Is there a digital nomad visa for Latvia?
Yes, but it practically never applies to German nationals. Latvia's migration authority PMLP (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) issues a "long-term visa for remote work" – a long-stay visa exclusively for third-country nationals. PMLP states plainly on its official application page: "A long-term visa for one year may be requested by third-country nationals who are employed by an employer registered in a member state of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) or are self-employed persons registered in one of these countries, and who can perform their job duties remotely while residing in the Republic of Latvia."
German nationals are EU citizens, not third-country nationals. They therefore fall outside the scope of this visa entirely – and don't need it, because they already have full EU freedom of movement.
Who does the Latvian remote-work visa actually apply to?
The visa targets people such as US, UK, or Canadian remote workers employed by an OECD-based employer. According to PMLP, the following requirements apply:
- Health insurance with a minimum coverage of "42 600 EUR" valid in Latvia and across the Schengen area
- For employees: at least six months of prior employment with the OECD employer, plus a salary "not less than the average monthly gross salary of employees in the previous year, applying a coefficient of 2.5 (according to the latest information published by the Central Statistical Bureau – 4 538 EUR)"
- For self-employed applicants: proof of income at the same threshold, covering the preceding six months
- Proof of accommodation in Latvia and payment of the state fee
Critically, PMLP notes: "remote work visa holders are not entitled to employment in the Republic of Latvia" – the visa explicitly does not allow employment with a Latvian employer, only the continuation of existing work for the foreign OECD employer.
Germans as EU citizens: free movement instead of a visa
For German nationals, the visa question simply doesn't arise. As EU citizens, they enjoy full freedom of movement in Latvia: no visa requirement, no work-permit requirement, no immigration-law limit on length of stay. A German national working remotely from Latvia – for a German employer or self-employed – needs no residence permit to do so.
The question that actually matters for German employers is a different one: not the right of residence, but social security.
A1 certificate instead of a visa: Latvia is an EU member state
Latvia is a full EU member state. For postings, business trips, or workations from Germany, the same A1 logic applies as for any other EU country. Deutsche Rentenversicherung describes the basic rule as follows: "If these persons are only temporarily active in another Member State of the European Union (EU), in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (a so-called posting), the law of the sending state exceptionally continues to apply."
And further: "Employees, civil servants, and self-employed people regularly need an A1 certificate when they are temporarily active across borders within the EU, in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." Latvia falls under this EU coordination framework per Regulation (EC) 883/2004 with no special treatment – the same form, the same process as a business trip to France or the Netherlands.
Why Latvia isn't on DVKA's agreement list
A look at Germany's list of bilateral social security agreements makes the contrast with third countries clear. Deutsche Rentenversicherung explains the purpose of these agreements: "That is why Germany has concluded social security agreements with many states outside the European Union (EU), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland." Current agreement partners include, among others, Albania, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, India, Israel, Japan, Canada, Korea, Kosovo, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, and the USA.
Latvia deliberately does not appear on this list – not because it was overlooked, but because it simply doesn't need one: as an EU member state, Latvia falls directly under the EU coordination regulation, with no bilateral special agreement required as with Montenegro or Turkey. For companies, that's a simplification, not an extra compliance check.
Latvia compared: EU citizens vs. third-country nationals
| Feature | EU citizens (e.g. Germany) | Third-country nationals (e.g. USA) |
|---|---|---|
| Right of residence | Free movement, no visa required | Long-term visa for remote work (PMLP), 1 year |
| Remote work permitted? | Yes, unrestricted | Yes, but only for a foreign OECD employer – no Latvian employment |
| Income threshold | None | 2.5x Latvia's average salary (currently €4,538 per PMLP) |
| Social security | A1 certificate under Regulation (EC) 883/2004 | No Germany-Latvia agreement needed – irrelevant for EU citizens anyway; for third-country nationals, this is governed by their home country |
| Responsible authority | None (only possible registration duties) | PMLP (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) |
What this means for employers
For HR and global mobility teams, the Latvia case creates a short, clear order of checks: first, establish the traveller's nationality – German and other EU nationals need no visa and no work permit for Latvia. Second, ensure an A1 certificate for postings, business trips, or workations, since Latvia falls under regular EU scope – no special form, no additional agreement check required. Third: only if third-country nationals on the team (for example US or UK employees) plan to work remotely from Latvia does the PMLP visa, with its income and insurance thresholds, become relevant. Tools like premote help capture A1 certificates for EU countries like Latvia automatically and distinguish them from the more complex third-country cases.
FAQ
Do German nationals need a digital nomad visa for Latvia?
No. As EU citizens, Germans enjoy full freedom of movement in Latvia. PMLP's "long-term visa for remote work" applies exclusively to third-country nationals with an OECD employer.
Does the A1 certificate apply to Latvia?
Yes. Latvia is an EU member state and therefore falls under regular A1 coordination per Regulation (EC) 883/2004 – like any other EU country, with no special procedure.
Is there a Germany-Latvia social security agreement?
No, and none is needed: Latvia deliberately does not appear on DVKA's list of bilateral agreements, because as an EU member state the EU coordination regulation applies directly.
Who can apply for the Latvian remote-work visa?
Only third-country nationals with an OECD-registered employer, or self-employed individuals registered in an OECD country, with a salary or income of at least 2.5 times Latvia's average salary (currently €4,538 per PMLP).
Can I work for a Latvian company on the remote-work visa?
No. PMLP explicitly states that holders of this visa are not entitled to employment in the Republic of Latvia – it only covers continuing existing work for the foreign OECD employer.
The information provided on this website does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to address any legal issues or problems that may arise in individual cases. The information on this website is of a general nature and is provided for informational purposes only. If you need legal advice for your individual situation, you should seek the advice of a qualified attorney.