Issue description

Beauty services

Information updated 02.01.2023.


This section provides information on the requirements to provide beauty services in Latvia.


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1. What are beauty services and who can provide them?1. What are beauty services and who can provide them?

The beauty service providers provide services of hairdressing, manicure, pedicure, tattooing, including micropigmentation, permanent make-up, scarification, piercing, cosmetic tanning, pool or sauna, as well as those using manual, physical or chemical methods for the provision of services.

Beauty services are aesthetic body treatments for well-being and entertainment, provided by hairdressers or manicure, pedicure, micropigmentation, sauna or pool service providers, or solving various cosmetic problems, such as skin treatments or preventive procedures, provided by a beauty care specialist (cosmetologist) or cosmetician, who have received higher education in beauty care and are medical practitioners.

Beauty services may be provided by a legal person (employees provide beauty care services in accordance with regulatory enactments) and by a natural person who has registered their economic activities in the State Revenue Service and has notified the Health Inspectorate regarding the commencement of economic activities in beauty. Beauty services are provided by both medical practitioners, i.e. cosmetics and beauty professionals in cosmetology, who address various cosmetic problems, carry out skin handling and preventive procedures, as well as hairdressers, manicure, pedicure, micropigmentation specialists, sauna service provider, etc., who provide aesthetic body procedures for wellbeing and entertainment. Professional qualifications of beauty workers shall be attested by professional education and professional qualification documents recognized by the State. In addition to the educational document, medical practitioners shall also have a medical practitioner certificate issued by the Union of Professional Organisations of Medical Practitioners of Latvia. In addition to the requirements of the regulatory enactments, other specialists working in the sector must also have a valid certificate regarding the acquisition of the education programme "Minimum hygiene requirements specified for the provision of beauty treatment services".

Important! If it is intended to provide multidisciplinary services, it should be noted that it may be necessary to obtain other permits, licenses or approvals.

Additional information:

2. How to register a company or individual that provides beauty services?2. How to register a company or individual that provides beauty services?

Information on forms and types of business, as well as forms for carrying out the business activity of a natural person for the commencement of commercial activity in beauty is available in the subsections of the section Starting a business:

To get more information on the notification of the commencement of commercial activity in beauty see section In what cases is it necessary to notify the Health Inspectorate about the start of economic activity?

Additional information:

3. In which cases is it necessary to register in the register of medical practitioners? 3. In which cases is it necessary to register in the register of medical practitioners?

According to the law "On the Regulated Professions and the Recognition of Professional Qualifications", a cosmetician and beauty care specialist (cosmetologist) are regulated professions for which specific qualification requirements have been specified in regulatory enactments. The required amount of knowledge of a cosmetician or beauty care specialist (cosmetologist) is determined by the Cabiner Regulation No. 268 of 24 March 2009 "Regulation regarding the competence of medical practitioners and students who acquire vocational higher medical education programmes of the first or second level, in medical treatment and the amount of theoretical and practical knowledge of such persons" (Latvian only). Cosmetician and beauty care specialist (cosmetologist) are medical persons and their professional activities are regulated by Medical Treatment Law and other regulatory enactments regulating the field of health care.

The right of a person to perform professional activities in the specialty of cosmetician or beauty care specialist (cosmetologist) is confirmed by the medical practitioner's certificate and registration in the register of medical practitioners. Registration of medical practitioners is carried out by the Health Inspectorate, which website provide Register of medical practitioners and medical support persons (Latvian only).

Additional information:

4. Which tax payment regime to choose? 4. Which tax payment regime to choose?

Legal entities (for example, a limited liability company) pay enterprise income tax.

Natural persons - economic activity performers and individual merchants can choose to pay:

  1. personal income tax on income from economic activity; or
  2. micro-enterprise tax *.

* - Micro-enterprise tax payers have the opportunity to voluntarily use the simplified tax payment solution - the economic activity revenue account (SDI account), which is designed to calculate, withhold and list tax payments from the income obtained in economic activity and automatically transfer tax payments to the unified tax account without the involvement of the taxpayer. SDI account users do not need to submit tax returns, do not need to calculate the amount of tax to be paid and do not need to pay the tax themselves. The tax to be paid will be calculated by the State Revenue Service and the credit institution (or payment and electronic money institution) will automatically credit it to the unified tax account. Currently (starting from 6 October 2022), Industra Bank offers the SDI account solution for economic operators - micro-enterprise tax payers.

