The company must meet at least one of the following criteria:

For companies that meet Criteria 1 or 2, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) receives information from the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) by 15 November of the current year. Accordingly, these companies do not need to submit an application to LIAA.

Criteria 1:

• In the last reporting year, has achieved an export volume of goods and services of at least EUR 10,000,000;

• Employs at least 50 employees in Latvia;
  OR

Criteria 2:

Planned investment project has been granted either the status of a net-zero emissions strategic project or the status of a strategic project for critical raw materials.

Companies that meet Criterion 3 or 4 and wish to be included in the list of companies eligible to receive priority services must submit an application to LIAA.

Criterion 3 – The company plans to implement its own or another company’s commissioned priority project and meets the following criteria:

• The total investment amount is at least EUR 5,000,000 (in the administrative territory of Riga State City Municipality – at least EUR 10,000,000) and the investment is made in one of the priority project areas;

• As a result of the planned project, at least 20 new jobs will be created within a three-year period;

• Has available financial resources of at least EUR 5,000,000 (in the administrative territory of Riga State City Municipality – at least EUR 10,000,000) for the implementation of the investment project, confirmed by a document proving the availability of financing;
  OR

Criterion 4 – The company plans to implement a military production project and has received an opinion from the Ministry of Defence confirming that the project complies with essential security interests related to the manufacture of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment.

• Knowledge-intensive bioeconomy

• Biomedicine, medical technologies, and pharmaceuticals

• Photonics, smart materials, technologies, and engineering systems

• Smart energy, mobility, and net-zero emission technologies

• Information and communication technologies (ICT)

• Construction, transport, or logistics — if the project is related to the provision of services or infrastructure in any of the areas listed in points 1–5 above

• Tourism and international events

• Construction of affordable rental housing and social housing

• Security and defence

• Operation and service provision of international business service centres

• Projects where the average employee salary during the previous reporting year is not lower than the European Union’s average employee salary for the same period

A company that does not meet Criterion 1 or 2 in the “Eligibility Criteria” section, but does meet Criterion 3 or 4 and wishes to be included in the list of companies eligible to receive priority services, must submit an application to the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA).

The application may be submitted in one of the following ways:

• via the e-service at www.business.gov.lv;

• by sending it to pasts@liaa.gov.lv, signed with a secure electronic signature.

The application must be prepared using the application form developed by LIAA.

Additional documents to be attached to the application:

• Documents confirming the availability of financing, if the company does not plan to implement a military production project;

• If the company plans to implement a military production project:

  • An acknowledgement confirming that the military production project complies with the essential security interests related to the manufacture of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment. The description must contain information in accordance with the relevant form. 

  • A description of the military production project demonstrating its compliance with essential security interests related to the manufacture of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment. The description must include information in accordance with the relevant form.

• A list of public administration services for which expedited decision-making is required, as included in the Annex to the Regulations. The list template is available here.

• If the company is the commissioning party of a priority project and the project will be implemented by another company (the implementer), an implementer’s statement confirming compliance with the criteria referred to in subparagraphs 6.1., 6.2., 6.3., 6.4., or 6.5. of the Regulations, in accordance with the form.