Post: #1

Latvia seems like a decent enough place, at least any time but the winter. I have gathered from most of the posts that the women are gorgeous. The women could outweigh the atrocious weather though. LOL But seriously, if you are one seeking permanent residency in EU, Latvia could be the gateway…but I am a bit skeptical.

In short, the way it goes is that you buy a cheap piece of property ($100K - $200K, USD) in Latvia, and you can cut out of a lot of the stops in obtaining permanent residency in the EU. This could be a pretty big deal for those of us that would like to stay in the Schengen areas longer than 90 days, or be permanent expats. With EU residency permits, living elsewhere in EU would then be a possibility without pesky visa issues. But you would have to be present in Latvia for six months of the year.

Just curious what some of the more experienced forum members think about this….what the catches are. Seems like it could be a good opportunity, but too good to be true?

Check out these links for some quick reads:

http://www.latio.lv/en/servicies/residen..._in_latvia

http://aragoniafx.com/eng/articles/Latvia-permits

http://latviaproperty.weebly.com/latvia-...asons.html

thx

Popeye

Post: #2

Interesting.

I definitely would want a EU residency permit in the future.
Are there are any other countries where you could this for cheaper and be able to get residency?

I know that in Ukraine you can buy extremely cheap property(Under 10K) and get residency there. Ukraine's not in the Schengen area though.

Post: #3

I was looking into this as well. I don't believe permanent residency gives you any more time in EU countries since you don't have a EU passport. Please correct me if I am wrong because I would be interested in this if you could get unlimited access to EU.

Post: #4

You don't have to stay in latvia necessarily.

Post: #5

(11-24-2011 01:25 AM)torontokid Wrote:  I know that in Ukraine you can buy extremely cheap property(Under 10K) and get residency there. Ukraine's not in the Schengen area though.

torontokid, do you have a link to any info on this? I saw someone said they did it but didn't provide any info.

Post: #6

(11-24-2011 02:30 AM)worldwidetraveler Wrote:  I was looking into this as well. I don't believe permanent residency gives you any more time in EU countries since you don't have a EU passport. Please correct me if I am wrong because I would be interested in this if you could get unlimited access to EU.

I would think the answer would be speculative "yes", you could travel the EU with a residency permit for Latvia. If you have the right to stay within Latvian borders for 5 years, then it should extend to the rest of the EU as well. Through some further research, I can see that Chinese are taking advantage of this to send their kids to school in Europe. I doubt they are vying to send them to schools in Riga, but I could be wrong.

http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/good_fo...?doc=48954

Russians are buying too. Critics of this shun this opportunity for foreigners getting the residency permits, because it seems many Russians are getting a foothold using this propetry buying technique.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12108423

As a general rule, it seems if you are in a country as a legal, resident alien for five years, you could apply for citizenship, if that is what you wanted. Then you could definitely travel without restriction. Spend the summers in Latvia (get your six months in), then go home to the USA or whatever you want to do for the rest of the year. That could be a possible tactic.

This residency / citizenship stuff is pretty complicated and very dynamic. So without consulting an attorney and spending a few hundred (or few thousand) dollars, it would be hard to find out anything definite, but discussing in this forum sure helps generate some ideas! If anyone else has heard of a "backdoor" into the EU, let me know!

Post: #7

(11-24-2011 03:47 AM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  I would think the answer would be speculative "yes", you could travel the EU with a residency permit for Latvia. If you have the right to stay within Latvian borders for 5 years, then it should extend to the rest of the EU as well. Through some further research, I can see that Chinese are taking advantage of this to send their kids to school in Europe. I doubt they are vying to send them to schools in Riga, but I could be wrong.

Yes, I believe you are correct that you can travel throughout EU with residency. I believe there is a time limit and other restrictions unlike having an EU passport which is what I was talking about. Personally, there isn't any point in getting residency when I can just get a visa to most EU countries. It is citizenship that interests me.

Post: #8

(11-24-2011 01:12 AM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  Latvia seems like a decent enough place, at least any time but the winter. I have gathered from most of the posts that the women are gorgeous. The women could outweigh the atrocious weather though. LOL But seriously, if you are one seeking permanent residency in EU, Latvia could be the gateway…but I am a bit skeptical.

