Permits & Visas for Estonia

Looking to live, work, or do business in Estonia?

Estonia offers various pathways for legal residence and entry for:

  • Skilled professional
  • Investor and entrepreneur
  • Digital nomad
  • Simply visiting

We can help you navigate the Estonian immigration system.

Residence Permits

EU Blue Card:

For highly skilled professionals seeking employment in Estonia. Enjoy access to the labor market, social security, and healthcare.

The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for non-EU nationals wishing to live and work in Estonia. It offers access to the labor market, social security and healthcare. Aimed at highly skilled professionals, the Blue Card is issued for up to two years, can be renewed and provides benefits for both individuals and employers.

Requirements:

  • University degree (3+ years of studies).
  • Employment agreement for at least 6 months.

Salary must be at least 1.24x the Estonian average for certain professions, or 1.5 times for others. 

Permission from Unemployment Insurance Fund to hire a non-EU national. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents. 

Documents & Processing:

  • Processing time: ca 2 months. 
  • Required documents include an invitation letter, employment contract, university certificates evaluated by government authorities and health insurance. 
  • Documents may vary by nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Temporary Residence Permit for Employment:

A route for non-EU nationals seeking employment in Estonia for at least one year. This is available to a broader range of workers than the EU Blue Card.

The Temporary Residence Permit for Employment in Estonia allows non-EU nationals to legally work in Estonia for a period of at least 1 year. Unlike the EU Blue Card, this permit is open to a broader range of workers. It is valid for up to five years and can be renewed. 

Requirements:

  • Employer must provide at least the average Estonian monthly salary (in case of top specialists, 1.5x the average). 
  • The employer must seek permission from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund to hire a non-EU national (with some exceptions). 
  • The applicant must have the appropriate training, work experience and state of health as well as the necessary professional skills and knowledge for the job. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents. 

Documents & Processing: 

  • Processing time: ca 2 months.
  • Required documents include an invitation letter, employment contract and health insurance. 
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Temporary Residence Permit for Entrepreneurship (For Company Shareholder):

Obtain residency through investment in an Estonian company. Ideal for company shareholders.

A residence permit for enterprise is a temporary residence permit issued to non-EU nationals for engaging in enterprise in Estonia. The residence permit is issued for up to 5 years and can be renewed. 

Requirements:

  • The applicant must have a holding in a company and must have invested at least 65 000 euros in the business activity of the company in Estonia. 
  • The company must be registered in the Estonian Business Register. 
  • The applicant must have sufficient income (six times the subsistence level) for subsistence in Estonia. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents. 

Documents & Processing:

  • Processing time: ca 2 months.
  • Required documents include proof of investment, a description of the business plan and health insurance
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Temporary Residence Permit for Major Investor:

Invest significantly in Estonia and secure a temporary residence permit. This is for high-value investment into the Estonian economy.

A temporary residence permit for major investor is a temporary residence permit issued to non-EU nationals who are willing to invest 1 000 000 euros in Estonia. The residence permit is issued for up to 5 years and can be renewed. 

Requirements:

  • The applicant must make a lasting direct investment in the amount of at least 1,000,000€ into an Estonian company investing into the Estonian economy, or 
  • make a lasting direct investment in the amount of at least 1,000,000€ into an investment fund which invests primarily into Estonian companies.
  • The applicant must have sufficient income (six times the subsistence level) for subsistence in Estonia. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents.

Documents & Processing: 

  • Processing time: ca 2 months. 
  • Required documents include proof of investment, health insurance
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Short-Term Work Permit (Up to 1 Year):

A suitable option for those who need to work in Estonia for less than a year.

Short-term employment is suitable for those non-EU nationals who wish to work in Estonia for up to 1 year.  

Requirements:

  • The applicant´s employer is registered in Estonia (in certain cases does not apply). 
  • The applicant's employer must register the applicant's short-term employment. 
  • Visa (citizens of certain countries can stay in Estonia for 3 months without a visa). 
  • The applicant must be paid a salary that is at least equal to the average monthly gross salary in Estonia. 
  • The applicant must have sufficient means for subsistence in Estonia. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents. 

