For any foreign national running a business in Latvia, signing documents with Latvian counterparties, or submitting tax returns through the State Revenue Service, accessing Latvia’s digital government services is not a matter of convenience. It is a practical requirement. Without a Latvian-issued electronic identity, foreign directors, shareholders, and company representatives have long struggled with basic tasks that Latvian residents complete in minutes, from signing board resolutions to submitting VAT reports.
The Latvian foreigner’s eID card was introduced precisely to close this gap. Following significant updates in 2025 and 2026, including a state fee increase and new restrictions on how the State Revenue Service authenticates users, the card has become more important than ever. This guide explains what the foreigner’s eID card is in April 2026, who genuinely benefits from it, how to apply, and how it fits alongside alternatives such as eParaksts Mobile and Smart-ID.
What Is the Latvian Foreigner’s eID Card?
The foreigner’s eID card (Latvian: ārzemnieka personas apliecība) is a document issued by the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA, Latvian PMLP) to foreigners who do not permanently reside in Latvia but have a legitimate connection to the country. It is a physical smart card with a secure chip that carries cryptographic certificates for authentication and for qualified electronic signatures under the eIDAS regulation.
The card exists to let non-residents act in Latvia’s digital environment with the same legal effect as resident cardholders. Launched in June 2021 and rolled out gradually from 2022, the program is now mature and accessible through all 29 OCMA territorial departments and selected Latvian diplomatic representations abroad.
What the card is NOT
Understanding the limits of the card is as important as understanding its purpose:
- It is not a travel document. It does not prove the right to stay in Latvia or enter the Schengen area.
- It is not a residence permit or visa.
- It is not mandatory. Receiving the card is voluntary.
- It cannot be used to register an eParaksts Mobile account. This is a deliberate restriction, not an oversight.
- It does not affect your tax residency.
Who Qualifies for the Foreigner’s eID Card?
The card is issued to foreigners who have a legal connection to Latvia, where that connection gives rise to mutual rights and obligations. According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, qualifying grounds include:
- Commercial activity, including board membership of a Latvian company, shareholding, or other significant business interests.
- Ownership of immovable property in Latvia.
- Taxation, where the foreigner has ongoing obligations to the Latvian State Revenue Service.
- Employment or employer’s registration in Latvia.
- Health, social benefits, or education connections that require secure digital interaction with Latvian authorities.
- Development of science, education, or culture relations with Latvia.
- Asylum seekers (issued free of charge, with additional information on the right to employment included on the card).
For international enterprises, the most common pathways are commercial: a parent company appoints a foreign national as a board member of its daughter company – Latvian SIA (limited liability company), a foreign investor holds shares in a Latvian entity, or a non-resident shareholder needs to sign corporate documents remotely.
Why the Foreigner’s eID Card Matters More in 2026
A single regulatory change has pushed the foreigner’s eID card from a useful tool to, for many businesses, a near-necessity. From 1 January 2026, the Latvian State Revenue Service (VID) has restricted access to its Electronic Declaration System (EDS) to secure electronic identification methods only. Username and password login are no longer accepted for most users.
From January 2026, access to VID EDS is only possible via:
- A Latvian eID card or foreigner’s eID card.
- eParaksts or eParaksts Mobile.
- Smart-ID at the qualified level.
- Authentication through a Latvian internet banking partner.
A narrow exception applies to foreign individuals who have no legal connection to Latvia and cannot obtain an eID card, and to users of the Electronic Customs Data Processing System (EMDAS). These users may continue with VID-issued credentials. For everyone else, including foreign directors and representatives of Latvian companies, secure electronic identification is now a prerequisite for monthly VAT reports, annual corporate returns, payroll filings, and most other interactions with VID.
For foreign board members who cannot use Smart-ID or eParaksts mobile (both of which require existing Latvian credentials that non-residents generally lack), the foreigner’s eID card is, in practice, the single reliable route. This is the biggest change in the landscape since the original article on this topic was published, and the reason the card warrants a fresh look by any foreign-owned business operating in Latvia.
What You Can Do With the Card
The foreigner’s eID card gives its holder full electronic identity in Latvia’s digital environment. The practical use cases that matter for international businesses are:
- Sign corporate documents electronically in Latvia’s official EDOC format, including board resolutions, shareholder decisions, annual reports, and amendments to articles of association. This saves notarisation costs.
- File tax returns and communicate with VID through the EDS portal, including VAT, corporate income tax, and payroll reports.
