New faces modeling agencies in Latvia

This catalogue lists 17 agencies in Latvia, including Terri Model Agency, Baltic Casting Agency, Moon Models and Bro Models. It includes every agency that represents models; we do not vouch for them, and each profile shows the facts we found, good and bad.

Our catalogue has 17: 16 in Riga and one, LIME Agency, whose website says only that it is based in Latvia. The catalogue lists every business that represents models, including agencies with schools, kids and casting agencies and those that exist only on social media. We do not vouch for them, and each profile shows what we found, good and bad.

Latvia has no licence written for model agencies. The general licence for job placement services is issued by the State Employment Agency (NVA) under Cabinet Regulation No. 458, but no model agency was on its list of 408 companies dated 2 October 2026. We found no official statement on whether a model agency needs that licence.

We found no rule written for model agencies that forbids or limits it; the limits apply only to job placement providers holding the NVA licence, and no model agency is among them. In practice some catalogue agencies run paid schools, priced on their websites at €80 to €140 a month, and 8 Studios charges €34.50 for a place in its model catalogue. Perluca Management writes that it asks for no money to be scouted or to join. The prices we found are on the profiles.

No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens work in Latvia without a permit or visa; an employment or service contract is enough. If you live in Latvia for more than 3 months without a break, you need a registration certificate from PMLP. If you only work in Riga while living in another EU country and returning home at least once a week, you do not need to register.

Under the Latvian Labour Law a child is anyone under 15, or anyone up to 18 still in basic education, and children may not be employed in permanent work. From 13, with a parent's written consent, a child may do light work outside school hours. In advertising, cultural and sporting events a child may take part as a performer with a parent's written consent and a permit from the State Labour Inspectorate (VDI). Until 18 the parents sign contracts, as they represent the child. Modeling is also covered by Cabinet Regulation No. 407: a written contract is required, and events between 22:00 and 6:00 are forbidden for children under 16.

If a child is engaged as a performer in an advertising, cultural, artistic or sporting event, the employer applies to the State Labour Inspectorate and attaches a parent's written consent. The application states the type of work, the place, working and rest hours and duration, and the inspectorate decides within 5 days. The permit also lists prohibitions; for example, the child may not be involved in events that assess the child's appearance. Parents should ask the agency who will apply for the permit and when.

Most models register with the State Revenue Service (VID) as self-employed (saimnieciskās darbības veicējs), and this must be done before starting. Under the general regime, income tax is 25.5% on annual income up to €105,300 and 33% above that. Social insurance contributions are 31.07% if profit reaches at least €780 a month; below that you pay 10% towards your pension only. The microenterprise tax, 25% of turnover, is an alternative. On an employment contract the employer withholds the tax.

Latvia has no specific law capping a modeling agency's commission, so the rate is set in your contract. Before you sign, check that the contract states in figures the commission, the term, how it can be ended and which costs the agency may advance and later deduct. When you work abroad, the agency representing you there takes its commission and your mother agency usually receives a share of it.

Yes, if your contract allows it. A mother agency often asks for exclusivity in your home country, but usually negotiates with agencies in other countries itself and sends you to work there. If a Riga agency approaches you directly, speak to your mother agency first: it can make an arrangement with the Latvian agency so you do not end up with two conflicting contracts.

A fee on its own does not mean a scam: some catalogue agencies openly state the price of a school or a database listing, and we show those prices on their profiles. The warning signs are different: someone writes in an agency's name from a personal account; a fee whose amount nobody states in advance or that must be paid at once; work promised before anyone has seen plain photos and measurements; a "casting" in a hotel room or private flat without parents; requests for underwear photos; a contract you may not take home. You can check a company free of charge in the Latvian Register of Enterprises (Uzņēmumu reģistrs), and if money was taken or you were threatened, go to the State Police.

Of the 17 agencies in our catalogue, 16 work in Riga, so meetings and castings usually happen there, and the first application is normally sent online. We found no agencies based in other cities. What is specific to Riga is covered on the page "Modeling agencies in Riga". How to prepare, what to wear and what to bring is covered in the jurgita.com guide "Model casting: how to prepare".