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Obtain MiCA CASP authorisation from Latvijas Banka and passport your crypto-asset services from Latvia to all 30 EU/EEA countries.Latvia applies MiCA through its Crypto-Asset Services Law, with a free pre-licensing consultation and statutory review deadlines.
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Overview
In Latvia, crypto-asset service providers are authorised by Latvijas Banka under the EU MiCA Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 and the Latvian Crypto-Asset Services Law (Kriptoaktīvu pakalpojumu likums), in force since 30 June 2024. A Latvian CASP licence covers the services you apply for and can be passported to all 30 EU/EEA countries.
One Latvijas Banka authorisation passports your crypto-asset services to all 30 EU/EEA countries
Latvijas Banka is the single competent authority for MiCA under the Latvian Crypto‑Asset Services Law
A free pre-licensing consultation with Latvijas Banka, answered within 30 days
Completeness check in 25 working days, then a decision within 40 working days
Corporate income tax of 20% only on distributed profit, with no tax on profit kept in the company
Official fees: €2,500 to apply, then supervision of up to 0.6% of crypto income, at least €3,000
Latvijas Banka publishes its CASP application requirements and offers a free pre-licensing consultation, so you know what is expected before you file. MAXCORP prepares the application, sets up the Latvian company and its governance and AML framework, and manages the dialogue with Latvijas Banka through to the decision. One team handles the licence, the company and the compliance behind it.
Coverage
Latvijas Banka authorises the same ten MiCA services as every EU authority, so the real question is which class your Latvian company applies for. The class sets the own funds you hold in Latvia and the depth of governance Latvijas Banka will look for. The profiles below show the most common fits.
You need: a Latvian entity to advise clients on crypto-assets, receive and transmit their orders or manage portfolios, with a lean team and modest capital.
Latvia gives you: a Class 1 authorisation from Latvijas Banka with €50,000 own funds, enough for advice and order handling across the EU.
You need: to move crypto-assets between wallets for clients, or to hold their keys if custody is part of the model, from a Latvian base.
Latvia gives you: transfer services under Class 1, or custody under Class 2. Fiat payments need a Latvian EMI or payment institution licence as well.
You need: to exchange crypto-assets for euro or other crypto-assets for EU clients, or to run a matching engine as a trading platform.
Latvia gives you: Class 2 (€125,000) for exchange and custody, or Class 3 (€150,000) to operate a trading platform, supervised by Latvijas Banka.
You need: to safeguard clients’ crypto-assets or private keys for retail or institutional clients, kept strictly apart from your own assets.
Latvia gives you: a Class 2 authorisation with €125,000 own funds, and the custody and segregation procedures Latvijas Banka reviews in the application.
The class decides the own funds your Latvian CASP must hold. Latvijas Banka applies the MiCA minimums below, or one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads if that is higher, so plan capital for the first years of operation, not only for the application.
Latvia combines a single, central-bank regulator with clear statutory deadlines and a tax system that does not tax retained profit. For crypto businesses that also need fiat payment services, the same authority licenses electronic money and payment institutions.
Latvijas Banka authorises and supervises crypto-asset service providers as well as electronic money and payment institutions, so a group combining crypto and fiat services deals with one authority.
A free pre-licensing consultation, a completeness check within 25 working days and a decision within 40 working days of a complete application, as set by MiCA and published by Latvijas Banka.
Latvian corporate income tax of 20% applies to distributed profit. Profit that stays in the company is not taxed until it is distributed, which suits growing CASPs that reinvest.
A Latvian authorisation covers the crypto-asset services you apply for in all 30 EU/EEA countries after the MiCA notification procedure through Latvijas Banka, with no licence per country.
Pricing
The same three service tiers as for every MiCA jurisdiction, delivered for a Latvian application. The Gold readiness audit confirms your CASP class and whether Latvia is the right fit. Platinum covers the full application to Latvijas Banka through to authorisation, and Custom adds the Latvian team, office and ongoing AML support.
Gold
€15,000fixed fee, credited towards Platinum
A written assessment of your crypto business against MiCA and the Latvian Crypto-Asset Services Law: your CASP class, own funds, substance needs and a step-by-step plan for the Latvijas Banka application.
Platinum
From €80,000
We prepare the full Latvian application, from the programme of operations and the AML and ICT policies to the pre-licensing consultation, the filing with Latvijas Banka and its questions, through to authorisation.
Custom
From €150,000
The Latvian application plus the operation behind it: we hire the local management and control functions, set up the office in Latvia, arrange banking and run AML outsourcing after authorisation.
* Pricing is indicative and subject to final confirmation. Prices exclude VAT. For a Latvian application, Platinum and Custom depend on your CASP class and scope; own funds, the Latvian company registration and the Latvijas Banka fees (€2,500 to apply, then an annual supervision fee of up to 0.6% of gross income from crypto-asset services, at least €3,000) are paid separately.
Timeline
Latvijas Banka follows the MiCA review sequence: a completeness check, then a substantive assessment with a legal deadline. Preparation time depends on your scope and readiness, and the review clock can be extended for objective reasons when information is missing, so a complete, consistent application is the best way to protect your timeline.
