Latvia provides an opportunity for foreigners to obtain a permanent residence permit (PUA) upon fulfilment of certain conditions. This status provides a number of advantages:
✅ The right to permanent residence in Latvia: it does not need renewing like a temporary permit but is registered every five years; it is cancelled, for example, after 12 months in a row outside the EU or six years outside Latvia.
✅ Access to social services: the possibility of receiving medical care, education and other state benefits.
✅ Open opportunities for work and business: PUA allows you to work and conduct business without additional permits.
✅ The path to Latvian citizenship: after a certain period of stay, it is possible to apply for Latvian citizenship.
✅ Free movement in the Schengen area: the possibility of visa-free travel to Schengen countries.
How to get a permanent residence permit in Latvia?
Since 15 September 2026, permanent residence means EU long-term resident status. You can apply if you have lived in Latvia continuously with a residence permit for the last five years, have sufficient means, speak Latvian at least at A2 level and have completed a course on Latvian culture and history. Absences must not exceed six months in a row or 10 months in total. The application is refused if you hold a permit issued for study, or have applied for or been granted temporary protection. Documents must be in Latvian. The process has several stages:
✅ Consultation: we check whether you meet the conditions of Section 31 of the Immigration Law.
✅ Preparation of documents: assistance in the preparation of all necessary documents and their verification.
✅ Submission of an application to the Migration Service: we ensure the correct submission of all necessary documents.
✅ Interview and Latvian language exam: preparation and support in the process of passing the exam, if necessary.
✅ Obtaining a permanent residence permit: we monitor the review process and inform about each stage.
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