Hire workers from India & Asia in Latvia
To hire a non-EU worker in Latvia, the employer registers the vacancy with the State Employment Agency (NVA) for at least 10 working days, then files a sponsorship (invitation) with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA/PMLP). The worker applies for a residence permit with employment rights, or a long-stay visa for shorter assignments. Expect 8–12 weeks from order to arrival.
Talk to Sales8–12 weeks
Typical lead time
10 working days (NVA)
Vacancy registration
OCMA / PMLP
Authority
Rīga
ManBe office
Permit routes in Latvia
Residence permit with the right to employment, issued by OCMA (PMLP) after a 10-working-day vacancy registration with the State Employment Agency.
| Route | Who it's for | Typical time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residence permit with right to employment | Non-EU workers on contracts longer than 90 days | Standard OCMA processing about 30 days; faster paid tracks exist | Salary must be at least the Latvian average gross monthly wage of the previous year (published by the Central Statistical Bureau). |
| Long-stay (D) visa with work rights | Short-term or seasonal assignments up to 90 days in a 180-day period | 2–3 weeks at the consulate after OCMA approves the invitation | The employer files an invitation with OCMA; the worker registers with the State Revenue Service on arrival. |
How hiring in Latvia works
- Order and vacancy registration. After you sign the order form, the vacancy is registered on the State Employment Agency (NVA) portal. It must stay open to Latvian and EU candidates for at least 10 working days — this is Latvia's labour-market test.
- Sourcing and assessment (runs in parallel). While the vacancy is open we interview and test candidates in the source country, so a shortlist is ready the day the 10 working days end.
- Sponsorship with OCMA. The employer submits a sponsorship (for residence permits) or invitation (for visas) to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, with the employment contract and the worker's education or experience documents.
- Residence permit. The worker applies at the Latvian consulate or, in some cases, directly at OCMA. Standard processing is about 30 days; expedited processing is available for an additional fee. The salary must meet the previous year's national average gross wage.
- Arrival. Registration with the State Revenue Service, declared address, bank account and — for drivers — licence exchange and Code 95. Our Rīga office handles onboarding locally.
Why Latvia is often quick. The vacancy registration is short and predictable, OCMA's timelines are published, and there is no annual quota. Employers who already hold approved sponsorships can repeat orders fast.
Sources: www.pmlp.gov.lv, www.nva.gov.lv. Rules change — we verify the current position before every order.
OUR PROCESS
A transparent, four-step journey to the perfect hire:
Brief & Blueprint
We kick off with a detailed intake role specs, culture fit, KPIs.
Search & Shortlist
Our talent network and AI-driven matching deliver a hand-picked shortlist.
Interview & Validate
We coordinate interviews, administer assessments and finalize compliance.
Place & Support
From offer acceptance to relocation logistics, we stay by your side.
Sectors we place in Latvia
Truck & Trailer Drivers
Long-haul and regional C+E drivers are the roles ManBe has placed most: over 5,000 drivers have gone to work in Lithuania through our network.
Construction Workers
Formworkers, steel fixers, masons, plasterers, tilers and general operatives for residential, commercial and infrastructure sites.
Manufacturing & Factory Workers
Production operators, machine operators, assemblers, quality inspectors and packers for food processing, plastics, metal, furniture, textiles and electronics plants.
Welders & Metalworkers
MIG/MAG, TIG and stick welders, fitters and fabricators for shipyards, steel structures, pressure equipment and heavy machinery.
Warehouse & Forklift Operators
Order pickers, forklift and reach-truck operators, loaders and inventory clerks for logistics hubs, e-commerce fulfilment and cold storage.
Skilled Professionals
Site supervisors, production engineers, maintenance technicians, fleet managers and other mid-level professionals who lead the blue-collar teams we place.
Hiring in Latvia — FAQ
- Yes, but a light one: the vacancy must be registered with the State Employment Agency for at least 10 working days before a third-country national can be hired for it.
- For a residence permit with employment rights, at least the national average gross monthly wage of the previous year as published by the Central Statistical Bureau. Some categories have higher thresholds.
- About 30 days for a standard residence-permit application; faster paid tracks are available. Add 2–3 weeks for consular handling.
- No annual quota applies; the vacancy registration and salary rule are the main controls.
“ManBe Group helped us hire skilled professionals quickly and without complications. Their screening, compliance and onboarding support was amazing.”
Peter Hangsby
HR Head
HIRING IN LATVIA?
Tell us the roles, headcount and start date. We reply within 24 hours with the Latvia permit route, a realistic timeline and a shortlist plan.
- ✓ Reply within 24 hours on working days
- ✓ Walk-in interviews and skills tests in the source country
- ✓ Permits, visas, travel and onboarding handled end-to-end