Latvia: KNAB checks PM adviser's investor-residence firm

Latvia's anti-corruption bureau KNAB is checking for a possible conflict of interest involving a freelance immigration adviser to Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, TVNET/LETA reported on 1 November 2026, citing LTV. According to LSM's De facto programme the same day, a company linked to the adviser raised €400,000 from eight foreign investors, each putting in €50,000 under Latvia's company-share residence route.

LSM reported that the investors came from India, South Africa, Syria and the United States and received shares without voting rights or dividends, and that four already hold residence permits while the rest are pending. The money was mostly routed through a part-owned US company into a Latvian 3D-printing business. Opposition MPs say the adviser helped draft proposals to raise the number of investors per company from 10 to 20 and extend permits from two to five years. The Prime Minister says the arrangement is fully legal, security-checked and predates the adviser's role.

No wrongdoing has been established. As of November 2026, under the immigration law in force since 15 September 2026, the route requires €50,000 of share capital in a qualifying small company plus a non-refundable €10,000 state fee. Separately, on 26 October the Interior Minister ordered a review of permits linked to another €50,000 company-share offer.