Did you know about this easy (but very cold) backdoor into EU retirement residency?

[Jingthing]

LATVIA!

If you're 65 or over and have a basic income, you're in like Flint.

I guess future security concerns in the Baltic States would be a downside.

 

 

Latvian Retirement Visa 2023: Easiest EU Retirement Residency

 

 

 

[GypsyT]

Wrong info. They are clueless how things are in Latvia and the EU.

 

"There are three options for obtaining investment residency in Latvia. First, you can buy real estate in Latvia for at least EUR 250,000. The second option is an interest-free government bond, also with a minimum requirement of EUR 250,000. Finally, you can invest in a bank bond for a minimum of EUR 280,000, and receive interest on your investment. All investments have to be retained for a 5-year period. A government fee of EUR 25,000 is payable for the government bond and bank bond options."

 

[Jingthing]

I.was referring to the retirement option.

[Captain Flack]

An off topic trolling comment has been removed.

[save the frogs]

11 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I.was referring to the retirement option.

but who wants to live in latvia?

 

countries where no one wants to live have the easiest visa options.

 

[Jingthing]

5 hours ago, save the frogs said:

but who wants to live in latvia?

 

countries where no one wants to live have the easiest visa options.

 

Well the idea might be living there part time and more desirable Schengen countries other times.

[GypsyT]

16 hours ago, save the frogs said:

countries where no one wants to live have the easiest visa options.

 

Once you get Residency you are FREE TO DRIVE to any 27 countries you want to.

NO border controls. No tracking like if you fly.

Latvia is not Thailand - Latvia doesn't care where you are.

[save the frogs]

Yes, it's true. Movement across Shengen seems pretty lax. 

Minimum age is 65 to apply for this. 

 

[GypsyT]

Lax? It's a LAW!

 

"The Schengen rules abolish internal border controls, while harmonising and reinforcing protection of the area's external borders. Once inside the Schengen area, people can travel from one country to another without being subjected to border checks.Jun 25, 2567 BE"

[Jingthing]

This is interesting about Estonia, but overall even though it's more difficult. the D7 visa for Portugal would probably be much better and still possible for most in the retirement category.

Estonia, too cold, and I would be worried about Russia.

 

In my case, I could qualify for Portugal, but would prefer Spain if I moved to Europe, but I don't qualify for that.

 

More expats are moving to France which can actually be affordable in the provinces, though I'm not up on the requirements.

 

For people with distant Italian relatives to be mined for residency, Italy is also popular.

[GypsyT]

Check out this; Portimao, Portugal

It's like living in Spain. Language isn't.

There are many great deals now thank to exodus of tax "cheats" after they lost tax free benefit.

PS. Spain's local rules are good and they have lot of power to do what ever they like.

Many gays and lesbians go there to live together - legally.

Heteros can use the same trick, they don't care. They want new people.

"Unmarried couples in Spain will receive legal protection if the partners meet the following requirements: It can either be an opposite-sex couple or same-sex couple. You must be stably cohabiting (living together). You must have common interests to maintain a family life together."

 

 

 

[Thingamabob]

On 11/7/2024 at 3:56 AM, GypsyT said:

Wrong info. They are clueless how things are in Latvia and the EU.

 

"There are three options for obtaining investment residency in Latvia. First, you can buy real estate in Latvia for at least EUR 250,000. The second option is an interest-free government bond, also with a minimum requirement of EUR 250,000. Finally, you can invest in a bank bond for a minimum of EUR 280,000, and receive interest on your investment. All investments have to be retained for a 5-year period. A government fee of EUR 25,000 is payable for the government bond and bank bond options."

 

This is not about residency based on investment.

[ericbj]

The Republic of Ireland is an EU member state.

 

If you have/had an Irish parent (born on either side of the border) you are automatically an Irish citizen.

 

You will need a copy of your and your parent's birth certificates and your parents' marriage certificate to obtain the passport.