In short, the way it goes is that you buy a cheap piece of property ($100K - $200K, USD) in Latvia, and you can cut out of a lot of the stops in obtaining permanent residency in the EU. This could be a pretty big deal for those of us that would like to stay in the Schengen areas longer than 90 days, or be permanent expats. With EU residency permits, living elsewhere in EU would then be a possibility without pesky visa issues. But you would have to be present in Latvia for six months of the year.

Just curious what some of the more experienced forum members think about this….what the catches are. Seems like it could be a good opportunity, but too good to be true?

Check out these links for some quick reads:

http://www.latio.lv/en/servicies/residen..._in_latvia

http://aragoniafx.com/eng/articles/Latvia-permits

http://latviaproperty.weebly.com/latvia-...asons.html

thx

Popeye

Have you ever visited Latvia?
It seems weird to talk about becoming a resident in a place you've never even visited!

How about taking a trip and checking it out first hand !

Post: #9

Have you been to Latvia?

I feel like there's a lot of hype going around about this place. It feels more like Scandinavia but without the feminism. I'm not even accounting for how easy/hard the chicks are, but there lots of fatties. I don't get it.

Post: #10

(11-24-2011 08:29 PM)Roosh Wrote:  Have you been to Latvia?

I feel like there's a lot of hype going around about this place. It feels more like Scandinavia but without the feminism. I'm not even accounting for how easy/hard the chicks are, but there lots of fatties. I don't get it.

No, I have not been there, but do want to go at some point. I am well traveled elsewhere in Europe, and I know I enjoy Europe enough to live permanently in other places than Latvia.

The reason I brought up Latvia is not to stay there permanently per se, but to use buying property as a way to get my foot in the door to permanent residency in the European Union. It's a gateway only, but would I actually like living in Latvia? I don't know...I'd have to go to check it out first for a month or so. But from the research I have done thus far, it seems getting residency permits or work permits in Europe is next to impossible for an American, so Latvia option seems easy by comparison.

Naughtynomad gave very high marks to the girls in Riga. Maybe he could weigh in?

http://naughtynomad.com/2010/05/13/riga-city-guide/

Post: #11

You guys might want to check out the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty instead. Especially if you don't have an affinity for Latvia and real estate. Basically if you have a self employable business (not doctor or lawyer) and you invest a certain amount of capital, I think 5-10k, you get TRP's, eventually a PR, and once you can speak Dutch after 5 or 7 years (don't remember which) you get the passport.

Post: #12

Rooshv -

How would you rate your dissapointment girl-wise in Latvia?
Is it the same as it was in Denamrk?

I mean, you had big hopes,and got far less as expected?

Which is the bigger let down?

Post: #13

(11-24-2011 10:17 PM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  

(11-24-2011 08:29 PM)Roosh Wrote:  Have you been to Latvia?

I feel like there's a lot of hype going around about this place. It feels more like Scandinavia but without the feminism. I'm not even accounting for how easy/hard the chicks are, but there lots of fatties. I don't get it.

No, I have not been there, but do want to go at some point. I am well traveled elsewhere in Europe, and I know I enjoy Europe enough to live permanently in other places than Latvia.

The reason I brought up Latvia is not to stay there permanently per se, but to use buying property as a way to get my foot in the door to permanent residency in the European Union. It's a gateway only, but would I actually like living in Latvia? I don't know...I'd have to go to check it out first for a month or so. But from the research I have done thus far, it seems getting residency permits or work permits in Europe is next to impossible for an American, so Latvia option seems easy by comparison.

Naughtynomad gave very high marks to the girls in Riga. Maybe he could weigh in?

http://naughtynomad.com/2010/05/13/riga-city-guide/

As you know taste's can differ pretty much.

As Rooshv mentioned there are a lot of fat girls,so maybe naughtynomad is more into thicker girls than Rooshv for example,who knows.

By the way i also think it's the best if you check it out yourself,to get your own picture of the situation.

Post: #14

I don't care about the fat girls!
I care about the PR in one of the EU states, and the ability to move to a number of countries anytime!

(11-25-2011 06:24 AM)Vickers Wrote:  

(11-24-2011 10:17 PM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  

(11-24-2011 08:29 PM)Roosh Wrote:  Have you been to Latvia?

I feel like there's a lot of hype going around about this place. It feels more like Scandinavia but without the feminism. I'm not even accounting for how easy/hard the chicks are, but there lots of fatties. I don't get it.

No, I have not been there, but do want to go at some point. I am well traveled elsewhere in Europe, and I know I enjoy Europe enough to live permanently in other places than Latvia.