Both legal and natural persons performing economic activity pay value added tax, if the total value of the supplies of taxable goods and services rendered during the previous 12 months has exceeded 40,000 euros (except for micro-enterprise taxpayers).

Employers and natural persons - economic operators also have to pay state social insurance contributions.

Additional information:

5. How to register a business unit? 5. How to register a business unit?

Information about registration of a business unit can be found in subsection 2. Registration of a business unit of the section Conduct of business.

It is also necessary to inform the Health Inspectorate about the registration of the business unit (see the section In what cases is it necessary to notify the Health Inspectorate about the start of economic activity?).

Additional information:

Health care (Health Inspectorate of Latvia).

6. In what cases is it necessary to notify the Health Inspectorate about the start of economic activity? 6. In what cases is it necessary to notify the Health Inspectorate about the start of economic activity?

Notification of the commencement of economic activity must be submitted to the Health Inspectorate by all economic operators whose activity is related to beauty services (using manual, physical or chemical methods) cosmetic tanning, manicure, pedicure, hairdresser, sauna, swimming pool, as well as tattooing, scarification, permanent make-up, micropigmentation and piercing services, including provision of services including if the provision of services is related to traveling to the client (providing mobile beauty services) or at one's place of residence, or temporary provision of services.

Attention! The commencement of economic activity shall not be notified by those beauty service providers who provide medical manicure, medical pedicure, podologist or medical massage services, the operation of which must comply with the requirements of the regulatory enactments regulating the field of medical treatment.

If there have been changes in the notified information (for example, the name, surname or company of the service provider has changed, or the address of service provision has changed, the type of service provided), then the service provider must notify the Health Inspectorate of the changes within 14 days.

After submitting the notification, information about the beauty service provider is published on the website of the Health Inspectorate "List of Beauty Care Service Providers" (Latvian only), which is updated twice a month.

Notification (see Annex of the Cabinet Regulation) to the Health Inspectorate about the start of economic activity, including temporary services in the field of beauty, it is possible to submit:

Additional information:

7. In what cases is it necessary to obtain a permit, opinion or assessment on the compliance of the building or premises with hygiene requirements? 7. In what cases is it necessary to obtain a permit, opinion or assessment on the compliance of the building or premises with hygiene requirements?

Beauty care service providers who want to make sure that the selected building or premises meet the hygiene requirements can apply at Health Inspectorate for a permit, opinion or assessment on the hygienic assessment of the building or premises. Individual opinions, evaluations are a charge service. If the service is charged, you will be informed about the period of time you have to make a payment of received e-invoice when you complete your application. Obtaining a permit, opinion or assessment for the assessment of the building or premises is not a mandatory requirement.

Application for authorization, opinion or assessment of the Health Inspectorate is possible to submit:

Additional information:

Cabinet Regulation No. 24 of 11 January 2022 "Public service price list of Health Inspection charges" (Latvian only).

8. How to hire an employee and what requirements must be met? 8. How to hire an employee and what requirements must be met?

Information on hiring employees can be found in subsection 5. Recruitment of employees of the section Starting a business.

The employer, when assessing the professional suitability of the potential applicant, should be guided by what kind of beauty care or medical services are offered to clients.

Additional requirements that the employer must meet when hiring:

  • medical practitioner – cosmetician or beauty specialist (cosmetologist) - the employer must make sure of the professional qualification of the service provider, the person's registration in the register of medical persons and the existence of the certificate issued to the medical person by The Union of Professional Organisations of Medical Practitioners of Latvia (Latvian only), as well as make sure of the existence of the relevant documentation confirming the vaccination of the service provider against hepatitis B (in case the service provider performs targeted skin piercing);
  • the provider of beauty services, who is not a medical practitioner, the employer must make sure that:
    • the service provider has been vaccinated against hepatitis B (in case the service provider provides manicure, pedicure, tattooing or skin piercing services);
    • the service provider has obtained the necessary qualifications or obtained a document that confirms the applicant's knowledge and skills in the work duties to be performed, as well as:

Additional information:

10. What hygiene and epidemiological safety requirements must be ensured at the place of provision of beauty services? 10. What hygiene and epidemiological safety requirements must be ensured at the place of provision of beauty services?

