Most people think getting a residence permit is about leaving. For me, it was about having the choice to stay or to go.
The problem? India’s $250,000 annual transfer limit meant most European Golden Visas were off the table. I needed a bridge to Europe that I could actually afford to build — one that would wait patiently until I was ready to cross it.
With the help of Immigrant Invest, I found that bridge: the Latvia Golden Visa, secured in 5 months, without stress or complications.
Vikram, 35
Business owner from India
Clients’ names and photos have been changed
Vikram sat in his Mumbai office on a humid Tuesday evening, watching the lights flicker across the city skyline. At 35, he had built a successful consulting firm that required his constant presence in India: client meetings, regulatory filings, and team management.
Yet lately, a different kind of planning occupied his thoughts during those late-night hours: what would happen when he was ready to slow down? Where would he want to be in 5 or 10 years?
Vikram did not want to emigrate tomorrow, but he wanted optionality, the ability to enter Europe freely and the right to relocate when the timing felt right, not when bureaucracy allowed it. With these thoughts in mind, he began considering obtaining a residence permit in a European country.
Vikram,
Obtained a Latvia Golden Visa
I could not leave India immediately, and I didn’t want to. My business needed me there. So, work visas, starting a European branch, or relocating for employment — none of these options made sense. They would have tied me to another country at the wrong time in my life.
What I needed was freedom. So I started looking for a residence permit that wouldn't require me to abandon what I had already created. That is how I discovered Golden Visas and Immigrant Invest, who offered support throughout the process.
Invisible cage of capital controls
Vikram’s situation was complex. As an Indian citizen, he faced a constraint: India’s Reserve Bank limits how much money its citizens can transfer abroad each year. The ceiling stood at $250,000, or €210,000 — a sum that, while substantial, immediately ruled out most European residency by investment pathways, including those in Portugal, Greece, Italy, and Hungary.
Malta’s threshold appeared lower at €169,000, but additional fees pushed it dangerously close to the limit. One unexpected business expense or urgent overseas payment, and Vikram would breach regulations.
With all this in mind, Immigrant Invest proposed a perfect solution — Latvia, with its minimum investment of €50,000.
Vikram had barely thought of this country, tucked away in the north-eastern corner of the European Union, but it actually felt like the right choice.
Why Latvia made sense for Vikram
Latvia Golden Visa: overlooked door to Europe
Under the Latvia Golden Visa, applicants can invest in a business, with the minimum sum depending on the size of the chosen company:
- €50,000+ — if the company has fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover of under €10 million;
- €100,000+ — if the company has more than 50 employees and an annual turnover of over €10 million.
Vikram chose the €50,000 option, as he wanted the most affordable one.
Albert Ioffe,
Legal and Compliance Officer, certified CAMS specialist
Investors cannot select their own companies for the Latvia Golden Visa; we provide them with eligible options.
We work exclusively with pre-approved entities that have passed our comprehensive Due Diligence process. Every company in our portfolio has met strict financial monitoring requirements, demonstrated ongoing compliance with Latvia’s residence by investment criteria and maintained all required tax payments and capital reserves.
The vetting process protects our clients from investment risk while ensuring their residence permits remain secure.
To qualify for the Latvia Golden Visa, applicants must satisfy several criteria, all of which Vikram met:
- being over 18;
- coming from a non-EU or non-EEA country and not from Switzerland;
- having no criminal record;
- being in good health and holding a medical certificate.
In addition, Vikram had to prove that he had €8,800 in his bank account, which was also not an issue.
Navigating the Golden Visa labyrinth: step-by-step process
Knowing about the Latvia Golden Visa and actually obtaining Latvian residency were 2 entirely different propositions. The application process involved strict documentation requirements, background checks, and a labyrinthine bureaucratic structure that could easily derail an unprepared applicant.
This is where Immigrant Invest’s expertise became invaluable. The lawyers supported Vikram at every stage, turning complexity into clarity. Here is how it unfolded.
August 27th, 2025
Preliminary Due Diligence
Before moving forward, Vikram underwent preliminary Due Diligence conducted by a certified Anti-Money Laundering Officer. The check was successful, and Immigrant Invest signed a formal agreement with Vikram.
Before moving forward, Vikram underwent preliminary Due Diligence conducted by a certified Anti-Money Laundering Officer. The check was successful, and Immigrant Invest signed a formal agreement with Vikram.
+ 2 weeks, €1,000
Preparation of documents
Immigrant Invest provided Vikram with a list of the required documents. The team then ensured proper certification and arranged the necessary translations.
For the preparation of documents, Vikram paid €1,000.
Immigrant Invest provided Vikram with a list of the required documents. The team then ensured proper certification and arranged the necessary translations.
For the preparation of documents, Vikram paid €1,000.
+ 2 months, €50,000
Fulfilment of investment
Immigrant Invest offered Vikram several company options, which were preliminarily verified. The investor chose the most suitable one and made the transfer.
Immigrant Invest offered Vikram several company options, which were preliminarily verified. The investor chose the most suitable one and made the transfer.
+ 1 week, €460
Application submission
Vikram submitted his residence permit application through the Latvian embassy in India. At this stage, he paid €160 as a residence permit processing fee and €300 to register a Latvian address. The latter was arranged by Immigrant Invest.
Vikram submitted his residence permit application through the Latvian embassy in India. At this stage, he paid €160 as a residence permit processing fee and €300 to register a Latvian address. The latter was arranged by Immigrant Invest.
+ 3 weeks, €60
Obtaining a D Visa
Once a positive decision on the residence permit had been issued, Vikram was granted a temporary D Visa. He had 3 months to travel to Latvia to complete the biometric procedure.
The fee for the D Visa application was €60.
Once a positive decision on the residence permit had been issued, Vikram was granted a temporary D Visa. He had 3 months to travel to Latvia to complete the biometric procedure.
The fee for the D Visa application was €60.
+ 1 month, €10,125
Biometric submission
Vikram travelled to Latvia to finalise the process. During this visit, he did the following:
- submitted biometric data — €80;
- completed a medical examination — €45;
- paid the remaining government fee — €10,000.
Vikram travelled to Latvia to finalise the process. During this visit, he did the following:
- submitted biometric data — €80;
- completed a medical examination — €45;
- paid the remaining government fee — €10,000.
January 26th, 2026
Issuance of a residence permit card
Vikram collected his Latvian residence permit card in person.
Vikram collected his Latvian residence permit card in person.
Choice, secured by the Latvia Golden Visa
Today, Vikram has not yet relocated to Europe. He is still in Mumbai, running his firm and navigating the daily demands of his business. But now Vikram knows 2 things:
- He can relocate to Europe at any time.
- He has more travel freedom than ever before.
‘I have options now, ’ he said, speaking over a video call from his office. ‘When I want to spend a few months exploring the continent, I can do so freely. And when I’m ready to step back from the business, maybe in five years, maybe in ten, I’ll have a place to go. A home, if I want it.’
The Latvia residence permit now sits in his desk drawer, a small laminated card that represents something much larger: the freedom to choose his own future, unbounded by geography or time pressure.
You too can secure the Latvia Golden Visa to gain visa-free access to the Schengen Area, create a reliable Plan B, or relocate to Europe.
