Moving to Latvia

Latvia is an EU/Schengen member. Work permits require employer sponsorship. Real estate investment can qualify for a temporary residence permit.

Latvia's job market is concentrated in Riga, where international companies, shared service centers (Accenture, Tele2, Luminor Bank), and a growing tech sector provide the most accessible opportunities for foreigners. IT, fintech, logistics, and business services are the strongest sectors. Outside Riga, opportunities drop sharply, and Latvian language skills become essential.

Latvia has a public healthcare system funded through social contributions, managed by the National Health Service (NVD). Residents paying social taxes are entitled to state-funded care, but the system is underfunded relative to demand, resulting in long waiting times for specialists — sometimes weeks or months. Family doctors (gimenes arsts) serve as gatekeepers for specialist referrals. Major public hospitals include Pauls Stradins Clinical University Hospital and Riga East Clinical University Hospital. Most expats and higher-income residents supplement the public system with private healthcare from providers like ARS Medical, Veselibas centrs 4 (VC4), or Premium Medical, where consultations cost EUR 40-80 and wait times are typically days rather than weeks. Emergency care at public hospitals is available to all residents regardless of insurance status. Pharmacies (aptiekas) are widespread, with Meness Aptieka and BENU being the largest chains.

Latvia is one of the most digitally advanced countries in Europe, consistently ranking in the top tier for internet speeds and fiber broadband coverage. The Latvija.lv government portal provides access to most public services online, and the eParaksts digital signature system gives documents signed electronically full legal validity. Cashless payments are accepted virtually everywhere, including market stalls.

Latvians are often described as Northern European in temperament: reserved, private, and understated in public, but deeply warm and generous once a personal connection is established. The national character is shaped by centuries of foreign occupation (German, Swedish, Russian) and hard-won independence, which makes sovereignty and national identity deeply felt topics. Nature is sacred — Latvians have an almost spiritual relationship with their forests, and mushroom picking and berry foraging in autumn are genuine national pastimes, not tourism gimmicks. The Song and Dance Festival, held every five years, is a massive gathering of choirs and folk dancers that is listed as a UNESCO Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage. Social life revolves around close friend groups, seasonal celebrations, and the countryside. Latvians drink good coffee (specialty cafes are everywhere in Riga), appreciate good bread (especially dark rye sourdough), and take their sauna (pirts) traditions seriously.

• •Midsummer (Jani) on June 23-24 is the most important holiday — celebrated with bonfires, oak leaf wreaths, special Jani cheese with caraway seeds, beer, and staying up all night. Missing it is nearly unforgivable.
• •Always give an odd number of flowers as gifts. Even numbers are strictly reserved for funerals and will cause genuine discomfort if given on a happy occasion.
• •Remove your shoes when entering someone's home. Hosts typically provide guest slippers (viesu capas). Walking around in outdoor shoes indoors is considered very rude.
• •Latvian names are distinctive: men's names almost always end in "s" or "is" (Janis, Andris, Martins), and women's names end in "a" or "e" (Anna, Ilze, Maija).
• •Do not confuse Latvia with Lithuania or, worse, refer to the country as part of Russia. Latvians are proud of their independence and distinct identity. The Soviet period is a sensitive topic best approached with respect and awareness.