- Access and interact with the Commercial Register to make changes to company data, file annual accounts, or register new entities.
- Use an official e-address (Latvia’s secure government communication channel) to receive formal notices from state and municipal authorities through Latvija.gov.lv.
- Authenticate with Latvian banks and financial institutions for client onboarding and certain account operations, in line with each bank’s know-your-customer policy.
How to Apply: Step by Step
The application process has three stages and typically takes three to four weeks in total, excluding the time needed to schedule embassy appointments if applying abroad.
- Register in the Register of Natural Persons. Before the card can be issued, the applicant must be assigned a Latvian personal identity code. This requires submitting a signed questionnaire to the OCMA by e-mail. The questionnaire must be signed with a qualified electronic signature that is already recognised in EU under eIDAS regulation. If the applicant does not have such a signature, the registration is handled on the basis of a manually with a wet ink on paper signed questionnaire and sent to OCMA per post.
- Book and attend an in-person appointment. Once registered, the applicant books a visit at any of the 29 OCMA territorial departments in Latvia, or at a designated Latvian diplomatic mission abroad (currently limited to selected posts outside the Schengen area). The appointment covers biometric data collection: a facial image and digital fingerprints of two fingers, and presentation of a valid home-country identity document.
- Collect the card in person. The card is produced within two working days of the appointment. Collection is in person only. Latvia does not post eID cards to applicants. The same pickup applies whether the application was made in Latvia or abroad, although cards applied for through a Latvian embassy can usually be collected there.
Applicants should also plan for the supporting technology. Using the card requires a smart card reader and the official client software available free of charge from the eparaksts.lv portal. Most corporate IT environments can accommodate the reader without difficulty, and the software runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Costs, Validity, and What to Budget For
The direct costs of the foreigner’s eID card in 2026 are:
- State fee: €170 for the preparation, production, and issue of the card. Free of charge for asylum seekers.
- Consular fee: €50 additional, payable if the application is submitted through a Latvian diplomatic or consular mission abroad.
- Smart Card reader: approximately €15 to €30, as a one-time purchase.
- Translation and courier costs for any supporting documents, if applicable.
The card is valid for five years. Renewal is the same process, with the same state fee. Replacement after loss or damage is also charged at the standard €170 fee.
In the broader cost picture for a foreign-owned Latvian SIA, the eID fee is minor. It is typically recovered many times over in saved notary costs, avoided courier and apostille fees, and the efficiency of signing documents digitally rather than flying to Riga.
How the Foreigner’s eID Card Compares to Other Latvian Digital Identity Tools
Latvia has three mature digital identity options. Understanding their different scopes helps international businesses choose the right tool for each person in the group.
| Feature | Foreigner’s eID card | eParaksts Mobile | Smart-ID |
| Issued by | OCMA (PMLP) | LVRTC (state-owned) | SK ID Solutions |
| Latvian ID number required | Yes; issued with the card | Yes | Yes, for Latvian users |
| Available to non-residents | Yes, with a legal connection to Latvia | Only after eID registration | Not for Latvian level; limited |
| Physical card | Yes (smart card with chip) | No (mobile app) | No (mobile app) |
| Card reader needed | Yes | No | No |
| Qualified e-signature | Yes, EU-recognized | Yes, EU-recognized | Yes (qualified version) |
| Works with foreigner’s eID? | Not applicable | No, cannot be registered | No |
| Initial cost | €170 state fee (+€50 abroad) | Free of charge | Free of charge |
| Validity | 5 years | 3 years | 3 years |
The key takeaway is that eParaksts Mobile and Smart-ID are generally only accessible once the foreigner already has a Latvian personal identity number and has been issued appropriate credentials. For non-residents starting with no Latvian footprint, the foreigner’s eID card is both the starting point and, in many cases, the ongoing primary tool.
Looking Ahead: eIDAS 2.0 and the European Digital Identity Wallet
By the end of 2026, every EU member state is required to offer its residents an EU Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet under the revised eIDAS 2.0 regulation. The wallet is a mobile application that will carry a citizen’s identity, qualified electronic signature, and verified credentials across all EU member states. Latvia is participating in the pilot programs and is expected to integrate its national tools, including eParaksts and the eID infrastructure, into the wallet as it comes online.
For foreign enterprises, the practical implication is that the foreigner’s eID card remains fully relevant for 2026 and for the years immediately after. As the EU wallet matures, some workflows that currently require the physical card and a reader will become available on mobile. We do not expect the foreigner’s eID card to be retired; rather, it will serve as one of the trusted credentials that feed into the broader European identity ecosystem.
