Hiring a Foreign Employee in Latvia: Rules and Document Processing

Jan 27, 2025 | Personnel

In Latvia, companies are increasingly facing the need to hire foreign workers to fill labor shortages or attract specialists with specific skills. However, employing foreign nationals involves legal procedures that employers must follow, especially when hiring third-country nationals.

Who is Considered a Foreign Worker and What Are the Employment Differences?

Latvian legislation distinguishes between two categories of foreign nationals: EU citizens and third-country nationals.

EU citizens, including those from European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland, can work in Latvia without restrictions and without requiring special permits. If they plan to stay for more than three months, they must register with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP).

Third-country nationals, meaning individuals who are not EU or EEA citizens, cannot work in Latvia without a permitand must go through a formal document processing procedure.

How Does the Employment Process for Third-Country Nationals Work?

Before hiring a third-country national, the employer must first register a job vacancy with the State Employment Agency (NVA). This ensures that suitable candidates from Latvia and other EU countries are considered first.

The vacancy must remain open for at least 10 working days. If no suitable candidate is found within this period, the NVA issues an approval for hiring a foreign worker. Without this approval, a third-country national cannot obtain a visa or residence permit with work rights.

Once the approval is obtained, the employer must submit an invitation (for short-term work) or a request for sponsorship (for long-term work) to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP). Based on these documents, the foreign worker can apply for a visa or residence permit at a Latvian consulate abroad.

Required Documents for Hiring a Foreign Worker

If the foreign national obtains a visa with work rights, it will include a note specifying that they are allowed to work only for the particular employer.

For long-term employment, a residence permit with work rights is required, which is issued by PMLP. This permit allows the foreign worker to stay and work in Latvia for a fixed period, after which it can be extended. After five years of continuous residence in Latvia and passing an A2-level Latvian language exam, the foreign worker may apply for a permanent residence permit.

Additionally, upon arrival in Latvia, the foreign worker must register with the State Revenue Service (VID) as a taxpayer.

Salary Requirements for Foreign Workers

Employers must pay foreign workers at least the average gross salary for the respective industry, as determined by Latvias Central Statistical Bureau (CSP).

If the industry’s average salary is higher than the national average salary, the employer must pay at least the national average gross salary.

For seasonal workers in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, the minimum salary must not be lower than the previous years average gross salary in the respective industry.

These salary requirements are in place to prevent unfair competition and to protect local workers from being underpaid due to the employment of foreign labor.

Cases When NVA Registration is Not Required

In some cases, registering a vacancy with the NVA is not necessary, such as:

  • For artists, athletes, sports coaches, and teachers;
  • For highly qualified specialists with an EU Blue Card;
  • For seasonal workers employed for up to 6 months per year.

In these cases, the employer can directly submit the documents to PMLP without prior job market verification.

Employer Responsibilities and Potential Risks

Employers must ensure that foreign workers are employed only for the duration of their valid visa or residence permit with work rights.

If the employment relationship ends, the employer is obliged to notify PMLP immediately to prevent cases of illegal residence.

Errors in document processing can lead to fines and sanctions against the company. If an employer fails to meet the salary requirements or if the foreign worker loses their right to work, the residence permit may be revoked, requiring the worker to leave Latvia.

Conclusion

Hiring third-country nationals in Latvia is a highly regulated process that involves vacancy registration, obtaining NVA approval, applying for a visa or residence permit, and registering with the tax authorities.

Although the procedure may seem complex, following all the rules ensures legal employment of foreign specialists and helps employers avoid issues with government authorities. Employers are advised to plan the document processing well in advance and cooperate with the relevant institutions to prevent delays and legal complications.

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