 

If you have/had an Irish grandparent you can obtain Irish citizenship.

[LukKrueng]

16 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Once you get Residency you are FREE TO DRIVE to any 27 countries you want to.

NO border controls. No tracking like if you fly.

Latvia is not Thailand - Latvia doesn't care where you are.

Give me 250K Euro and I also won't care where you are.....

[GypsyT]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

This is not about residency based on investment.

I know, but when I started to read rules of plan for foreign retirees I got this on Government site;

 

https://vissparmigraciju.pmlp.gov.lv/?page_id=2637&lang=en

 

Anyone had better luck?

 

[john donson]

but why? I got EU citizenship...is this something for brits or yanks ?

 

 

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, john donson said:

but why? I got EU citizenship...is this something for brits or yanks ?

 

Sure, it's only of interest for those who aren't already citizens or residents of an EU country. 

[GreasyFingers]

On 11/7/2024 at 2:59 AM, Jingthing said:

LATVIA!

Are you thinking of moving from your beloved America?

[Wrwest]

5 hours ago, ericbj said:

The Republic of Ireland is an EU member state.

 

If you have/had an Irish parent (born on either side of the border) you are automatically an Irish citizen.

 

You will need a copy of your and your parent's birth certificates and your parents' marriage certificate to obtain the passport.

 

If you have/had an Irish grandparent you can obtain Irish citizenship.

Unfortunately for me in these questionable US times, my Irish roots date from Great Grandparents.

[Drumbuie]

21 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Yes, it's true. Movement across Shengen seems pretty lax. 

Minimum age is 65 to apply for this. 

 

The whole point of the Schengen area is free movement/borderless trade and travel -  which is why Brexit was and is such a disaster for the UK. 

 

[Jingthing]

23 minutes ago, Drumbuie said:

The whole point of the Schengen area is free movement/borderless trade and travel -  which is why Brexit was and is such a disaster for the UK. 

 

It was a very stupid move indeed.

Countries make big mistakes as we just saw another very fresh example. 

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, GreasyFingers said:

Are you thinking of moving from your beloved America?

Haven't been there in dog's years.

[Jingthing]

50 minutes ago, Wrwest said:

Unfortunately for me in these questionable US times, my Irish roots date from Great Grandparents.

Well Ireland is desirable.

My ancestral options are basically war zones, so no thanks.

[Cameroni]

22 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Once you get Residency you are FREE TO DRIVE to any 27 countries you want to.

NO border controls. No tracking like if you fly.

Latvia is not Thailand - Latvia doesn't care where you are.

 

Errr, didn't Germany recently re-instate border controls?

[GreasyFingers]

14 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Haven't been there in dog's years.

But still in love.

[spidermike007]

Also, the tax laws are for worse than what Thailand is proposing. 

[CHdiver]

15 hours ago, Drumbuie said:

The whole point of the Schengen area is free movement/borderless trade and travel -  which is why Brexit was and is such a disaster for the UK. 

 

Interesting, because the UK was never part of Schengen. 

[jas007]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Also, the tax laws are for worse than what Thailand is proposing. 

 

A few years back I was looking into moving to Europe somewhere. Then I started looking into the various tax laws and I sort of stopped thinking about it. And at this time, much of Europe looks like a mess, at least in some of the big cities.  Maybe they'll clean up the mess sooner, rather than later?  

[Jingthing]

58 minutes ago, jas007 said:

 

A few years back I was looking into moving to Europe somewhere. Then I started looking into the various tax laws and I sort of stopped thinking about it. And at this time, much of Europe looks like a mess, at least in some of the big cities.  Maybe they'll clean up the mess sooner, rather than later?  

Good point about tax.

I don't know the details but Portugal did some things making things less tax friendly for expats.

So of course you need to look at tax anywhere.

Some people solve this by having multiple homes and never being a tax resident anywhere.

Not for me but many wealthy people like it.

Another question is what you get for the tax.

In France for example you have full access to their health system which is world class.