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Startup Founder Residence Permit

LatviaStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

Start-up founder: a foreign national planning activities of a start-up, defined as a capital company with high growth potential whose core business is developing, producing or advancing scalable business models and innovative products.

See recorded sources
  • https://likumi.lv/ta/id/370622-imigracijas-likums
    ja persona Latvijas Republikā plāno īstenot aktivitātes, kas atbilst jaunuzņēmumam — kapitālsabiedrībai ar augstas izaugsmes potenciālu, kuras pamatdarbība ir saistīta ar mērogojamu biznesa modeļu un inovatīvu produktu izstrādi, ražošanu vai attīstību

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

Within 3 months of the decision to issue the permit, the founder must be registered as a board member of a capital company entered in the Commercial Register no earlier than one year before, in which the activities are carried out; no more than five foreigners may receive a permit for the same activity.

See recorded sources
  • https://likumi.lv/ta/id/370622-imigracijas-likums
    a) triju mēnešu laikā pēc tam, kad pieņemts lēmums par termiņuzturēšanās atļaujas izsniegšanu, ārzemnieks ir reģistrēts kā valdes loceklis ne agrāk kā pirms gada komercreģistrā reģistrētā kapitālsabiedrībā, kurā viņš plāno īstenot minētās aktivitātes,
  • https://likumi.lv/ta/id/370622-imigracijas-likums
    c) vienas aktivitātes īstenošanai termiņuzturēšanās atļauja nav izsniegta vairāk kā pieciem ārzemniekiem

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

Within 12 months after the permit is issued the founder must either report an early-stage venture capital investment received in the amount set by Section 4(1)(1) of the Startup Activity Support Law, or submit a progress report showing the company continues developing, producing or advancing the innovative product.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The venture capital amount is set in the Startup Activity Support Law, Section 4(1)(1), which was not captured; the amount is not stated here.
  • No personal investment minimum appears in the cited provision.
  • Source is the new Immigration Law (likumi.lv id 370622) in force since 15.09.2026; secondary Cabinet regulations not reviewed.
  • https://likumi.lv/ta/id/370622-imigracijas-likums
    b) 12 mēnešu laikā pēc termiņuzturēšanās atļaujas izsniegšanas ārzemnieks ir iesniedzis informāciju par saņemto agrīnas stadijas riska kapitāla ieguldījumu Jaunuzņēmumu darbības atbalsta likuma 4. panta pirmās daļas 1. punktā noteiktajā apmērā vai ir iesniedzis progresa pārskatu par kapitālsabiedrības īstenotajām aktivitātēm šajā laikposmā, kas apliecina, ka kapitālsabiedrība turpina inovatīvā produkta izstrādi, ražošanu vai attīstību,

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

Restrictions: not available to citizens of countries on the Cabinet of Ministers list subject to additional checks, and Russian citizens may not apply under this ground. Family members of the holder may request a temporary residence permit for the term of the holder's permit. The official source does not state which business activities the holder may carry out beyond the start-up.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source does not describe which business activities the holder may conduct beyond the start-up, or whether other work is allowed.
  • Source is the new Immigration Law (likumi.lv id 370622) in force since 15.09.2026; secondary Cabinet regulations not reviewed.

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

Temporary residence permit for up to 3 years (all permits for one activity share the first founder's term); a repeat temporary permit may be requested for the same term after expiry; permanent residence (EU long-term resident status) requires 5 years of continuous residence with a residence permit. The official source does not state the application sequence.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The step-by-step application sequence (invitation, submission channel, processing) is not described for this ground.
  • Source is the new Immigration Law (likumi.lv id 370622) in force since 15.09.2026; secondary Cabinet regulations not reviewed.
  • https://likumi.lv/ta/id/370622-imigracijas-likums
    11) uz laiku, kas nepārsniedz trīs gadus
  • https://likumi.lv/ta/id/370622-imigracijas-likums
    Vienai aktivitātei pieprasītās uzturēšanās atļaujas piešķir uz vienādu termiņu — atbilstoši termiņam, uz kādu izsniegta termiņuzturēšanās atļauja pirmajam ārzemniekam, kas saņēmis uzturēšanās atļauju šīs aktivitātes īstenošanai;
  • https://likumi.lv/ta/id/370622-imigracijas-likums
    (1) Pēc šā likuma 27. pantā minētā termiņa beigām, izņemot šā likuma 27. panta pirmās daļas 18. un 24. punktā un 28. pantā minēto gadījumu, ārzemnieks ir tiesīgs pieprasīt atkārtotu termiņuzturēšanās atļauju uz attiecīgajā punktā norādīto termiņu.
  • https://likumi.lv/ta/id/370622-imigracijas-likums
    (1) Pastāvīgās uzturēšanās atļauju šajā likumā noteiktajā kārtībā ir tiesības pieprasīt Latvijas Republikā dzīvojošam ārzemniekam, kas piecus gadus pirms pastāvīgās uzturēšanās atļaujas pieprasīšanas nepārtraukti uzturējies Latvijas Republikā kā Latvijas pilsonis vai Latvijas nepilsonis, vai ar uzturēšanās atļauju,

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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