The provision of various beauty services must comply with the hygiene and epidemiological safety requirements which, in conformity with the type of operation of the service, are governed by regulatory enactments.

Hygienic and epidemiological safety requirements to be ensured by hairdresser, manicure and pedicure service providers and those who use manual, physical and chemical methods to provide services have been established in Cabinet Regulation No. 631 of 9 October 2018 "Hygiene Requirements for the Provision of Beauty Treatment Services".

Providers of tattooing, including micropigmentation, permanent make-up, scarification and piercing services must ensure the hygiene and epidemiological safety requirements that have been established in Cabinet Regulation No. 182 of 14 April 2015 "Regulation Regarding Hygiene Requirements for the Provision of Tattooing and Piercing Services and Special Requirements for Tattooing Products".

Cosmetic tanning service providers must ensure the hygiene and epidemiological safety requirements that have been established in Cabinet Regulation No. 13 of 15 January 2019 "Requirements for the Provision of Cosmetic Tanning Service".

Pool or sauna service providers must ensure hygiene and epidemiological safety requirements that have been established in Cabinet Regulation No. 470 of 28 July 2020 "Hygiene requirements for pool and sauna services".

Attention! All beauty service providers must also ensure the epidemiological safety requirements specified in other regulatory enactments.

Additional information:

11. What fire safety requirements must be ensured in places where beauty care services are provided? 11. What fire safety requirements must be ensured in places where beauty care services are provided?

Employers, as well as self-employed persons and employees in the workplace must comply with and ensure fire safety requirements laid down in Fire Safety and Fire-fighting Law, Cabinet Regulation No. 238 of 19 April 2016 "Fire Safety Regulations", construction standards, and other regulatory enactments.

The owner or manager of the building shall be responsible for fire protection in the installation, if it is provided for in the management contract, but the tenant (tenant) or another user shall be responsible for fire safety in the leased or used building, if provided for in the contract. On the other hand, the owner (possessor) or manager of the building, structure or parts thereof for the operation of the public fire safety engineering systems and equipment in conformity with the requirements of the technical regulations and regulatory enactments regulating fire safety of the manufacturer shall be responsible for the operation of the building, building or parts thereof, if it is provided for in the management contract.

The person responsible for fire safety shall, at the place of supply of beauty services, ensure, for example, compliance with the following fire safety requirements:

  • develop a fire safety instruction;
  • instructs employees in the field of fire safety and ensures that the conducted fire safety briefing is recorded in the Logbook of Fire Safety Briefing;
  • the place of service provision is provided with fire safety signs;
  • the place of service provision is provided with fire extinguishers of appropriate extinguishing capacity, as well as provides inspection of the technical condition of fire extinguishers and technical maintenance;
  • organize, at least once a year, practice sessions in accordance with the fire safety instruction section "Action in case of fire", if more than 50 people can stay at the intended place of service provision at the same time;
  • develop and deploy evacuation plans, if more than 50 people can stay at the intended place of service provision at the same time;
  • if the intended place of service provision will be located in a residential building (use type I) and not in a building of use type IV or part of it, change the use of the relevant premises in accordance with the procedures specified in the normative acts regulating the construction;
  • install an automatic fire detection and alarm system at the place of service provision and provides technical maintenance and repair of it.

A person may perform a fire safety instruction, fire safety briefing and practice, fire hydrants and an internal fire-fighting water outlet test:

  • who has obtained professional education in fire safety;
  • who has received at least 20 hours of training in the field of fire safety, according to the training program developed by the State Fire and Rescue Service (if 10 to 50 people can be present at the place of service provision);
  • who has received at least 160 hours of training in the field of fire safety, according to the professional education program licensed by the Ministry of Education and Science (if more than 50 people can be present at the place of service provision).

Additional information:

12. How to start using a cash register, hybrid cash register, cash register systems, specialized devices or equipment? 12. How to start using a cash register, hybrid cash register, cash register systems, specialized devices or equipment?

