---
title: "Latvia Hiring Guide 2026 | Pay Twice a Month"
description: "Hire in Latvia 2026. Written contract before day one, EU or permit work check, wages paid twice a month, minimum wage €780/month. Teamed runs all five steps."
canonical: https://www.teamed.global/country-hiring-guides/latvia/hiring-guide
---

Latvia · Hiring guide child

Served by Teamed vetted partner-entity network in Latvia

# How do you *hire a Latvian employee* in 2026?

Latvian law tells you when to pay before it tells you how much. Wages must reach the employee at least twice a month, unless you both agree once a month in the contract. Build that rhythm into the offer, alongside the €780/month minimum wage that took effect on 1 January 2026.

Last reviewed 13 June 2026 · Latvia guide

![The Old Town rooftops of Riga, Latvia, with the spire of St Peter's Church rising above terracotta tiles in warm afternoon light.](/images/country-guides/latvia-hiring-guide.webp)

Illustration · Riga, Latvia

Answer.cite this

The Latvia hire process has five steps. Offer letter, work-authorisation check, written employment contract, social-insurance and tax registration, first payday.

Every employee needs a signed written contract before the first day of work. Wages must be paid at least twice a month. You can agree once a month in the contract instead (Section 69, Labour Law).

The minimum wage is €780/month from 1 January 2026. The standard working week is 40 hours. Paid annual leave is 4 weeks.

Employers register each hire with the State Revenue Service before the start date. The employer also pays social insurance at 23.59% on top of gross pay.

## What does the end-to-end Latvia hire process look like?

Five steps take you from accepted offer to first payslip. Offer letter, work-authorisation check, written contract, State Revenue Service registration, first payday.

The State Revenue Service registration must be filed before the employee's first working day. Skip it and the start is not lawful.

| Step | What happens | Owner | Timing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Offer letter | Written offer with role, gross salary, start date, working hours, probation terms, and pay rhythm | Client / Teamed drafts | Same day after verbal accept |
| 2. Work-authorisation check | Confirm EU or EEA status, or verify a valid Latvian residence and work permit for third-country nationals before the start date | Teamed | Before the employee starts |
| 3. Written employment contract | Signed written contract covering all terms under the Labour Law (Darba likums) | Teamed (legal employer) | Before day one |
| 4. State Revenue Service registration | Register the employee with the State Revenue Service (VID) and enrol them for state social insurance | Teamed | Before the first working day |
| 5. First payday | First payslip issued with PIT and social insurance withheld and the employer share remitted; wages paid at least twice a month unless once-a-month is agreed | Teamed | End of first pay period |

1. Issue the offer letter Send a written offer the same day as verbal acceptance. Include the role, gross salary at or above €780/month, start date, working hours up to 40 hours per week, and the pay rhythm.
2. Complete the work-authorisation check Confirm EU or EEA status by collecting a passport or ID copy, or verify a third-country national's residence and work permit before the employee starts. Retain copies of all documents.
3. Issue the written employment contract The signed written contract must be in place before day one. Teamed's standard Latvia contract covers every Labour Law requirement. Clients choose the commercial terms; Teamed signs as the legal employer.
4. Register with the State Revenue Service File the employee's registration with the State Revenue Service before the first working day and enrol them for state social insurance. Collect tax data and bank details across days one to seven.
5. Issue the first payslip and file deductions Run the first payroll for the period. Withhold income tax and employee social insurance, remit the employer share, and pay wages at least twice a month unless once-a-month is agreed. The employee receives a written payslip.

## What must a Latvia offer letter include?

The offer letter is not the binding contract. It is the document the candidate decides against.

Include the role, reporting line, start date, gross monthly salary at or above €780/month, working hours of up to 40 hours per week, the pay rhythm, and any condition such as a work permit.

Three traps to avoid in Latvian offer letters:

- **Quoting net pay.** Latvian payroll runs on gross. Employees pay social insurance of 10.50% and progressive income tax that starts at 20%. A net figure in the offer creates a mismatch when the gross contract is signed. Quote gross.
- **Leaving the pay rhythm vague.** The Labour Law expects wages at least twice a month. Once-a-month pay is allowed only if both sides agree it in writing. State the rhythm in the offer so payroll set-up is clean.
- **Overstating bonus pay.** Latvia has no required annual bonus. Describing a bonus as standard can turn it into a contractual expectation. Mark variable pay as at-discretion.

