I have been living in Latvia for 5 years based on a temporary residence permit. I am planning to apply for permanent residence. What will change for me after the new Immigration Law comes into force?

The main update is that the legislature is eliminating duplicate legal terms. The old “national permanent residence status” is fully merged with the EU long-term resident status. Therefore, upon approval of your application, you will receive EU long-term resident status (ES pastāvīgā iedzīvotāja statuss).

Key requirements for obtaining this status:

• Absence limits: Over the 5-year period of holding a temporary residence permit, your total absence from Latvia must not exceed 10 months (and no more than 6 consecutive months);
• Language proficiency: The requirement remains unchanged — an official state certificate confirming Latvian language proficiency at the A2 level is required;
• Legal income: You will need to prove stable and regular income in Latvia over the past 12 months amounting to at least one minimum monthly wage (with taxes officially paid);
• Integration course: The mandatory steps now include completing an adaptation course on Latvian history and culture.