Background information

Based on the provisions of the Diaspora Law and the Regional Policy Guidelines for 2021–2027, the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM) prepared an informational report titled 'On Remigration Support Measures – Business Support,' which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on 27 June 2023. The report emphasizes that the business environment in the regions plays a crucial role in regional development, as it creates employment opportunities and thereby improves the well-being of residents. A strong business environment encourages people to remain in their local communities, helping to reduce depopulation. It also generates tax revenue for municipal budgets, which in turn enables investments in local infrastructure, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for residents. In the report, VARAM proposes that business support for remigration should be implemented in a new, localized way—with strong involvement from municipalities. This approach would cover a significant number of local governments, thereby strengthening their overall capacity to promote entrepreneurship and employment.

Content of measure

The Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development (VARAM), in cooperation with planning regions and municipalities, is implementing a support measure for remigrants to promote entrepreneurship. In 2025, a state budget allocation of €250,000 is planned to support individuals who have returned to Latvia, and who wish to start their own business, or local employers who are ready to create new jobs for remigrants. Municipalities participating in the provision of this support will announce calls for proposals and sign contracts with selected applicants. The maximum state support for the creation of a single job or business is €8,000 per year. The amount of municipal and private co-financing is specified in the individual competition regulations of each municipality. The aim of the support is either the establishment of a business founded by a remigrant or the creation of a job by a local employer specifically for a remigrant. Eligible applicants include remigrants who have returned to live in Latvia no more than two years ago and had previously lived abroad for at least two years, or employers creating new jobs for such remigrants. Remigrants can apply for support in 20 municipalities across all regions of Latvia (out of a total of 36).

Use of measure

In 2024, support was provided to 25 remigrants who started businesses in various fields, including cafés, saunas, mobile care services for bedridden patients, paving services, and more. Out of the total allocated funding for 2024 (€400,000), only slightly over €140,000 was actually distributed.

Remigrants themselves say that awareness of the available support needs to be improved. Dr. Inta Mieriņa, Director of the University of Latvia's Centre for Diaspora and Migration Research, noted that revising the program's criteria could benefit both regional business starters and the state: 'The program should also be accessible to people who are still abroad but want to return and start a business. The most difficult time is at the very beginning. If someone moves back and cannot find work, there's a high risk they will leave again.' She also emphasized the need for more effective cooperation with diaspora organizations to spread information about the program: 'Better outreach and communication would pay off in the long term—also from an economic perspective for the country.'

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Applies to all businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Local / regional government	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Involvement unknown.

Views and reactions

No specific views to report.

Sources

• 14 May 2024: VARAM: remigranti var pieteikties konkursam uzņēmējdarbības atbalstam (www.varam.gov.lv)
• 19 May 2025: No pieejamiem 400 000 eiro iztērē 140 000. Kas kavē reemigrācijas atbalsta programmas ieviešanu (www.lsm.lv)
• 26 May 2025: Uzņēmējdarbības atbalsta konkurss remigrācijai – 2025, www.paps.l (www.paps.lv)
• 26 May 2025: TAP portals: Par remigrācijas atbalsta pasākumu – uzņēmējdarbības atbalst (tapportals.mk.gov.lv)
• 26 May 2025: Informatīvais ziņojums Par remigrācijas atbalsta pasākumu – uzņēmējdarbības atbalstu (tapportals.mk.gov.lv)