Build the application pack and meet Latvijas Banka before you file.
Scope and CASP class, the Latvian company, governance, own funds, policies and ICT controls. A free pre-licensing consultation can be requested at any stage.
~2 to 3months
Latvijas Banka: The pre-licensing consultation is free of charge, and Latvijas Banka answers within up to 30 days.
What to prepare
Set the scope correctly and show the business can operate under supervision.
Latvijas Banka checks that the application is complete.
The authority confirms that all required documents are present and consistent before the substantive assessment starts.
25working days
Legal timeline: MiCA gives the competent authority 25 working days to assess completeness and request any missing information.
What must be complete
A coherent pack avoids requests for more information.
Latvijas Banka assesses the application and decides.
Assessment of governance and ownership, own funds, AML and sanctions controls, ICT security, business continuity and custody arrangements.
40working days
Legal timeline: A decision within 40 working days of a complete application. The period can be extended for objective reasons if information is missing.
What is assessed
Latvijas Banka tests whether the controls work in practice.
Launch in Latvia and notify the host member states.
Finalise operational go-live and submit passporting notifications through Latvijas Banka for the EU/EEA countries where you want to provide services.
~6 to 10months total
Passporting note: Cross-border services start after the MiCA notification procedure. No separate licence is needed in each country.
What to maintain
Supervision expects live compliance, not only policies.
* Indicative total including preparation. Statutory periods run from a complete application; actual timelines depend on scope, documentation quality and requests for information.
Process
Step 1
We review your business model, set your CASP class and own funds, and confirm that Latvia fits your tax position, substance plans and target markets.
Step 2
We register your Latvian company (SIA) with a registered office in Latvia, appoint management and arrange the capital for your CASP class.
Step 3
We prepare the pre-licensing consultation and the full application pack, file it with Latvijas Banka and answer its questions through to the decision.
Step 4
Once authorised, we file your passporting notifications through Latvijas Banka and support ongoing AML compliance, reporting and supervision.
Requirements
A MiCA application to Latvijas Banka is a full authorisation, not a registration. The documents must describe your actual business model, governance and risk profile, and Latvijas Banka assesses whether the controls work in practice.
Latvijas Banka lists the documents for a CASP application, including:
Only legal persons whose registered office and place of effective management, with at least one person involved in governance, are located in the EU may apply. For a Latvian licence, the company is registered in Latvia.
MAXCORP can source qualified professionals and set up the office through the Custom package.
Own funds of €50,000, €125,000 or €150,000 depending on the services, or one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads if that is higher.
CASPs are financial institutions under the Latvian Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorism and Proliferation Financing.
FAQ
Latvijas Banka, the central bank of Latvia, is the competent authority for MiCA under Section 4 of the Crypto-Asset Services Law. It authorises and supervises crypto-asset service providers and publishes them in its register of financial market participants.
The EU MiCA Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 applies directly. Latvia’s Crypto-Asset Services Law (Kriptoaktīvu pakalpojumu likums), adopted on 13 June 2024 and in force since 30 June 2024, names Latvijas Banka as the competent authority and sets its fees.
Latvijas Banka checks completeness within 25 working days and decides within 40 working days of a complete application; the period can be extended for objective reasons if information is missing. Including preparation, the full project usually takes 6 to 10 months.
Latvijas Banka charges €2,500 to review an application and an annual supervision fee of up to 0.6% of gross income from crypto-asset services, at least €3,000 a year. Our packages are listed in the pricing section; regulatory capital is separate.
The MiCA minimums apply: €50,000 (Class 1), €125,000 (Class 2) or €150,000 (Class 3), depending on the services, or one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads if that is higher.
No. Latvia gave providers registered before MiCA until 30 June 2025 to continue without a Latvijas Banka authorisation, and all MiCA transitional periods in the EU ended on 1 July 2026. Every provider now needs full MiCA authorisation.
The company must have its registered office in Latvia and its place of effective management in the EU, with at least one person involved in governance in the EU. In practice, Latvijas Banka expects real substance: management and key control functions that can run the business and answer to the supervisor. We can set up the Latvian company (SIA) with its registered office.
Yes, for certain services. Under MiCA Art 60, existing financial institutions such as electronic money institutions can provide some crypto-asset services by notifying Latvijas Banka at least 40 working days before they start, instead of applying for a full CASP licence. See our EMI licence in Latvia.
CASPs are financial institutions under the Latvian AML law: customer due diligence, sanctions screening, reporting of suspicious transactions to FIU Latvia through goAML, and an independent external audit. The EU Travel Rule (Regulation (EU) 2023/1113) applies to crypto‑asset transfers.
Latvian corporate income tax is 20% on distributed profit, such as dividends. Profit retained in the company is not taxed until it is distributed.
Yes. A CASP authorised in Latvia can provide services in other EU/EEA countries after the MiCA notification procedure, through Latvijas Banka. No separate licence is needed in each country.
Yes. After authorisation we can provide AML team outsourcing, compliance officer and MLRO roles, regulatory reporting and DORA support. Learn more about our compliance services.
Contact
Tell us about your project and receive a tailored proposal with indicative timelines and a budget from our legal and compliance team.
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