Common Pitfalls Foreign Businesses Run Into
From our experience advising international clients, several issues come up repeatedly:
- Assuming the card can be obtained entirely online. It cannot. Biometric enrolment and card collection both require in-person visits.
- Underestimating the Register of Natural Persons step. Applicants who have no prior Latvian credentials often need support to complete the initial registration, because the questionnaire requires a qualified electronic signature they do not yet have.
- Confusing the card with Smart-ID or eParaksts Mobile. The foreigner’s eID card is a physical card and cannot be used to bootstrap a Smart-ID or eParaksts Mobile account. For mobile-based Latvian identity, a separate pathway is required.
- Relying on the card as proof of the right to stay. Airline and border staff do not accept it. A valid passport or residence permit is still required for travel.
- Forgetting about the 2026 VID EDS change. Companies whose foreign directors have been logging in with VID-issued credentials must switch to a secure method before filing deadlines if they are not in the narrow exception category.
How Leinonen Latvia Supports Foreign Businesses
Leinonen has been supporting international companies in Latvia since 1995, and our Riga team handles the practical end-to-end process of establishing and running a foreign-owned business. For clients whose directors or shareholders need a Latvian foreigner’s eID card, we typically assist with:
- Company establishment in Latvia, including preparing articles of association, board resolutions, and all Commercial Register filings.
- Legal services, including coordination with OCMA for registration in the Register of Natural Persons, preparation of application materials, and liaison with Latvian embassies abroad for consular eID processing.
- Accounting and ongoing compliance for the Latvian entity, so that once the eID is in place it is put to immediate productive use in VID EDS and other filings.
- Taxation advice on the interaction between the foreign director’s tax residency and the Latvian corporate structure, including A1 certificates and double taxation treaty questions.
- Payroll management for Latvian employees and cross-border arrangements.
Our client base in Latvia is enterprise-focused: subsidiaries of Nordic and Central European parent companies, mid-market businesses expanding into the Baltic region, and investor-backed businesses with operational complexity that goes beyond a simple shelf company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Five years from the date of issue. Renewal follows the same procedure as the initial application and carries the same state fee.
The state fee is €170 if the application is submitted at an OCMA territorial department in Latvia. If the application is made through a Latvian embassy or consulate abroad, an additional consular fee of €50 applies. The card is free of charge for asylum seekers.
Yes, in principle. The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has gradually extended the service to selected diplomatic and consular missions outside the Schengen area. However, most applicants still find it simpler to travel to Latvia, where the service is available at all 29 OCMA territorial departments. A single in-person appointment is always required for biometrics.
No. The foreigner’s eID card is not a travel document and does not grant any right of stay in Latvia or the European Union. It is a digital identity tool only. Travel and residence rights remain governed by your passport, visa, or residence permit.
No. The foreigner’s eID card cannot be used to register an eParaksts Mobile account. Smart-ID is generally not available to non-residents at the qualified level. For most foreign directors of Latvian companies, the foreigner’s eID card is the only route to secure Latvian electronic identity.
The simplest path in 2026 is to obtain the foreigner’s eID card. Since 1 January 2026, VID EDS no longer accepts username and password login for most users. Foreign directors without a Latvian eID and without eParaksts or Smart-ID typically cannot access EDS on their own. In practice, many groups authorise their accountant or legal adviser in Latvia to file on their behalf until the director’s own card is issued.
They are similar in spirit but different in scope. Estonia’s e-Residency is aimed at a broad international audience and is marketed globally; Latvia’s foreigner’s eID card is tailored to people with an existing legal connection to Latvia (such as directors of Latvian companies or owners of Latvian property). Estonia’s card is not a basis for physical residency either, but the ecosystem around it (marketplace of service providers, international recognition) is considerably larger.
Report the loss to the OCMA as soon as possible. A replacement must be applied for in person, following the same procedure as an initial application, and carries the same state fee of €170.
Talk to Leinonen Latvia About Your Digital Identity Needs
If your group has foreign directors, shareholders, or representatives who need to operate in Latvia’s digital environment, including mandatory VID EDS filings from 2026 onwards, Leinonen Latvia can guide them through the foreigner’s eID card process and integrate it with company establishment, accounting, and tax compliance. Get in touch with our Riga team for a confidential discussion of your situation.
