Latvia’s Progressive Party Seeks to End Remaining Investor Visa Route

Latvia’s political landscape is seeing a push to close the final remaining investor visa pathway. The Progressive party has introduced a bill aimed at eliminating the €150,000 fund-based investment route, which is currently written into the country’s Immigration Law. This move follows earlier changes that removed other investment options for new applicants.

The broader immigration law underwent a significant rewrite, with lawmakers re-adopting it in August 2026. While this revision eliminated the €250,000 real-estate investment track and the €280,000 subordinated bank deposit route for new applicants, a pathway for investors was still preserved in the text. However, the Progressive party now seeks to remove this last option entirely.

The Evolving Investor Visa Landscape in Latvia

Latvia’s approach to investor visas has shifted considerably. Previously, individuals looking to obtain residency through investment had several options. These included investing in real estate or placing funds in a subordinated bank deposit.

Removed Investment Routes

• Real-Estate Track: This route required an investment of €250,000 in property. It has been removed for new applicants under the rewritten law.
• Subordinated Bank-Deposit Track: This option involved a deposit of €280,000. It is also no longer available for new applicants.

The Surviving Fund Route

The Immigration Law still includes a temporary residence permit pathway for investors that requires a minimum investment of €150,000. This investment must be held for at least five years. Additionally, applicants must make a €10,000 payment to the state budget.

However, this route has not yet become operational. The necessary implementing rules and the structure for a state-created alternative investment fund manager are still missing. This means that while the option exists on paper, it cannot be used by potential investors in practice.

Reasons Behind the Proposed Bill

The Progressive party, led by faction chair Andris Šuvajevs, has stated its intention to completely end the golden visa program. Their objection extends to the remaining investor residence channel, even after the property route was already removed. The bill represents a direct challenge to this last surviving investment option.

The party’s stance suggests a desire to close off all investor visa programs, indicating a political decision rather than a technical adjustment. The current situation leaves the fund route in a state of limbo, existing in the law but lacking the practical mechanisms for its use.

Current Status and Future Outlook

Applications submitted before September 14, 2026, continue to be processed under the old rules. Individuals who already hold residence permits under the previous investor schemes will retain their rights due to transition provisions. The legal framework has drawn a clear line between past and future applications.

The key obstacle for the €150,000 fund route is the absence of the required state fund infrastructure. Without this operational framework and the associated implementing rules, the investor channel cannot function as a standard application process. The Progressive party’s bill aims to remove this option from the law before any such infrastructure is developed. The decision on the future of this route now rests with the Saeima, Latvia’s parliament.

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