Belgium or Latvia
Two countries side by side across the same rows as the full comparison. A dash means the value is missing: fields are not filled with guesses. about the data
| Belgium | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | $ 51 210 | $ 25 036 |
| Citizenship | 5 years | 5 years |
| Partner can work | yes | — |
| Parents | — | difficult |
| Pets | no trouble | no trouble |
| Pet limit | 5 | 5 |
| Quarantine | no | no |
| Residence permit fee | — | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 1 764 | $ 888 |
| Basket | $ 45,5 | $ 34,3 |
| Life expectancy | 82.3 | 76.43 |
| Homicides/100k | 1.08 | 2.78 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 3.5 | 2.4 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: Belgium — 54, Latvia — 64. Types present in both: work, study, family, startup, retirement and job seeking. Belgium adds: working holiday. Latvia adds: remote work, investment and repatriation.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
Belgium: fees range from 152 to 377 EUR. Routes with no fee: 2. Routes stating an income threshold: 22; the lowest is 1,038 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 39; the shortest is 15 days. Latvia: fees range from 90 to 210 EUR. Routes with no fee: 5. Routes stating an income threshold: 37; the lowest is 780 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 61; the shortest is 14 days.
Beyond the first permit
Permanent status: both after 5 years. Citizenship: both after 5 years. Belgium allows a second citizenship, Latvia does not.
Belgium in brief
Belgium is an EU country with a single labour migration procedure (single permit / EU Blue Card), but the criteria are split regionally between Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Citizenship and permanent residence come after 5 years; dual citizenship is allowed. The main natural hazard is river flooding (Wallonia, July 2021).
Latvia in brief
An EU and eurozone country with a relatively low cost of living. The IT sector is concentrated in Riga. Naturalisation comes after 5 years of permanent residence with a Latvian language exam; dual citizenship is allowed only with a limited group of countries. Since 2022 checks have been tightened and a language exam introduced for some permanent residents. Natural risks are minimal, but winters are cold and overcast, and proximity to Russia and Belarus adds regional tension.
Other comparisons
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This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.