Teamed's standard Latvia offer letter covers all required ground and aligns with the Labour Law (Darba likums). Clients choose the commercial terms. Teamed holds the legal-employer position and issues the final contract.

## Latvia work-authorisation checks before the first day

EU and EEA citizens can work in Latvia without a permit. Third-country nationals need a valid residence permit with work rights before they start.

Employing someone without the correct authorisation exposes the employer to penalties from the State Labour Inspectorate and the immigration authorities.

### EU, EEA and Swiss citizens

Citizens of EU or EEA member states and Switzerland have the right to work in Latvia without a separate work permit. The employer keeps a copy of the passport or national identity card as a standard identity record. Anyone staying longer than three months registers for a registration certificate with the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, but this is not a work-authorisation gate.

### Third-country nationals

A national of any other country must hold a valid residence permit that carries the right to work before starting. In most cases the employer first registers a vacancy with the State Employment Agency, then the employee applies for the residence and work permit through the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs. Processing times vary, so allow several weeks before the intended start date.

Latvia · Labour Law (Darba likums)

The Labour Law governs the employment relationship in Latvia, including the written contract, working time, pay rhythm, leave, and dismissal protection. Every employer must apply it from the first day of employment.

Source: [Saeima / likumi.lv: Labour Law (Darba likums)](https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/26019)

### Ongoing permit renewals

Residence and work permits in Latvia are time-limited. Employers must track expiry dates and start each renewal well before the deadline. Teamed monitors every permit expiry and alerts the employee and client ahead of time so no lapse occurs.

## The Latvia written employment contract: what must it contain?

Latvia requires a written employment contract for every employee. The Labour Law makes the written form the rule.

The contract must be signed before the first day of work. It is the binding document. The offer letter is not.

What a Latvia written employment contract must cover under the Labour Law (Darba likums):

- Names and addresses of the employer and the employee
- Start date of employment
- Job title, occupation code, and a description of the work
- Place of work
- Gross salary, at or above the minimum wage of €780/month, and the pay rhythm
- Working time, within the standard 40 hours week and 8 hours day
- Paid annual leave of at least 4 weeks
- The probation period, where one applies
- The notice that applies on termination
- Any collective agreement that applies to the workplace

Latvia has no single codified statement like the UK Section 1 statement. The requirement is that a written contract exists and carries the substantive terms above. A probation period is allowed and is commonly set for new hires, but the cache does not hold a verified statutory ceiling for 2026, so Teamed sets probation to the conventional maximum and confirms it in writing rather than quoting a figure here.

Teamed's standard Latvia contract satisfies the Labour Law. Clients choose the commercial terms. Teamed signs as the legal employer. Key source: [Labour Law (Darba likums)](https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/26019) via likumi.lv.

## Onboarding admin in the first week

Day zero to day seven cover contract signing, State Revenue Service registration, social-insurance enrolment, bank details, and payroll set-up.

Teamed handles the statutory registrations. The client handles the operational side.

| Onboarding task | Who does it | Day |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Written employment contract signed | Employee and Teamed | Before day 1 |
| Work-authorisation check completed | Teamed | Before start for third-country nationals |
| State Revenue Service (VID) registration filed | Teamed | Before the first working day |
| State social insurance enrolment | Teamed | Days 1 to 7 |
| Personal tax data and non-taxable minimum confirmed | Employee submits to Teamed | Day 1 |
| Bank account details collected for payroll | Teamed | Days 1 to 7 |
| Pay rhythm confirmed, twice a month or once by agreement | Client and Teamed | Day 1 |
| Equipment and system access | Client | Days 0 to 1 |
| Manager introduction and first-week plan | Client | Days 0 to 7 |
| 30-60-90 day plan documented | Client (manager) | Days 1 to 14 |

## How does Teamed handle Latvia employment for you?

Teamed becomes your legal [employer of record](/lp/employer-of-record) in Latvia for [**from $599 per employee per month**](/pricing), with **zero FX mark-up** in any currency.

The Latvia Labour Law, State Revenue Service filings, and social-insurance enrolment all run on **one platform**.

**Real HR and legal experts** handle your Latvia hires, from the first offer letter through every social-insurance and income-tax remittance to the State Revenue Service. **An actual person**, not a chatbot or a pooled queue. There is **no setup fee** and **no exit fee**. Employer cost **passes through at cost, itemised** on every invoice, including the 23.59% employer social insurance.