The economic operator uses a cash register, hybrid cash register, cash register system, specialized device or equipment (hereinafter referred to as cash register) to register taxes and other payments. To start using the cash register, the economic operator must:

  • purchase a cash register according to the type of economic activity;
  • to ensure that the installation, repair and technical maintenance of the cash register is carried out by a service department registered in accordance with the regulations, with which it is necessary to conclude a written service contract;
  • register the cash register in the electronic declaration system of the State Revenue Service (the information shall be submitted by the service within 3 working days, while the performer of the economic transaction must confirm the information submitted by the service within 3 working days).
  • before using the cash register, the cash register must have the appropriate properties;
  • in cases where it is intended to accept payments in foreign currencies, ensure that a cash register is used that performs the conversion calculation;
  • ensure that the cashier is trained to work with the relevant cash register, as well as determine the cashier's duties in writing;
  • ensure that the technical passport of the cash register is at the disposal of the service department, which makes all the necessary records;
  • if it is planned to install the cash register in another permanent place of operation (business unit), within 3 working days it is necessary to call the service department to perform the mentioned operations, and within 3 working days after the installation of the machine, confirm the information submitted by the service department in the electronic declaration system of the State Revenue Service.

Attention! The cash register may not be used by issuing receipts registered with the State Revenue Service at the customer's request, in the following cases:

  • for the services provided at the permanent place of operation if the average monthly income does not exceed six minimum monthly wages. The average monthly income is calculated by dividing the total amount of income earned in the three previous calendar months by three. If the average monthly income exceeds six minimum monthly wages for two consecutive months, it is necessary to ensure that the use of the cash register is started during the following month;
  • for services provided outside the permanent place of operation (business unit).

In order to receive receipts registered with the State Revenue Service, it is necessary:

  • to submit an application for the allocation of registered receipt numbers in the electronic declaration system of the State Revenue Service and receive confirmation of the allocation of registered receipt numbers;
  • to submit a report on the use of registered receipts in the electronic declaration system of the State Revenue Service for each quarter.

Additional information:

13. What are the requirements for placing an advertisement? 13. What are the requirements for placing an advertisement?

The service provider has the right to place an advertisement related to economic or professional activity in accordance with the procedures specified in regulatory enactment.

If it is intended to place an advertisement or advertising object in public places, or in a place facing a public place, it is necessary to obtain the approval of the relevant municipality in whose administrative territory the advertisement or advertising object is intended to be placed. In order to receive approval, the municipality needs to submit an advertising or advertising object project, which consists of:

  • the submission (free-form submission or form in accordance with the binding regulations of local governments), which contains information about the advertiser and distributor, bank details, the address of placement of the advertisement or advertising object (except for mobile advertising) and the time of placement (except for the sign);
  • colored visual sketches or photomontages of the advertising or advertising object (in two copies, if submitted in person or sent by mail), indicating the dimensions and scale (for mobile advertising, the type of placement is indicated instead of the scale);
  • characteristics of additional effects (for example, lighting, sound effects), if such are planned;
  • other information, if it is intended to place a signboard, mobile advertisement, advertising object without attachment to the ground, advertising object with attachment to the ground, advertisement not mentioned in regulatory acts, poster or network advertisement.

If it is intended to place a sign in addition to the specified documents to be submitted for consent of the advertising or advertising object, it is necessary to submit:

  • a written confirmation by the advertiser that the written consent of the building, land owner, possessor or their authorized person for placing the sign has been received, if the sign is intended to be placed on real estate belonging to other persons;
  • connection project and coordination with the relevant utilities holder, if the object needs to be connected to power supply networks or other utilities, as well as with other utilities holders and third parties whose ownership rights are affected.

If it is intended to place a mobile advertisement, in addition to the specified documents that must be submitted for approval of the advertisement or advertisement object, it is necessary to submit information on:

  • the number of advertisements to be placed;
  • the national registration number of the vehicle or a specific identification number specified in the binding regulations of the local government for electric transport, if the advertisement is intended to be placed on a public passenger vehicle;
  • state registration number of the vehicle trailer (semi-trailer), if the advertisement is planned to be placed on the trailer (semi-trailer).

If it is intended to place the advertising object in a public place, or in a place facing a public place, without being attached to the ground, in addition to the specified documents that must be submitted to receive the approval of the advertisement or advertising object, it is necessary to submit:

  • a written statement from the advertiser that the written consent of the building, land owner, possessor or authorised person has been received for the placement of the site, if the advertising facility is intended to be placed on immovable property belonging to other persons;
  • a colored visual sketch or photomontage of the advertisement to be placed on the object (in two copies, if submitted in person or sent by mail), if it is planned to place an advertisement on it simultaneously with the placement of the advertising object.

