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After joining the EU, Latvians received visa-free entry to 172 countries, which opened the way to travel and business trips. The country is actively developing its economy and striving to improve the standard of living of the population, while preserving its cultural identity and traditions.
Visa
Latvia acts as a gateway to Europe for many travelers and businessmen. For most foreigners, it is necessary to apply for a preliminary visa to travel to the country. The state is part of the Schengen area, which, if you have a visa, allows you to move freely around Europe.
The conditions for obtaining a permit may vary depending on the applicant's current nationality and personal circumstances.
Currently, one of the following types of Latvian visas can be obtained within 15 to 45 days:
- Short-term. It includes travel, business, and family visits.
- Long-term. Working, student, scientific, digital nomads.
- Transit.
- Electronic.
You can learn more about the procedure for obtaining a visa to Latvia, as well as find out the latest changes in the issue in a detailed article on our website.
Residence permit
A residence permit in Latvia is one of the ways of legalization, which provides a number of opportunities and advantages, including those available to permanent residents. The permit allows you to legally reside anywhere in the country, work, study and even travel freely in Europe.
The grounds for obtaining a residence permit may be the need for employment or long-term education, as well as family reunification or business. As an alternative way to obtain the type may be:
- The purchase of real estate.
- The status of a freelancer/digital nomad.
- Marriage with a citizen of the country.
One of the main advantages of the status obtained is the opportunity to apply for permanent residence after 5 years of permanent residence, and then citizenship.
To learn more about the procedure for obtaining a Latvian residence permit and to understand all the details of the process, we recommend reading the full article on our website.
Citizenship
The status of a Latvian citizen opens up many European opportunities and personal advantages. For many foreigners, the Latvian passport becomes the only opportunity for integration into European society. However, the process of obtaining permanent residency requires serious preparation and compliance with a number of conditions.
The main way to obtain citizenship, most often, is naturalization. The process requires the applicant to have at least 10 years of residence in the country, knowledge of the language and culture.
Each applicant must renounce their previous residency and prove their financial independence.
Also, the grounds for obtaining include:
- The right of birth or origin.
- Marriage with a citizen.
If you want to learn more about the procedure for obtaining Latvian citizenship and understand how to prepare for this process, then check out the target article on our website. It will help you avoid mistakes and understand all the nuances as accurately as possible.
Passport
A Latvian identity card opens up all the benefits available to EU citizens. For many relocants, this is the door to new career opportunities and an improved quality of life. Among other things, the document gives the right to free /simplified visits to 170+ countries of the world, which attracts active travelers.
The law «On Citizenship» of Latvia allows you to obtain a passport in one of the following ways:
- By origin.
- Through naturalization.
- Through marriage to a citizen.
The procedure for obtaining a Latvian passport involves the surrender of personal biometric data. The validity period of the document depends on the age of the owner.
Learn more about obtaining a Latvian passport, the necessary documents, procedural rules, advantages and limitations in the full article on our website.
Climatic conditions
The climate is stable, varying from continental in the east to mild marine in the west and northwest. There is a tendency: the closer to the Baltic Sea, the higher the air temperature. The Atlantic influences the climate, bringing frequent winds and significant precipitation – about 600-800 mm per year. There are few sunny days: about 300 days a year the sky is covered with clouds. May is considered the warmest and sunniest month.
The summer temperature differs from the climate of Central and Western Europe. In most regions, the average values do not exceed 20°C. The summer season is characterized by coolness, as well as heavy rainfall.
When the temperature rises above 25°C, it is considered an abnormal phenomenon in Latvia.
Demographics
According to the latest census, the following ethnic groups live in the country: Latvians – 62%, Russians – 26%. Ukrainians, Belarusians, Poles of other nationalities make up 12%. Latvian is the official language, but Russian is also widely used, especially in urbanized areas. Although less than before due to the difficult political situation.
In September 2025, students of Latvian schools will have the opportunity to choose Russian as a second foreign language for the last time. This decision was made by the Latvian government.
In recent decades, Latvia has been facing a decrease in the birth rate and an outflow of labor, which leads to a decrease in the population. The economically active population in the country is 58%, and pensioners are 20%.
The religious sphere is dominated by Christians, most of whom belong to the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran, as well as the Orthodox Church.
The average life expectancy in Latvia reaches 77.8 years, which puts the country in 116th place in the world. The average life expectancy for women is 77.8 years, and for men it is 69.2 years.
Economy
Latvia's economic indicators show stable growth. The service sector accounts for more than 60% of gross domestic product. An important place is occupied by agriculture, which supports food security. The main exports are food products, juices, alcoholic beverages, textiles and equipment.
In 2024, the inflation rate is 3.8%, which is lower than in previous years. The growth rate of the economy is ahead of the European average, so the country has a low public debt. Wages remain at a low level, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage for investors seeking to develop a business in this region.
Among the main problems are high energy prices, lack of raw materials and the outflow of labor to other European countries. In terms of purchasing power parity and gross domestic product per capita, Latvia occupies a low position among European countries, emphasizing the need for further economic reforms and investment attraction.
Latvia ranks 20th in the ranking of economic freedom among the countries of the world with an indicator of 71.5 points, which corresponds to the status of a «mostly free» economy. Despite the 1.3-point downgrade, Latvia's performance remains above the European and global average.
The Latvian economy is developing thanks to foreign trade and an effective business regulation system, contributing to entrepreneurial activity. The key success factors are a transparent regulatory environment and sustainable institutions that support long–term economic growth.
Freedom of movement (visa-free countries)
A passport provides advantages in freedom of movement, especially in the states of the European Union and the Schengen area. Latvians can travel freely to 174 countries around the world.
Holders of a Latvian passport can participate in the elections of the European Parliament, regardless of their place of residence in the EU. This gives citizens the opportunity to influence European politics even outside their own country.
In 2024, the Latvian passport ranks 9th in the ranking of freedom of movement along with the United States, Malta, Canada, Slovenia and Liechtenstein.
Latvian citizens can visit 117 countries without a visa, in 25 countries an electronic visa or obtaining a permit on arrival is possible. This makes the Latvian passport convenient for international travel, which is important for businessmen and travelers.
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