Buying property in Latvia as a foreigner

Latvia market today

Live figures from asking prices of listings on Live Baltic, not official statistics.

Listings in Latvia

638

443 for sale, 195 for rent on Live Baltic

Avg asking €/m² – Riga apartments for sale

€2,510

From 154 apartments for sale passing our data-quality checks

Median asking price – Riga apartments for sale

€169,000

Across 154 apartments for sale passing our data-quality checks

• Riga asking vs deal prices, October 2026 — Built on thousands of listings and official deal prices
• Homes for rent in Riga — 79 rental listings, from €250/month
• Riga rent prices
• Riga asking vs deal prices, October 2026

Who can buy property in Latvia

Foreign individuals can generally buy apartments and buildings in Latvia. Buying land is more regulated. Citizens of EU and EEA countries and of certain other states can usually acquire land on similar terms to Latvian citizens, while buyers from other countries may face restrictions on some types of land and in some areas, such as border zones, protected areas and coastal dunes.

Agricultural and forest land are subject to separate rules, which can include requirements about the buyer, approval by the local authority and limits for some non-EU buyers. If a house comes with a substantial plot, check the land's registered use and ask a lawyer whether any restriction applies to you before you agree a deal.

The buying process step by step

1. Find a property and agree a price. Properties are advertised by agencies and private sellers on portals such as SS.lv and on Live Baltic. Prices are usually negotiable.

2. Check the Land Register. The Land Register (Zemesgrāmata) is kept by the Land Registry Offices of the district (city) courts and is available online. It records the owner, the property, and any mortgages, prohibitions, servitudes or other encumbrances. Also check the cadastral data held by the State Land Service, which describe the land and buildings.

3. Agree terms and pay a deposit if needed. Buyers often sign a reservation or preliminary agreement and pay a deposit. Put the terms in writing, including when the deposit is refundable.

4. Sign the purchase agreement. In Latvia the purchase agreement must be in writing. It does not always have to be a notarial deed, but the signatures on the request to register ownership (the corroboration request) must be certified, usually by a sworn notary. Many buyers have the agreement prepared or reviewed by a notary or lawyer.

5. Pay through a safe channel. Payment is commonly made through a notary's deposit account or a bank escrow account, released to the seller once ownership is registered in the buyer's name.

6. Register ownership. The buyer becomes the legal owner when the ownership is entered (corroborated) in the Land Register. The state duty and office fee must be paid before the request is examined.

7. Handover. Take the keys, read the meters, and transfer utility and building management contracts into your name.

The role of the notary

A sworn notary in Latvia is a public official who can draw up the agreement as a notarial deed, certify signatures on the corroboration request, hold funds in a deposit account and submit documents to the Land Register. The notary checks the identity and authority of the parties but does not survey the property or judge whether the price is fair.

Documents for the Land Register are in Latvian. If you do not speak Latvian, arrange a sworn translator, and consider asking your own lawyer to review the agreement. You can act through a representative with a notarised power of attorney if you cannot be present.

Taxes and fees

The main buyer cost in Latvia is the state duty for registering ownership in the Land Register, calculated as a share of the purchase price or the cadastral value, with different treatment for some groups of buyers and family transfers. There is also a Land Register office fee, notary fees if you use a notary, bank and valuation costs if you borrow, and translation and legal fees.

Owners pay annual immovable property tax, set by the municipality and based on the cadastral value; some residential properties qualify for reduced rates or relief. Rental income and gains on a later sale can be taxable. Rates and reliefs change, so confirm the current figures with a notary, the Land Registry Office or a tax adviser before you buy.

Residency and the right to live in Latvia

Owning property in Latvia does not by itself give you the right to live there. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can generally live in another EU country under free-movement rules, registering their residence after a period of stay. Citizens of other countries need a visa or a residence permit that matches their reason for staying, such as work, study, family or business.

Residence permit schemes linked to investment have existed in the Baltic states at various times, and their conditions have changed. Do not buy a property on the assumption that it will qualify you for a permit. Check the current rules directly with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) or an immigration lawyer before you commit.

Financing your purchase

Many buyers in Latvia pay from their own funds, but local banks also offer mortgages. Lending to non-residents and to people without local income is assessed case by case, and conditions are usually stricter than for residents. Expect the bank to ask for proof of identity, income, existing debts and the source of your deposit, and to require a valuation of the property by an approved valuer.

The share of the price you must cover yourself, the interest rate and the loan term all depend on the bank, your profile and the property. Ask several banks for written offers and compare the total cost, including arrangement fees, valuation, insurance and the notary costs for registering the mortgage.

Practical checklist

• Decide your budget, including purchase costs, fees, translation and any renovation.
• Open a local bank account, or confirm how your bank will make the payment.
• Get a current extract from the Land Register (Zemesgrāmata) and compare the owner, address and area with the advert.
• Check for mortgages, seizures, rights of way, leases or other encumbrances.
• Review the energy performance certificate and the building's condition.
• For an apartment, ask about monthly charges, the repair fund, planned works and any debts.
• For a house or plot, check boundaries, permitted use, utilities and building permits.
• Book a sworn notary to certify the corroboration request, and arrange a sworn translator or bilingual lawyer if you do not speak the language.
• Confirm the total taxes and fees with the notary or a tax adviser before signing.
• After signing, confirm that ownership has been entered in the register in your name.

Frequently asked questions