According to the State Audit Office, the government has yet to determine which sectors and professions require foreign workers, in what quantities, and from which countries. As a result, migration flows are primarily shaped by the demands of individual employers rather than a unified state strategy. By 2040, the number of working-age residents in Latvia may decrease by approximately 9.4%. At the beginning of 2026, there were 15,177 citizens from third countries employed in the country. Despite the stated goal of attracting primarily highly qualified specialists, from the beginning of 2024 to mid-2025, only 14% of work permits were issued for such professions. Another 57% were granted to workers of medium qualification, and 29% to low-skilled workers. About 40% of all permits were issued to truck and tractor drivers. ## ## Permits take a long time to process The State Audit Office found that the procedure for obtaining a work permit remains lengthy and poorly predictable. Timelines are affected by the workload of Latvian representations abroad, the ability to schedule document submissions, and the speed of processing. Additionally, employers and foreigners often have to provide the same documents multiple times to different institutions. The conclusion from the State Employment Agency, introduced on January 1, 2025, extends the process by approximately two weeks. Meanwhile, local workers managed to fill only 2.8% of the vacancies for which such a conclusion was requested. The State Audit Office suggests simplifying the procedure for professions and sectors where there is a labor shortage. There are also issues with seasonal workers. In Latvia, a seasonal work visa can be obtained for a maximum of six months, although EU regulations allow for nine months within a year. For agriculture and peat extraction, a six-month period is often insufficient. There is also no simplified procedure for re-hiring already vetted workers. ## ## Employers find alternative routes Due to the complexity of the Latvian system, employers are increasingly directing citizens from third countries to the country through other EU states. Over the year, the number of such workers increased by 92% — from 972 to 1,863 individuals. According to the State Audit Office, due to such short-term assignments, the Latvian budget potentially lost about five million euros in labor taxes in 2025. Auditors also found signs of possible misuse of work residence permits as an easier way to obtain residency rights. In 12 out of 60 cases reviewed, foreigners invited themselves or relatives to work through companies owned by them or related parties. 160 enterprises were identified where a citizen from a third country was both the owner and an employee. In 50 companies, the sole owner was also the only employee. ## ## Post-issuance control is insufficient The government does not always verify whether a foreigner actually started the declared job after obtaining a permit. In 18% of the cases reviewed, employment relationships were not registered at all after the permit was issued. In 61% of cases where work had already ceased, the permit was not revoked within a month. At the same time, interviews at Latvian embassies proved to be an effective tool. In the reviewed sample, information obtained during interviews led to 48% of refusals for work visas and 44% of refusals for labor residence permits. The State Audit Office sent six recommendations to the ministries of interior, foreign affairs, and economics. Their implementation should make the attraction of foreign labor more aligned with market needs by 2030, expedite the processing of permits, and enhance control over their use.