The reason I brought up Latvia is not to stay there permanently per se, but to use buying property as a way to get my foot in the door to permanent residency in the European Union. It's a gateway only, but would I actually like living in Latvia? I don't know...I'd have to go to check it out first for a month or so. But from the research I have done thus far, it seems getting residency permits or work permits in Europe is next to impossible for an American, so Latvia option seems easy by comparison.

Naughtynomad gave very high marks to the girls in Riga. Maybe he could weigh in?

http://naughtynomad.com/2010/05/13/riga-city-guide/

As you know taste's can differ pretty much.

As Rooshv mentioned there are a lot of fat girls,so maybe Naughtynomad is more into thicker girls than Rooshv for example,that's why the high marks.

By the way i also think it's the best if you check it out yourself,to get your own picture of the situation.

Post: #15

(11-24-2011 10:17 PM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  But from the research I have done thus far, it seems getting residency permits or work permits in Europe is next to impossible for an American, so Latvia option seems easy by comparison.

Do you have any links that say permanent residency allows you to live and work in other EU countries? We are not talking traveling for 90 days but living and working indefinitely.

Like I said, I am under the impression you need citizenship in a EU country to be able to live and work in other EU countries.

Post: #16

(11-25-2011 07:28 AM)worldwidetraveler Wrote:  

(11-24-2011 10:17 PM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  But from the research I have done thus far, it seems getting residency permits or work permits in Europe is next to impossible for an American, so Latvia option seems easy by comparison.

Do you have any links that say permanent residency allows you to live and work in other EU countries? We are not talking traveling for 90 days but living and working indefinitely.

Like I said, I am under the impression you need citizenship in a EU country to be able to live and work in other EU countries.

worldwidetraveler: I am researching this, I will post a link here if I find something that seems concrete, not hearsay, like from a forum.

Let me share my observations about obtaining employment in the EU as an American (I looked for a job in Luxembourg awhile back). These reasons are exactly why getting a residency permit for non-work reasons (like in Latvia) could be nice, if it indeed does give you the right to work in the EU:

1) Generally speaking, employers must make the case on your behalf that there is no better candidate for hiring you than any EU citizen. That's a tough hurdle to get over.

2) The work permit must be applied for by the employer for non-EU citizens. There is a cost and time delay for this. More money, time, and red tape required puts an non-EU citizen at a big disadavantage. Why should they go through the hassle when a local can do the job?

3) You would certainly have to relocate from another continent. Those expenses would be borne by the employer, and even if not, there is still delay before you could start.

4) Language skills. Ok, I know some French, Spanish, and German, but am nowhere near fluent. The locals have me beat on this.

The Latvia residency permit seems to be an easy way to get your foot in the door, compared to getting a job in the EU first, without the residency permit.

Permanent residency comes after 5 years, in general. You could, at your option, then apply for citizenship. It seems you don't even need citizenship to get all the benefits of being in the country though.

Skilled game applies here as well--only the target is bureaucracy, not girls!!!!

There is some good info on this site: http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/...dex_en.htm

Post: #17

(11-25-2011 08:08 AM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  The Latvia residency permit seems to be an easy way to get your foot in the door, compared to getting a job in the EU first, without the residency permit.

Ah, now I see where you're coming from. Yeah, I am not looking for work so wouldn't be interested in that angle. It sounds interesting but expensive as hell just to be able to work in a EU country. That is if they will hire you over an EU citizen. You also stated you had to be in Latvia for 6 months a year. I don't know what type of work you will be looking for that will be available for 6 months out of the year.

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier just to get a visa for 90 days?

Post: #18

(11-25-2011 08:14 AM)worldwidetraveler Wrote:  

(11-25-2011 08:08 AM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  The Latvia residency permit seems to be an easy way to get your foot in the door, compared to getting a job in the EU first, without the residency permit.

Ah, now I see where you're coming from. Yeah, I am not looking for work so wouldn't be interested in that angle. It sounds interesting but expensive as hell just to be able to work in a EU country. That is if they will hire you over an EU citizen. You also stated you had to be in Latvia for 6 months a year. I don't know what type of work you will be looking for that will be available for 6 months out of the year.

Wouldn't it be cheaper and easier just to get a visa for 90 days?

What about registering your company, preferably a Sole Ownership or a Partnership - (for the namesake), employing oneself and 'working' in EU country?
This seems tougher in countries like France and Germany etc, but easier to pull it off in Latvia, Estonia etc. I'd like some light on this...

