Germany 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
| Germany | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | $ 91 040 | $ 25 036 |
| Citizenship | 5 years | 5 years |
| Partner can work | yes | — |
| Parents | difficult | difficult |
| Pets | no trouble | no trouble |
| Pet limit | 5 | 5 |
| Quarantine | no | no |
| Residence permit fee | $ 114 | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 1 650 · estimate | $ 888 |
| Basket | $ 44,5 | $ 34,3 |
| Life expectancy | 80.79 | 76.43 |
| Homicides/100k | 0.92 | 2.78 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 4.1 | 2.4 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: Germany — 87, Latvia — 64. Types present in both: work, study, family, startup, repatriation and job seeking. Germany adds: working holiday. Latvia adds: remote work, investment and retirement.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
Germany: fees range from 10 to 147 EUR. Routes stating an income threshold: 10; the lowest is 959 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 1; the shortest is 60 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: Germany after 3 years, Latvia after 5 years. Citizenship: both after 5 years. Germany allows a second citizenship, Latvia does not. Bringing your own parents: Latvia — yes, Germany — no.
Germany in brief
High salaries and stability. Reuniting with a partner's parents almost never works — only in cases of exceptional dependency. The working language is English at B2+ or German.
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
More on each: Germany · Latvia. Build your own comparison — up to four countries
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.