Latvia: Digital Nomad Visa Introduced for Those Employed in OECD Countries

• Scope. OECD member countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• Permit description. The digital nomad visa allows foreign nationals to reside in Latvia while working remotely for their employer or business abroad using telecommunication tools, without local employer sponsorship.
• Validity. The visa can be granted for up to year, renewable for one more year. After exhausting two cumulative years of stay, the foreign national would be able to change their status to a temporary residence permit, if eligible. Alternatively, visa holders would be required to remain abroad for at least six months before being permitted to reapply for a digital nomad visa.
• Dependents. Foreign nationals cannot sponsor dependents under the digital nomad visa.
• Fee. The application cost is EUR 60, or EUR 120 for expedited review (only available for applications submitted less than three business days before the expiration of the legal period of stay in Latvia). 
• Process. Visa-exempt foreign nationals can enter Latvia and apply for the digital nomad visa by mail. Visa nationals must print out an application form and submit it to a Latvian consular post, after which the consular post will place a visa stamp in the applicant’s passport. 
• Document requirements. Eligible foreign nationals must have a valid travel document; completed application form; proof of health insurance; documentation confirming their expected place of residence in Latvia, and proof of income or employment, among other documents. 
• Processing time. Processing of the digital nomad visa is expected to take approximately 15 calendar days. 
• Work restrictions. Foreign nationals holding a digital nomad visa cannot perform local work in Latvia. 
   

This new category provides an immigration pathway for remote workers seeking stay for longer than 90 days, which was previously not available. As before, limited local work is permitted provided that there is no link to a local employer or worksite (e.g., freelance client work).

• Continuing trend. Although digital nomad visas and permits are not being introduced as rapidly as when the trend first started, we still see such tailored digital nomad statuses being introduced over the past months, with more in the pipeline globally.

• Remote work visa warning. In countries where remote work is unregulated, workers and employers may unknowingly put themselves at risk of noncompliance with many aspects of the law, exposing them to possible fines or other penalties, depending on the country. Importantly, noncompliance with regulations could result in employers losing their rights to hire foreign labor. Additionally, this type of work arrangement may have employment or tax law impacts. It will become increasingly important as such policies are developed (and in many countries where remote work is unregulated) for employers to analyze strategies and assess risks associated with implementing and/or continuing remote work policies with a trusted immigration partner.

Remote work and non-traditional non-sponsored statuses remain of high interest to corporate and public stakeholders globally. Countries continue to seek innovative measures to boost post-COVID-19 economic remobilization. Additionally, as the remote work trends continue at a slower pace, governments want to keep up with the competition for sought-after talent by introducing remote work policies in line with neighboring states. Fragomen will report on related developments.