latvia on your own account, for example as a consultant or craftsman registered with the State Revenue Service. OCMA requires a business plan for the intended period approved by a sworn auditor, documents proving that you have sufficient personal funds to start the activities in the plan, and any permit, licence or certificate that the activity legally requires. From the second year, if the first plan has been fulfilled, a new plan checked by a sworn auditor is filed.

Cabinet Regulation No. 225 ties business-related permits to income of twice the average monthly gross wage of the previous year. OCMA’s current checklist for company officials, who fall under the same point, shows EUR 3,370 a month; confirm the figure for self-employment with OCMA before applying, since the self-employed page has not been updated since 2022. Accompanying family need EUR 780 per adult and EUR 234 per child per month.

Review EUR 160 within 30 days, EUR 280 within 10 working days, EUR 560 within 5 working days; card EUR 45; entry D visa EUR 90.

After OCMA approves the permit, you apply at the Latvian embassy or its visa application centre for a single-entry D visa valid for 30 days (fee EUR 90) and travel to Latvia. There you give biometrics at an OCMA office, pay the card fee and receive the residence permit card. As a permit holder you must declare your place of residence; the application form usually counts as the declaration, and later changes must be declared within one month, free of charge on Latvija.gov.lv or for EUR 4.27 at an office.

Because the permit runs for at most one year, renewal is a regular step. Self-employed persons do not need an invitation for a repeated permit or registration, but they add statements from the tax authority on personal income tax and social insurance paid, and these must match the income declared in the original application.

Contest a refusal within 30 days in Latvian to the Head of OCMA; the decision can then be appealed in court.