I Vacancy and Job Position
The website of the State Employment Agency, which hosts job listings and CVs, is the official national platform for employment opportunities. Therefore, before hiring a foreign worker, the employer must publish the vacancy on this portal. According to the Immigration Law and Cabinet Regulation No. 55, there is a list of job positions for which publishing a vacancy is not required. However, in the general procedure, the vacancy must remain active for at least 10 business days. Once this period ends, it is assumed that the employer has found a foreign worker and intends to employ them.
To obtain a temporary residence permit in Latvia on the basis of employment, the employer must submit an invitation to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (hereinafter – the Office). Once the invitation is approved (which usually takes up to 5 business days), the foreign worker may proceed to submit the documents for the residence permit.
In order to qualify for the residence permit, the worker must meet the employer’s requirements. This compliance must be proven to the Office by submitting either:
- a document confirming relevant education, or
- a document confirming at least 3 years of work experience in the relevant field.
A residence permit based on employment means that the employee must work under the same conditions as local employees. However, one key difference is the salary — the salary of a foreign worker must exceed the national minimum wage.
As of April 1, 2023, the minimum gross salary for foreign workers is €1,373. This amount is subject to annual increase.
II Submission of Documents
Currently, a foreign worker can submit their documents in one of two ways:
- While legally staying in Latvia – by mailing the documents to the Office or submitting them electronically with a qualified e-signature.
- From outside Latvia – by submitting the documents in person at the Latvian embassy in their country of residence (or in the nearest country if there is no embassy in their home country).
The processing time depends on the state fee paid:
- €100 – processing within 30 days
- €200 – processing within 10 business days
- €400 – processing within 5 business days
If documents are submitted through an embassy, the processing time starts from the date the Office receives the documents, as embassies do not process them. Additionally, embassies may charge a consular fee for forwarding the documents.
The decision on issuing the residence permit can be sent to the applicant’s email address if requested. Once approved, the decision is valid for 3 months, during which the foreigner must collect their residence permit card (ID card). If the card is not collected within this period, the decision is annulled. The residence card is issued for 1 year, after which the worker must undergo an annual registration process and obtain a new card.
III Important Information
A residence permit issued for employment ties the worker to the specific employer who initiated the process. This means the worker cannot change employers while holding the same residence permit.
The employee may work full-time or part-time (20 hours per week). The 20-hour-per-week option is especially relevant for those who are also pursuing studies. If a third-country national already holds a residence permit based on employment in another Schengen country, but wishes to work in Latvia, they must obtain a separate Latvian residence permit.
Contact Information
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Other useful articles:
Residence Permit for Employment in Latvia II (FOR EMPLOYERS)
Residence Permit for Employment in Latvia
One more time about Latvian Citizenship Through the Repatriation Program