Post: #19

(11-25-2011 06:12 AM)Vickers Wrote:  How would you rate your dissapointment girl-wise in Latvia?
Is it the same as it was in Denamrk?

I mean, you had big hopes,and got far less as expected?

Which is the bigger let down?

Latvia is nowhere near as bad as Denmark, but I can't say the girls here are better than Poland. The random hotties I see do not take away from the fact that, on average, Latvian girls are chubby and just okay. Polish girls were also more friendly (not even talking about easy). Latvian girls are shy/skeptical, so I'm not getting warm vibes. Apparently that doesn't come out until they know you well. It really feels like I'm in Iceland.

Post: #20

(11-25-2011 10:36 AM)Roosh Wrote:  

(11-25-2011 06:12 AM)Vickers Wrote:  How would you rate your dissapointment girl-wise in Latvia?
Is it the same as it was in Denamrk?

I mean, you had big hopes,and got far less as expected?

Which is the bigger let down?

Latvia is nowhere near as bad as Denmark, but I can't say the girls here are better than Poland. The random hotties I see do not take away from the fact that, on average, Latvian girls are chubby and just okay. Polish girls were also more friendly (not even talking about easy). Latvian girls are shy/skeptical, so I'm not getting warm vibes. Apparently that doesn't come out until they know you well. It really feels like I'm in Iceland.

have you gotten out of Riga or been there the whole time?

Post: #21

(11-25-2011 08:08 AM)popeyearms76 Wrote:  The Latvia residency permit seems to be an easy way to get your foot in the door, compared to getting a job in the EU first, without the residency permit.

Permanent residency comes after 5 years, in general. You could, at your option, then apply for citizenship. It seems you don't even need citizenship to get all the benefits of being in the country though.

In 5 years there may not even be an EU!

Post: #22

(11-24-2011 11:26 PM)Blunt Wrote:  You guys might want to check out the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty instead. Especially if you don't have an affinity for Latvia and real estate. Basically if you have a self employable business (not doctor or lawyer) and you invest a certain amount of capital, I think 5-10k, you get TRP's, eventually a PR, and once you can speak Dutch after 5 or 7 years (don't remember which) you get the passport.

NEED legal residency in the Schengen Zone for up to 2 years? Are you an American? Do you have $6,000 in capital to put toward your self-employment? Or else towards buying a business in the Netherlands?

That's basically all you need (oh and about two months bureaucracy-time, plus fees for official translations of your relevant documents into Dutch) under DAFT (the Dutch/American Friendship Treaty)! Anything like art, freelancing, etc, (but NOT law or medicine).

After two years, it can be renewed - if you get to five years, you can apply for citizenship (whose only important stipulation is demonstrating basic Dutch language skills - only one of the easiest languages for English speakers).

Oh - and you will have to pay taxes on the business income from that $6,000 you've invested.

Here's at least two women who've done it quite recently, Shannon (30 years old with a Dutch BF) and Susan (near retirement age with husband) :

http://playmeahappysong.blogspot.com/search/label/DAFT

HERE'S a briefer Dutch law office's outline without the play-by-play
http://www.expatlaw.nl/dutch_american_fr...treaty.htm

Shannon decided to simply ask officials for help, using her BF as a translator (when English didn't suffice).

THIS ought to be comforting option for many here who seek to extend there stays in the Schengen Zone - by doing it street legal!

Post: #23

Once you've been granted a permanent residency permit in an EU country, you could use that permit to settle in other EU countries, except for a few which have blocked this provision such as the UK, Ireland, and possibly Denmark. I'm currently attempting to get a Lithuanian permanent residency permit as a descendant of Lithuanian immigrants and compiling the paperwork to submit my request in Vilnius. After which, I could theoretically move to another EU country and begin my wait on a passport in a place which allows dual citizenship (unlike Lithuania.)

Post: #24

Is this offer still on the table?

Edit: Apparently so:

'In Latvia, foreigners who buy property can get a five-year residency permit, called a “golden visa,” that lets them travel and live freely in most of the European Union . How much you need to invest varies, depending on where the property is located, and the two most popular areas for foreign investment are the two most expensive.'

Can you then use this residency permit to spend the years needed in a European country (Latvia or other) to get citizenship?

Post: #25

Browser just curious if you saw anything about that real estate costs there while you were searching. Thanks.

Also this other recent thread discusses similar questions. More general. /thread-48423-...pid1047918