Latvia is a tiny developing market with a limited financial system and little local demand for goods from the global financial industry. The Latvian banking sector is split into two groups: domestic-focused institutions, which are mostly comprised of subsidiaries of Scandinavian institutions, and non-resident-focused banks, which are not closely connected to the home market. Most of the later banks are run by citizens of their nation. The most common sectors for the use of foreign capital are manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, financial services, and insurance. Since entering the European Community in 2004, Latvia’s banking sector has grown quickly and now dominates the country’s economic system. There is a great deal of potential for success soon in the insurance and financial markets in Latvia. Before you start working in this industry, you may need to get the following licenses:

Certification of financial brokers and credit intermediaries

To ensure that customers can determine whether a loan mediator or credit middleman meets the quality requirements outlined in governmental ordinances and is qualified to assist credit intermediaries, the Consumer Rights Protection Centre (CRPC) will register loan brokers and credit counterparties representatives.

Requirements

The requirements for acquiring such permission are as follows:

Payment

The professional operator must pay the federal license fee before submitting a request; this fee may range from 250 to 1000 euros, depending on the circumstance of the applicant.

Documents

The service provider must submit an application that is signed by an authorized person to be included in the Registry. The following documents must be included with the petition:

• A request form signed by a representative
• A report on the applicant’s unblemished criminal record that is no more than six months old
• Evidence of Insurance
• Methods for sustaining competency standards that have been established
• Official employee compensation policy

A unique permit to provide consumer credit services

To maintain an effective system for enforcing the rights of clients in the context of non-financial institutions and to oversee market participants providing assistance in this sector, the CRPC awards, halts, modifies or cancels the provided special license to the customer loan provider.

Requirements

The prerequisites for acquiring a consumer lending license are as follows:

Payment

Before submitting a request, a non-bank lending facility provider must pay a statutory fee of EUR 250 000 for a special license and an annual fee of EUR 55 000.

Documents

The documents to be submitted with the request for this license are:

• A fully completed request form
• documentation of the owners’ financial and legal standing
• a document demonstrating enough financial resources
• details about any licenses that have been rejected in the last three years
• proof of the company’s strong reputation
• proof of satisfying tax obligations

The intermediary’s permit to exchange certificates for privatization

The government-issued securities known as privatization authorizations are used to cover the cost of selling off privatized property. The licensing board and brokerage companies will establish the Department of Economy, which will provide the permission.

Requirements

The licensing body must receive a petition from a capital business before it can get permission from the certificates of privatization of market intermediaries. Documents and contributions sent electronically are also accepted. The following details must be stated:

• Information about the business, such as its legal location, registration number, and contact details
• its intention to seek the license
• Information about the person in charge
• a signed application request form
• financial statements
• a document attesting to the legal entity’s authority to act on the company’s behalf

Authorization for the use of metals, precious stones, and objects at work

The Regulation sets the procedures for registering places where precious metals and precious crystals are utilized in company expansion, as well as the requirements for categorizing and necessary testing of priceless metals and stones.

Requirements

Merchants must register their business locations with the Latvian Assessment Center if they do commerce with priceless gems, jewelry, or products. The registration number and details about the merchant must be included in the application. To register a business location and get a username and password, the person conducting economic activity must submit a request to the Ministry.