While some deputies propose to limit the entry of third-country nationals into Latvia, other parliamentarians call for granting residence permits to wealthy foreigners - in exchange for investments in the economy and job creation.
Tomorrow, the deadline for submitting proposals for the new Immigration Law, which the parliament is already considering in its third (final) reading, will end. Andris Kulbergs, a member of the Saeima from the United List, has submitted a number of proposals aimed at attracting investments to the country. A candidate for a residence permit for a period of 5 years will have to either create a company with real employees and make a payment to the country's budget, as well as ensure tax revenues of a certain amount, or invest money in government zero-interest securities in the amount of 150,000 euros, or make a fixed tax payment...
"The proposals have significant international and fiscal context. Given the deterioration of the geopolitical situation and the growing demands for defense and security funding, Latvia will need additional long-term sources of public revenue in the long term. Currently, the main identified sources of funding are EU funds and state loans.
The proposals offer an additional solution — attracting wealthy foreigners by allowing them to become taxpayers in Latvia by making a fixed tax payment of 60,000 euros per year, with a mandate for the Cabinet of Ministers to prepare and submit a bill on fixed tax payments for foreigners to the Saeima by December 31, 2026. It should be noted that similar fixed tax systems to attract wealthy foreigners are already being implemented in several EU countries," explained A. Kulbergs.
In turn, deputies from the National Alliance have come up with initiatives aimed at reducing the entry of third-country nationals into the country on visas and residence permits.
An amendment by National Alliance deputy Janis Dombravs stipulates that the Cabinet of Ministers must suspend the issuance of new residence permits and long-term visas to third-country nationals if the number of third-country nationals exceeds 5% of the number of Latvian citizens residing in the country. The deputies will also attempt to limit the issuance of visas and residence permits to individuals from certain countries — primarily Islamic ones.
His party mate Edvins Snore proposed articles that provide for immigration restrictions from certain countries. "The Cabinet of Ministers may establish restrictions on entry for employment or study for citizens of certain third countries. The Cabinet of Ministers may set a maximum number of foreign citizens from these states who may enter Latvia for work or study during a calendar year," states Snore's amendment, who reminds: "Latvia was founded to ensure the existence of the Latvian nation, not to become a small Uzbekistan or Russia."
