Latvia's Property Golden Visa Ends on 15 September 2026: What Replaces It

Latvia's parliament adopted a new Immigration Law on 20 August 2026, and it enters into force on 15 September 2026. For investors this is the end of an era: the residence permit for buying property ends, and with it the scheme informally known abroad as the Latvia golden visa. Latvia never used that name officially; the legal instrument is a temporary residence permit granted on investment grounds. In short:

• the property purchase ground disappears from the law;
• a fund-based route replaces it, with an investment of at least 150,000 euros through the system of alternative investment funds provided for by the law;
• applications filed by 14 September inclusive are still examined under the old rules.

Who this matters for

• buyers who already own property for a permit or are close to completing a deal;
• those who were only planning such a purchase;
• holders of existing investment-based permits;
• investors looking at what remains after 15 September;
• citizens of Russia and Belarus, for whom the law sets separate restrictions.

What changes

One practical caveat: the fund route exists on paper only for now. The state funds themselves have not been created, and the government has until 1 December 2027 to issue part of the secondary regulations. The old door closes on 15 September, while the new one is not yet open in practice.

The window until 14 September

The transitional provisions (point 4) are explicit: visa and residence permit applications submitted before the law enters into force are examined under the old law. If your property deal is close to completion, there is a short window to finish the paperwork and file by 14 September 2026 inclusive. Land Register registration, certificates and state fees all take time, so filing on the last day carries a real risk of missing the deadline. What we handle at this stage is described on our visa and residence permit services page.

Two caveats before you rush. Starting a property search now solely to meet the deadline creates a significant risk of losing the deposit if the transaction cannot be completed in time: registration does not speed up because you are in a hurry.

And the window does not improve the position of Russian or Belarusian citizens; separate restrictions apply to them, covered below. How the outgoing property scheme worked is set out in our guide to the property-based residence permit.

Ask a lawyer about your case

The new route: 150,000 euros into a fund

From 15 September, a Latvian residence permit by investment comes in exactly two forms: a fund contribution or an investment in company capital. Under the fund route, the money goes to a manager of alternative investment funds established by the state, for at least five years, with a separate 10,000 euro payment to the budget; in return you may apply for a permit of up to five years (Article 27, point 36). The company capital route has its own thresholds and is described on our page about residence permits through company investment.

The difference from the old scheme is not just the amount. A flat bought for 250,000 euros remained yours: you could let it, sell it, leave it to your children. A five-year fund contribution is locked money with no flat to show for it, plus a non-refundable budget payment. Comparing "250,000 versus 150,000" as two prices for the same product does not work; these are different constructions.

And the key point: you cannot use this route today. The funds you would invest in do not exist yet.

If you already hold a property-based permit

Permits issued before 15 September remain valid until their expiry or registration date, provided the conditions they were issued on still hold (transitional provisions, point 6). After that, re-registration follows points 7 to 9 of the transitional provisions: holders of permits granted on the old investment grounds face a payment into the state economic development programme, capped at 5,000 euros in total together with payments already made. Renewal is where additional requirements and risks appear, so have your situation checked against the documents rather than headlines.

Check what happens to my permit

Investment routes closed to Russian and Belarusian citizens

The new law expressly bars citizens of Russia and Belarus from both investment routes: neither the fund option nor the company capital option is available to them (Article 27, parts 7 to 9). Permits already issued are not cancelled by this: they run until expiry under the transitional provisions. Certain non-investment grounds, such as studies or research, remain open subject to additional checks. The law does not provide special workarounds; the remaining lawful grounds have to be assessed case by case.

Frequently asked questions

When does the new Immigration Law take effect?

On 15 September 2026; the 2002 law expires that same day.

Can I still get a Latvian residence permit by buying property?

Only where the paperwork reaches the authority no later than 14 September. Such cases are decided under the outgoing rules, and approval still depends on the documents. After that date the ground disappears from the statute.

What happens to permits already issued for property purchase?

Existing permits keep running to the end of their term; nothing is revoked retroactively. The tricky part is renewal, where the outcome turns on when and on which ground the permit was granted.

How does the new fund route work?

In theory: a five-year minimum contribution via a state fund manager, a separate budget fee, and a permit of up to five years in return. In reality the scheme has no working infrastructure yet, and the secondary regulations may take until late 2027.

Are Russian citizens eligible for the investment routes?

No. Both investment grounds are off limits for these two nationalities. A permit that was already issued keeps its validity until it expires.

What to do now

If this affects you, the timeline is measured in days, not weeks. Contact us through the form or by phone, and a lawyer will review your documents and give you a realistic assessment: whether the old-rules window is still achievable for you, and which grounds remain after 15 September.

Prepared on 3 September 2026 based on the text of the new Immigration Law on likumi.lv (Article 27, points 10 and 36; transitional provisions, points 4, 6, 7 to 9). This is general information, not legal advice. In case of interpretation differences, the Latvian text of the law prevails.