Retiring in Latvia in 2026: how to get residence

9 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Latvia has no retiree permit for newcomers, and Russian citizens have not been issued ordinary visas since 2022. What remains is residence for a parent of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen, and for those already living there, an A2 exam or an exemption after 75.

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Key facts	2026
Retiree permit	none as such
For Russian citizens	family: a parent of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen who has reached pension age
Pension age in Latvia	65
Passport	since 15 July 2025 only biometric passports of Russian citizens are accepted
Tax on a Russian pension	25.5%, but the first $1,200 (€1,000) a month is tax-free
Permanent residence	after 5 years, Latvian at A2 level
Couple's budget in Riga	from $1,390 a month including rent

Data checked: 06.10.2026

Latvia is one of the hardest EU countries for a retiree from Russia. Since September 2022 Russian citizens have not been issued ordinary visas, investor routes are closed to them, and since 15 September 2026 a new immigration law has been in force under which buying property or a bank deposit no longer gives residence to anyone. Latvia has never had a separate retiree permit.

Yet many pensioners with Russian passports live in Latvia, and many Russians have children who are Latvian citizens. For them there is a route: residence for a parent of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen who has reached pension age. Below is who qualifies, which documents are needed, what happens with the language exam, how the pension is taxed and what a couple spends in Riga.

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Who can get residence as a retiree

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, Russian citizens get first and repeat residence permits only on a narrow list of grounds. Several of them suit a retiree.

a parent of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen who has reached Latvia's pension age of 65, under family reunification;
the spouse of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen or of a Latvian resident with a residence permit;
holders of EU long-term resident status;
Russian citizens already living in Latvia with permanent residence: for EU long-term resident status they must pass Latvian at A2, people over 75 are exempt, and those who failed the exam get a separate stay permit for up to 2 years;
no residence is issued on the basis of a pension, a flat purchase or a bank deposit.

Documents and how to prove a Russian pension

a biometric passport: since 15 July 2025 other passports of Russian citizens are not accepted;
the birth certificate of the child who is a Latvian citizen or non-citizen, with an apostille, to prove the relationship;
the child's invitation or application and proof of housing in Latvia;
a certificate of the pension awarded by the Social Fund of Russia with an apostille and statements of its payment;
health insurance for the whole term of the residence permit;
a police clearance certificate with an apostille;
the migration office form, photos and receipts for the state fee.

All Russian documents are translated into Latvian, with the translation certified by a notary or a translation agency. Once the complete file is accepted, the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs reviews it and replies within 30 days.

The application is filed at a Latvian embassy or, if you are already lawfully in the country, at the Office itself. After approval you receive a visa to enter and collect the card. You can keep receiving the pension from the Social Fund of Russia, but transfers from Russian banks to the EU are restricted, so part of the money is kept in a Latvian bank account in advance.

Health insurance

A temporary residence permit requires health insurance from an insurer operating in Latvia for the whole term of the card. Policies for people over 65 cost more and some insurers cap the age, so the policy is chosen before filing.

With a temporary permit you pay for public healthcare yourself or through the policy. Permanent residence gives access to state-funded care on the same terms as other Latvian residents.

Tax on your pension and the treaty with Russia

You become a Latvian tax resident after 183 days in the country within 12 months or with a permanent home in Latvia. According to the Latvian tax authority, a resident's foreign pension is part of taxable income, taxed at 25.5% on income up to $120,000 (€105,300) a year. In 2025-2026, however, the pensioner's tax-free allowance of $14,000 (€12,000) a year, $1,200 (€1,000) a month, also applies to a pension awarded under another country's law.

A Russian pension that is not paid through the Latvian social insurance agency is declared by the pensioner in the annual income return. If it is under $1,200 (€1,000) a month there is no tax, but the return still has to be filed. Russia does not tax a state pension, and the double tax treaty with Latvia has been terminated since 2024. More in our article on Russia's double tax treaties in 2026.

Monthly budget for a couple

Monthly item	Amount
One-bedroom flat in Riga	$620-1,100 (€550-950)
Utilities and heating, higher in winter	$170-280 (€150-250)
Internet and phones for two	$30-40 (€25-35)
Groceries for two	$510-680 (€450-600)
City transport for two	$70-90 (€60-80)
Total for a couple	from $1,400 (€1,235)

In winter heating is the main expense, especially in older buildings. Rent in Daugavpils and Liepāja is noticeably lower than in Riga, while Jūrmala is pricier in summer. Budget separately for insurance for two: its price depends on age. Our consultant in the chat will work out a budget for your city, housing and family.

Residence for a parent of a Latvian citizen

Russian citizens have almost no grounds left in Latvia, and a mistake in the application costs months. We check whether the parent-of-a-citizen ground fits you, prepare apostilled pension and family certificates with Latvian translations and insurance for your age, and book the filing. For those already living in Latvia we help with renewals, the A2 exam and the exemption after 75.

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Where retirees settle

Most pensioners live in Riga: hospitals, a Russian-speaking community, theatres and the airport. For a quieter life people choose Mežaparks and Teika and the calm outskirts with private houses.

Jūrmala is a seaside resort half an hour from Riga with sanatoriums and pine forests, though noisy and expensive in summer. Daugavpils, the second city, is mostly Russian-speaking and has the cheapest housing among the large cities. Liepāja suits those who want the sea far from the capital.

Steps and timelines

Step	Timeline
Checking the ground: the child's citizenship, age, passport	1 week
Certificates, apostilles, Latvian translations, insurance, housing	3-6 weeks
Filing at a Latvian embassy or the migration office	on the appointment day
Review	30 days after the complete file is accepted
Entry visa, card collection, address registration	after the decision
Renewal of the temporary permit	in good time, before expiry
Permanent residence	after 5 years, Latvian at A2 level

Under the new immigration law, foreigners granted residence for longer than 18 months take, at their own expense in the first year, a Latvian course at A1 level and a course on Latvian culture and history; people over 75 are exempt. We will calculate state fees and timelines for your family in the chat.

Common reasons for refusal

applying on the basis of a pension, a flat purchase or a deposit: these grounds do not exist;
the child lives in Latvia on a residence permit but is neither a Latvian citizen nor a non-citizen;
the applicant has not yet reached Latvia's pension age;
a non-biometric Russian passport;
documents without an apostille or a Latvian translation;
information leading the office to consider the stay a threat to state security.

This topic in other countries

Retiring in other countries:

FAQ

Can a retiree from Russia get residence in Latvia in 2026?

Only on family grounds: as a parent of a Latvian citizen or non-citizen who is 65 or older, or as the spouse of a Latvian resident. No residence is issued for a pension, a property purchase or a deposit.

Does a retiree have to pass a Latvian language exam?

Russian citizens with permanent residence need Latvian at A2 for EU long-term resident status. People over 75 are exempt, and under the new law they also skip the mandatory language course.

Is a Russian pension taxed in Latvia?

Yes, at 25.5%, but the first $1,200 (€1,000) a month is tax-free. The Russian pension is reported in the annual return even if no tax is due.

Can you get Latvian residence by buying a flat?

No. Since 15 September 2026 buying property or a bank deposit no longer gives residence, and investor routes were closed to Russian citizens even earlier.

What budget does a retired couple need in Riga?

From $1,400 (€1,235) a month, with a one-bedroom flat, excluding insurance. Heating bills rise noticeably in winter.

What happens if you fail the Latvian exam?

Russian citizens who failed the exam needed to confirm permanent residence receive a separate stay permit for up to 2 years. In that time they can retake the exam or apply on another ground.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

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