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Moving to : Latvia

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Latvia, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Latvia 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Latvia 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Latvian culture is defined in many ways. From the diversity of their heritage to their log homes. Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

Wikipedia - Culture of Latvia
Kwintessential - Language, Culture, Customs
Every Culture - Culture of Latvia
Latvia - Cultural Heritage
Li - Culture
Kultura - Culture LV
Daily Latvia - Latvian Culture

Each area of Latvia will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Latvia you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Latvia you are investigating.

As an EU national you do not need a residence permit to enter Latvia.  However you will need one if you plan to work.  It is always best to be prepared, and have employment set up before you go. You are also able to apply for the residence permit from the Latvian embassy before you leave.

If you do not have a job, you are able to enter the country as a tourist and look for a job once you arrive.

As an EU Citizen, you are entitled to stay freely in Latvia for 3 months.  If you plan on staying longer than this, you must apply for a residence permit.

OCMA - Visas and invitations
OCMA - Residence Permits
Eng Meeting - Residence Permit

More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

There are a number of websites which focus on job searchs in Latvia.  The following are a few, however we can not take personal liability for any of their content or claims.

Jobs Abroad
4ICJ
Job Centre Plus
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs

An employment contract in Latvia is not yet obligatory, however having some kind of an agreement in place prior to starting work is advisable.  Before signing anything, make sure you understand it fully. If it is in Latvian, ask if it can be translated into English so there is no question in your mind what you are signing. If they can't do this, then spend the money and take it to a translator. Always better to be safe than sorry. There may be situations where you need to prove you have work, and for this, again, a contract of employment can be beneficial.  They are making steps in the right direction, you can find more information here:

Mondaq - Rome Convention

Your employer should apply for a social security number on your behalf along with your tax registration.  If you are self employed, it is advisable to get an accountant to do this on your behalf.

More information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities).

If you are planning on going to Latvia and starting your own business, this site may be of use to you: Doing Business

If you're going to study in Latvia, you will need information regarding courses.

Prospects - Postgraduate study
Open University - Business School in Latvia
Open University - Courses
International Graduate - Latvia

Finding daycare is almost impossible.  You can try your local municipal, however quite often there just aren't any spaces.  The government are also abolishing existing day care services due to lack of finances.  Your only real chance is to find a private nursery for your child or have an aupair/nanny in your own home.  Talk to neighbours etc, see if they have any recommendations in your area.

The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school at the age of 7. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a Latvian school?" These sites may help you with this decision.

Latvian Private Schools Association
Nations Encyclopedia - Latvia
Euro Education
Li - Education in Latvia
ISL - The International School of Latvia

If you are considering retiring to Latvia, then the following sites should be useful:

Direct Gov - Preparing to move or retire abroad 
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad 

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Latvia can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Homes Overseas - Investing in Latvia
Right Move - Property Website
Willcox Media
Amberlamb - Latvia Property Review
Prime Location - Estate Agent Guide 

Rental can be harder as most real estate agencies focus on short term/holiday rentals, however it is not impossible. You will usually be expected to pay a deposit and a months' rent in advance and property search for rentals is usually easier in autumn and winter as during the summer months the shorter lease periods are more appealing to landlords.

Prime Location - Rental Agents

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Latvian nationals.

NHS Guide  
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance
Europa - Health Systems, Latvia

Some Doctors and Dentists are English speaking. You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area, providing your choice does not bring the doctor's/dentist's list above the maximum patients permitted. Also check that your chosen Doctor is funded from the state budget or your Social Security membership may not cover you.  For an English speaking Doctor, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals.

Before taking any medication into Latvia make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn’t know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

Private medical insurance is a personal choice.  Some things may not be covered by the public healthcare system, or you may be expected to pay towards it.  Although not essential as the public healthcare in Latvia is adequate, it can act as a security blanket if something goes seriously wrong. 

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

Opening a bank account is not difficult. Hopefully, these sites should give you the information you need.

Rietumu - Opening a Bank Account
Latvian Bank Account - How to open an account
Info Latvia - Open a bank account

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, talk to your real estate agent and neighbours in advance about local companies and recommendations.  You might want to contact these companies in advance, so you are able to have connection from the day you move in.

From what we have been able to find, there are two main companies. 

Triatel 
Lattelekom

As in most countries, Cable and Satelite companies can offer the full range of TV, Telephone and Internet services.  So it's worth doing your research. 

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

There are many mobile phone operators and offers available.  Talk to people, and shop around for the best deal for you.

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

Latvian Government - Overview of Tax on vehicles

Be aware that registering a car in Latvia can end up expensive.

No one wants to leave their other family members behind, so take them with you! Also, please don't forget to consider they may need their own Residency permits once in Latvia.

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Latvia:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there more information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting