Legal Address in Latvia — What It Is, Why You Need One, and Your Options
A legal address is one of the mandatory elements without which registering a SIA is impossible. It's the place where a company is officially reachable — official letters from VID, the Register of Enterprises (UR), courts, and other institutions are sent there. Simple as it sounds, it raises plenty of questions: can I use my own apartment address? How much does a virtual office cost? What happens if the address stops being current? This article answers all of them.
Key takeaways
The legal address must be a real property object located in Latvia — not a P.O. box, not a foreign address.
You can use your own residence (if you own it, or with the owner's consent) or a paid legal address service (roughly €15–70/month depending on the service level).
If the owner withdraws consent, this isn't a matter of hours, or a "14 days" deadline — after UR sends a warning, the company has up to two months to resolve the situation (Commercial Law, Section 314.¹).
A registered letter sent to the legal address is deemed received after 7 days — even if you never actually received it.
State fee for an address change: from €20 (1 change, standard) up to €120 (2+ changes, expedited).
Every company must have exactly one legal address, and it must be located within Latvia.
What a legal address is and why it's mandatory
A legal address is a company's official location, registered with the Register of Enterprises (UR). It's public information — anyone can look it up in UR's database. Under the Commercial Law, every merchant must have a legal address, and it must be located in Latvia.
The address serves two main functions:
Legal communication — all official letters, warnings, and notices from courts and state institutions are deemed received once sent to the address on file with UR. Even if you're physically elsewhere, if a letter (especially a registered one) was sent to your legal address, the law presumes you received it.
Ties to the state — a legal address confirms the company is anchored to Latvian jurisdiction and subject to Latvian law.
That's exactly why it matters that the address is correct and that someone can actually receive correspondence there.
Using your residential address — what the law says
Many new business owners choose to list their own residential address as their SIA's legal address. That's legal, but there are a few important conditions and risks.
Requirements:
If you own the apartment or house, you're free to list that address.
If you don't own it (for example, you rent), you need the owner's written consent. Since amendments to the Commercial Law took effect on August 1, 2021, that consent no longer has to be submitted to UR — a declaration from the applicant confirming the legal basis for using the address is enough. There's no mandatory form — a free-form written confirmation works, as long as it clearly states that the owner agrees to the premises being used as the company's legal address. If the owner is a legal entity, its representative signs the consent.
Risks of using a residential address:
Publicity — the address will be publicly visible in UR's database, and anyone can look it up. If you'd rather your home address not be associated with your business, this can be a real drawback.
Receiving correspondence — if you move or are away from the address for extended periods, important letters from VID or the courts risk going unreceived. Courts treat you as informed once a (registered) letter has been sent to your legal address.
Relationship with the owner — the owner can withdraw their consent at any time. But the process isn't immediate — UR sends a warning to the registered address, and the company then has to provide an explanation or change its address within two months at the latest of receiving that warning (Commercial Law, Section 314.¹). If the deadline is missed, UR can initiate proceedings to terminate (liquidate) the company. In practice, though, it's best to act as soon as you learn consent has been withdrawn — the two-month window is a maximum, not a recommended timeline.
Data protection — if you're self-employed, your residential address will be publicly visible in VID's database anyway. For a SIA, if you'd rather not disclose your personal address, you can use a rented legal address service instead — see also our guide on opening a business bank account.
Source: Commercial Law (Komerclikums)
Virtual office / legal address service
A virtual office, or legal address service, is an alternative to using your residential address. The provider supplies an address you can register with UR, and often also forwards correspondence (physically or by scanning it).
How it works:
You sign a contract with the provider (usually for a year).
You receive formal consent to use the premises as your legal address.
UR registers that address.
The address becomes your official point for receiving mail — the provider forwards correspondence to you.
Typical costs in 2026 (prices are usually quoted excluding VAT):
Basic address without correspondence handling: from €15–30/month.
Address with correspondence scanning and email forwarding: roughly €25–40/month.
Expanded virtual office (with a phone number, secretarial services, etc.): roughly €40–70/month.
The exact price varies by provider and location (central Riga is usually pricier) — compare a few offers before choosing.
Advantages:
Keeps your home address private.
A more professional image — especially if the address is in central Riga or a prestigious area.
Stable mail handling — even if you move, the address stays the same.
Drawbacks:
Extra cost — roughly €180–500+/year, depending on the service tier chosen.
Some banks can be wary if a company only has a virtual office. In practice, though, this rarely causes problems as long as everything else checks out (genuine business activity, references, payroll records).
Our experience: most new SIAs, non-residents especially, use a legal address service. It removes a lot of headaches right from the start.
How to change your legal address
Changing a legal address is a relatively simple process, but it has to be done within a set deadline.
When you need to change the address:
When you move to a new residence.
If the owner withdraws consent (see above — you have up to two months from UR's warning).
If your virtual office contract ends.
If you discover UR has an incorrect address on file.
How to do it:
1. Submitting the application
Submission method | How to proceed |
|---|---|
Via the e-service (recommended) | 1. Log in at registrs.ur.gov.lv. 2. Fill in the interactive form (no need to use the KR12 paper form). 3. Sign with an e-signature and timestamp. 4. Pay the fee through the portal. |
By mail (alternative) | 1. Fill in and sign the application (KR18 form). 2. Send it to the Register of Enterprises. 3. Include proof of fee payment. |
2. State fee rates
Processing time | Number of changes | Fee |
|---|---|---|
Within 3 business days | 1 change | €20.00 |
Within 3 business days | 2 or more changes | €40.00 |
Within 1 business day | 1 change | €60.00 |
Within 1 business day | 2 or more changes | €120.00 |
Source: Register of Enterprises — official description: application submission and fees
What happens if the address is wrong
If UR has an outdated or incorrect address on file, official correspondence (for example, from VID or a court) may go unreceived. By law, such a letter is deemed received 7 days after it was sent, which can lead to missed deadlines, fines, or court rulings you weren't actually aware of. Check UR's database regularly to make sure your company's legal address is correct and up to date.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a P.O. box as my legal address?
No. The legal address must be a physical address (a real property object) where the company can be reached. UR will require the cadastre designation of the property (building, apartment, or premises).
Can a non-resident use their foreign address?
No. A Latvian SIA's legal address must be located in Latvia. You can list an additional foreign address as a correspondence address (for receiving notices, for example), but the legal address must be in Latvia.
Can I change the address before the company is registered?
Yes, you can change the address before submitting the founding application. After the application is submitted (but before registration), changes have to be made as a separate amendment application following registration.
Can the legal address be another company's address?
Yes, as long as that company is the owner or has the owner's consent to use the premises. For example, if a SIA registers an address where another company is already located, appropriate authorization (written consent from the owner) is required.
How long does information about the old address stay on record?
The old address remains in UR's historical records (visible as historical information in an extract), but the current extract only shows the present address.
What should I do if the owner withdraws consent but I don't have a new address yet?
Act as soon as you find out — start looking for a new residential address or a legal address service. Formally, you have up to two months from receiving UR's warning, but waiting until the last moment increases the risk of missing the deadline and facing UR-initiated termination proceedings.
How much does an accountant cost who can help sort out the paperwork for an address change or registration?
You can get a precise estimate for your situation on our pricing page or FAQ. See also what we offer under services — we help with legal address matters as well as your company's full accounting.
A tip — check your address regularly
It's a good idea to check once a year, in UR's and VID's databases, that the owner's consent is still valid (especially if you're using a residential address) or that your virtual office contract hasn't lapsed. A sudden, unaddressed change can lead to unnecessary fines or complications.
Legal sources and references
A legal address might seem like a small detail, but it's one of the things worth taking seriously before you even register your SIA. We help new business owners choose the right option — whether that's a residence or a legal address service — and handle all the documents UR requires. If you've just registered a company, our article on VAT registration is worth a read too. Get in touch.
Last updated: September 2026. This information is based on the Commercial Law's requirements and UR's practice.
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