EOR payroll, contractor onboarding, and entity set-up all live on **one platform**. A Latvia contractor who converts to direct employment keeps their record. Run the [Crossover Calculator](https://www.teamed.global/tools/crossover-calculator) to see when your Latvia headcount is ready to **graduate** to your own entity. EOR is the right model for a first hire, until it isn't, and Teamed tells you when that point arrives. Start from [the Latvia hiring overview](/country-hiring-guides/latvia); each guide here takes one layer of Latvia employment law.

Key sources: [Labour Law (Darba likums)](https://likumi.lv/ta/en/en/id/26019), [State Revenue Service (VID)](https://www.vid.gov.lv/en), and [Ministry of Welfare](https://www.lm.gov.lv/en).

## Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to hire someone in Latvia through Teamed?

Teamed can onboard an EU or EEA citizen within a few business days once the offer is accepted. The written contract must be signed before day one, and the State Revenue Service registration is filed before the first working day. Social-insurance enrolment and payroll set-up follow in the first week. Third-country nationals who need a Latvian residence and work permit must have it in place before the start date, which adds lead time depending on the permit type and the immigration queue.

How often must wages be paid in Latvia?

Wages must be paid at least twice a month under Section 69 of the Labour Law. An employer and employee can agree in writing that pay is disbursed once a month instead. If the payday falls on a weekly rest day or a public holiday, the wages must be paid before that date. Every employee also receives a written payslip showing pay, taxes deducted, and social insurance.

What is the minimum wage and working week in Latvia in 2026?

The gross minimum monthly wage is €780/month from 1 January 2026. The standard working week is 40 hours, and the standard working day is 8 hours. Overtime is capped at 200 hours per year and carries a supplement of at least 100% of the wage rate. Work on a public holiday carries a supplement of at least 100%.

What leave and sick pay must a Latvia employer provide?

Paid annual leave is at least 4 weeks. For sick leave on a certificate A, the employer pays not less than 75% of average earnings for the second and third day, and not less than 80% from the fourth to the ninth day. From the tenth day, the State Social Insurance Agency pays a benefit of 80% of the average insurance contribution wage, for up to 26 weeks of continuous incapacity.

What does it cost an employer to run payroll in Latvia?

On top of gross pay, the employer contributes social insurance at 23.59% of gross employment income. The employee pays social insurance at 10.50% and progressive income tax of 20%, 23%, and 31% across the bands, against a monthly non-taxable minimum of €550/month. Latvian law does not require any 13th-month or 14th-month salary.

Is a written contract required to hire in Latvia?

Yes. The Labour Law requires a written employment contract for every employee, signed before the first day of work. It must name the parties, the start date, the job and occupation code, the place of work, gross pay, working time, paid leave, and the notice on termination. There is no single codified statement like the UK Section 1 statement; the requirement is that the written contract exists and carries the substantive terms.

Teamed Legal Operations

Latvia's pay rhythm catches companies off guard. The default is twice a month, and the once-a-month option only holds if it is written into the contract. Agree the rhythm before the first payroll runs, not after the employee queries a late wage.

A note from Tom Price-Daniel

In Latvia the wage clock runs twice a month by default. You can switch to once a month, but only if it sits in the signed contract.  
The minimum wage rose to EUR 780 on 1 January 2026, and the standard week stays at 40 hours.  
The contract goes in before day one. The State Revenue Service registration goes in before the first shift.

Tom Price-Daniel · Co-founder, Teamed

## Related Latvia guides

- [Hiring in Latvia, overview](/country-hiring-guides/latvia)parent
- [Latvia termination and severance](/country-hiring-guides/latvia/termination-and-severance)sibling
- [Latvia tax and payroll](/country-hiring-guides/latvia/tax-and-payroll)sibling
- [Latvia employer cost breakdown](/country-hiring-guides/latvia/cost-breakdown)sibling
- [Germany hiring guide](/country-hiring-guides/germany/hiring-guide)sibling
- [Employer of Record overview](/lp/employer-of-record)core
- [Crossover Calculator](https://www.teamed.global/tools/crossover-calculator)tool
- [Talk to an expert](https://www.teamed.global/contact)CTA

A note on this page.

This is a guide, not legal, tax or accounting advice. Rules change and vary by jurisdiction. Verify current requirements with the Latvia State Revenue Service (VID), the State Labour Inspectorate (VDI), and the Ministry of Welfare, or speak to a qualified professional, before relying on any specific framework.