The nationals of the following countries do not need a visa to enter Latvia for a short-term stay:, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominica, East Timor, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China), Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, , Macau (Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China), Macedonia, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan , Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago , Tuvalu, The Vatican, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
For more details please consult: http://www.mfa.gov.lv/en/consular-information/countries-whose-citizens-may-enter-latvia-without-a-visa
Work Permit:
Nationals of the EU/EEA Member States, including the latest two countries of Bulgaria and Romania, and Switzerland are able to work without restriction in Latvia.
For all other nationalities wishing to work in Latvia a work and residence permit is necessary.
To obtain a work permit: A potential employer can only apply for a work permit for a third-country national in very specific case, for certain IT specialists for example. The application has to be made to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs-Foreigners Service Centre. If it is approved, an application for a residence permit has to follow.

No official permission is required for feature film shoots or any other type of production other than the normal requirement for permission from the owner of the authority responsible for the location in question. Permits take usually no more than a week.

Accepts ATA Carnets for Commercial Samples, Exhibitions and Fairs, Professional Equipment. For detailed information visit http://www.chamber.lv

VAT standard rate in Latvia is 21% (since Jan 2011). Reduced rates of 12% on medications, veterinary medications, special equipment for children and communications services. VAT is charged on assets and services provided in Latvia as well as on imports into Latvia. Are exempt from VAT: exports from Latvia, income from financial services, such as insurance and banking services, legal advice (subject to the conditions in law) and operations like: Educational services, Medical services, Cultural services, Lotteries and gambling, Financial services provided by banks and insurance companies, Gifts and donations for humanitarian aims. Any business with a turnover in excess of LVL 10,000 (approximately Euro 14,000) in the previous 12 months is obligated to register with the VAT authorities. Latvia VAT Recovery Time: 6 months Proposal to cut Latvian VAT rate in July 2012.

Latvian copyright law refers to literary, scientific and artistic works; also to unfinished works, insignificant of the goal and value of the work or nature of its expression. It is important that there is no special registration or any other formality needed to verify copyrights. For further details please consult: http://www.km.gov.lv/en/eu/member/copyright_history.html

Social insurance contributions are paid by both the employer and employee. The total rate for resident employees is 33.09% of gross employment income (including salary, bonuses, benefits in kind etc.), 11% of which is paid by the individual (withheld from gross salary) and 24.09% by the employer. Special rules apply to Latvian residents employed by foreign companies, foreign nationals employed by foreign companies (performing work in Latvia) and self-employed individuals.