New Immigration Law in force, but dispute over "golden visas" continues
Although Latvia's new Immigration Law, drafted by parliament over more than four years, took effect in mid-September, the question of granting residence permits in exchange for investment — the so-called "golden visas" — remains unresolved.
In mid-September, Latvia's new Immigration Law came into force after more than four years of work in the Saeima, the national parliament. Yet the law's adoption has not settled one of its most contentious elements.
Golden visa issue still unresolved
At stake is the so-called "golden visa" scheme — the practice of issuing temporary residence permits to foreigners in exchange for investment in Latvia's economy. This mechanism remains firmly on the political agenda, with no final decisions yet made on how it will be regulated going forward.
An unusual political alignment
According to Latvian Television's investigative programme "De facto", the topic of business immigration and investment-based visas is notable for uniting political forces that typically cannot agree on other matters. This suggests the investor-attraction scheme is widely regarded as economically significant regardless of party lines.
While the new law was the product of years of legislative work, it did not resolve all disputes surrounding immigration policy. The terms of investment-based visas and their future remain under discussion, and the issue is expected to continue shaping debate over the direction of Latvia's immigration policy.