If it is intended to place an advertising object in a public place, or in a place facing a public place, with an attachment to the ground, in addition to the specified documents, which must be submitted to receive the approval of the advertisement or advertising object, it is necessary to submit:

  • information about the cadastre number of the plot of land;
  • connection project and coordination with the relevant utilities holder, if the object needs to be connected to power supply networks or other utilities, as well as with other utilities holders and third parties whose ownership rights are affected;
  • a description of finishing materials and colour solutions;
  • a coloured visual sketch or photomontage of the advertisement to be placed on the object (in two copies, if submitted in person or sent by mail), if it is planned to place an advertisement on it at the same time as the object is placed;
  • a plan of the situation of the land unit prepared in accordance with the established procedure, which shows the place of installation of the object;
  • written consent of the land owner, possessor or his or her authorised person for the placement of the site, if it is intended to be placed on immovable property belonging to other persons.

If it is intended to place an advertisement not mentioned in the regulatory enactments in a public place, or in a place facing a public place, in addition to the specified documents, which must be submitted to receive the approval of the advertisement or advertising object, it is necessary to submit a written confirmation by the advertiser that the written consent of the building, land owner, possessor or their authorized person for placing the advertisement has been received, if it is intended to be placed on real estate belonging to other persons.

If it is intended to place a poster on a poster pole or stand owned by the municipality, it is necessary to submit:

  • information about the advertiser and distributor, bank details, address and time of placement of advertisement or advertising object;
  • information about the size of the poster and its number.

If it is intended to place a network advertisement in a public place, or in a place facing a public place, it is necessary to conclude a contract for the placement of network advertising with the municipality, which determines the procedure for paying the municipal fee, the procedure for informing about the placed advertisements, the term of the contract, the conditions for terminating the contract, including unilateral right to withdraw from the contract, the rights and obligations of the co-signers, the co-signers' responsibility for non-fulfilment of the contract, dispute resolution procedures, as well as other conditions that do not contradict the provisions of the regulatory enactments.

It is possible to apply for approval for the placement of the mentioned advertising or advertising objects, or mobile advertising:

Attention! In cases where an advertisement or an advertising object is intended to be placed on a cultural monument protected by the state, the municipality has the right to request the approval of the State Inspection for the Protection of Cultural Monuments for the placement of an advertisement or an advertising object. The State Inspectorate for the Protection of Cultural Monuments has the right to refuse the placement of an advertisement or an advertising object, or to coordinate their placement with conditions.

If an advertising object or an information object is intended to be placed along roads that are owned by the state, it is necessary to obtain the approval of the state-owned limited liability company "Latvijas Valsts ceļi" (Latvian State Roads). To receive the agreement, it is necessary to submit:

  • submission form (developed by Latvian State Roads);
  • location plan of the location of the advertising object or information object on a scale of 1:200 to 1:500;
  • landowner's permission;
  • other documents, if necessary (for example, dimensions of an advertisement or information object).

The mentioned documents can be submitted:

If the object of advertising or information is intended to be placed along roads belonging to a private person, which are not state property, it is necessary to obtain the permission of the owner of the road or a person authorized by him, as well as the approval of Latvian State Roads. In order to receive permission from the owner of the road or his authorized person for the placement of an advertising or information object, the owner of the road or his authorized person must submit:

  • submission in free form;
  • location plan of the location of the advertising object or information object on a scale of 1:200 to 1:500;
  • approval of Latvian State Roads.

Attention! In advertisement for a beauty service it is prohibited to advertise tobacco products, herbal smoking products, electronic smoking devices and refill containers. In addition to the above, in advertisement of cosmetic tanning services it is prohibited to promote human health benefits from the use of ultraviolet radiation equipment and general exposure to ultraviolet radiation, including vitamin D synthesis. At the same time, the advertisement of the cosmetic tanning service must state the information that the service is provided to an adult and that excessive use of ultraviolet radiation equipment is harmful to human health.

Additional information:

14. What are the requirements for playing music? 14. What are the requirements for playing music?

If music is to be played at the place of service provision (radio, TV, CD, etc.), it is necessary to receive Copyright and Communication Consulting Agency / Latvian Authors Association (AKKA/LAA) permit, as well as the need to enter into a contract with Latvian Performers’ and Producers’ Association (LaIPA). The payment will have to be made after receiving permission from AKKA/LAA, as well as when concluding a contract with LaIPA.

Additional information:



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