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A Comprehensive Guide on Moving to Latvia

  • Connect with fellow expats in Latvia

  • Join exciting events and groups

  • Get Information in our Latvia Guides

  • Exchange tips about expat life in Latvia

Discover Events & Make New Friends

If you’re wondering how to navigate the challenges of life abroad, you’re not alone. Join InterNations and connect with a community of like-minded expats in Latvia! You’ll find many ways to network, socialize, and make new international friends.

Don’t miss a variety of welcoming online and in-person events. Join groups to pursue your hobbies — from sports to music, there’s something for everyone With InterNations, you’ll quickly feel at home wherever life takes you.

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Everyone should join InterNations to enjoy everything from business events to networking to cultural and travel experiences.

Ranim, InterNations Cairo

InterNations helped me meet many people of different cultures - now I'm more open-minded and happier!

Nicholas, InterNations Yaounde

InterNations Worldwide at a Glance

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Destination Guides

  • Javier Vazquez

    Sharing our expat experiences in Riga was very helpful. Particularly when it comes to setting up your own business here.

Relocating to Latvia

The Land and Its People

Located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, Latvia’s 64,589 km² of territory is bordered by a number of countries, including Estonia, Russia, and Lithuania. This close proximity to other nations means that Latvia has large resident populations from these countries, with only 61% of its approximately 2 million citizens identifying as Latvian in 2014.

The biggest of these groups living in Latvia are Russians (27% of the total population), due to its historical ties with the Soviet Union, but there are also large numbers of Belarusians (3.5%), Ukrainians and Poles(around 2% each). The capital city Riga, named European Capital of Culture in 2014, also has a large expatriate community.

Although the official language is Latvian, one of only two surviving Baltic languages along with Lithuanian, many people also speak Russian or English as their second language.

The Climate in Latvia

Expatriates moving to Latvia will need to adjust to a temperate climate that has oceanic, maritime and humid continental influences. Temperatures are fairly consistent throughout the country, but depending on where you move to in Latvia, you could experience either slightly warmer or colder weather.

In coastal areas, particularly the western coast of the Courland Peninsula, the maritime and oceanic influences are more noticeable, and cause cooler summers and milder winters; whereas eastern Latvia has a more continental climate, with hotter summers and more severe winters.

The average temperature for winter is around -6°C, but it has been known to drop to -30°C, and heavy snowfall can be expected. Summer temperatures reach an average of 19°C, but can get up to 35°C.

Getting to Latvia

With only one major international airport, moving to Latvia is not as easy as moving to larger European nations. However, Riga International Airport is the largest airport in the Baltic region, and has flights to and from many major worldwide destinations, including a nonstop direct flight to New York’s JFK Airport. It is also the main hub of flag carrier Air Baltic.

While there are plans to build more regional international airports, for the time being Riga International Airport remains the main point of entry for expatriates moving to Latvia.

Latvia also has a number of ports that would be suitable for expatriates wanting to ship their belongings to the country, most notably the Freeport of Riga and Riga Passenger Terminal, which is the largest port in the country.

See all upcoming events for expats in Latvia

Our Global Partners

  • Javier Vazquez

    Sharing our expat experiences in Riga was very helpful. Particularly when it comes to setting up your own business here.

  • Michelle Guillemont

    The idea to conect expats worldwide is not only great, it really works. I met several French-speaking women within the first weeks.

Our Global Partners

Communities in Latvia

Like-Minded Expatriates in Latvia

Latvia Guide Topics