Spain 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
| Spain | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | $ 70 556 | $ 25 036 |
| Citizenship | 10 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 | — | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 1 935 | $ 888 |
| Basket | $ 39,3 | $ 34,3 |
| Life expectancy | 83.89 | 76.43 |
| Homicides/100k | 0.73 | 2.78 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 3.9 | 2.4 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: Spain — 61, Latvia — 64. Types present in both: work, remote work, study, family, startup and job seeking. Spain adds: talent. Latvia adds: investment, repatriation and retirement.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
Spain: fees range from 7.31 to 203.84 EUR. Routes with no fee: 2. Routes stating an income threshold: 2; the lowest is 41,356.36 EUR a year. Routes with a published decision deadline: 52; the shortest is 10 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: Spain after 10 years, Latvia after 5 years. Neither recognises a second citizenship.
Spain in brief
A large economy with developed tech hubs (Madrid, Barcelona), good healthcare and low violence. Held back by citizenship after 10 years requiring you to give up the previous one — dual citizenship is allowed only with a limited set of countries — compulsory Spanish, difficult parent reunification and high rent in the major cities.
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.