Documents & Processing: 

  • Processing time: ca 1,5 months.
  • Required documents include employment agreement, proof of sufficient means, health insurance 
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 
EU Blue Card

EU Blue Card:

For highly skilled professionals seeking employment in Estonia. Enjoy access to the labor market, social security, and healthcare.

The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit for non-EU nationals wishing to live and work in Estonia. It offers access to the labor market, social security and healthcare. Aimed at highly skilled professionals, the Blue Card is issued for up to two years, can be renewed and provides benefits for both individuals and employers.

Requirements:

  • University degree (3+ years of studies).
  • Employment agreement for at least 6 months.

Salary must be at least 1.24x the Estonian average for certain professions, or 1.5 times for others. 

Permission from Unemployment Insurance Fund to hire a non-EU national. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents. 

Documents & Processing:

  • Processing time: ca 2 months. 
  • Required documents include an invitation letter, employment contract, university certificates evaluated by government authorities and health insurance. 
  • Documents may vary by nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Temporary Residence Permit for Employment:

A route for non-EU nationals seeking employment in Estonia for at least one year. This is available to a broader range of workers than the EU Blue Card.

The Temporary Residence Permit for Employment in Estonia allows non-EU nationals to legally work in Estonia for a period of at least 1 year. Unlike the EU Blue Card, this permit is open to a broader range of workers. It is valid for up to five years and can be renewed. 

Requirements:

  • Employer must provide at least the average Estonian monthly salary (in case of top specialists, 1.5x the average). 
  • The employer must seek permission from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund to hire a non-EU national (with some exceptions). 
  • The applicant must have the appropriate training, work experience and state of health as well as the necessary professional skills and knowledge for the job. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents. 

Documents & Processing: 

  • Processing time: ca 2 months.
  • Required documents include an invitation letter, employment contract and health insurance. 
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Temporary Residence Permit for Entrepreneurship (For Company Shareholder):

Obtain residency through investment in an Estonian company. Ideal for company shareholders.

A residence permit for enterprise is a temporary residence permit issued to non-EU nationals for engaging in enterprise in Estonia. The residence permit is issued for up to 5 years and can be renewed. 

Requirements:

  • The applicant must have a holding in a company and must have invested at least 65 000 euros in the business activity of the company in Estonia. 
  • The company must be registered in the Estonian Business Register. 
  • The applicant must have sufficient income (six times the subsistence level) for subsistence in Estonia. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents. 

Documents & Processing:

  • Processing time: ca 2 months.
  • Required documents include proof of investment, a description of the business plan and health insurance
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Temporary Residence Permit for Major Investor:

Invest significantly in Estonia and secure a temporary residence permit. This is for high-value investment into the Estonian economy.

A temporary residence permit for major investor is a temporary residence permit issued to non-EU nationals who are willing to invest 1 000 000 euros in Estonia. The residence permit is issued for up to 5 years and can be renewed. 

Requirements:

  • The applicant must make a lasting direct investment in the amount of at least 1,000,000€ into an Estonian company investing into the Estonian economy, or 
  • make a lasting direct investment in the amount of at least 1,000,000€ into an investment fund which invests primarily into Estonian companies.
  • The applicant must have sufficient income (six times the subsistence level) for subsistence in Estonia. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents.

Documents & Processing: 

  • Processing time: ca 2 months. 
  • Required documents include proof of investment, health insurance
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Short-Term Work Permit (Up to 1 Year):

A suitable option for those who need to work in Estonia for less than a year.

Short-term employment is suitable for those non-EU nationals who wish to work in Estonia for up to 1 year.  

Requirements:

  • The applicant´s employer is registered in Estonia (in certain cases does not apply). 
  • The applicant's employer must register the applicant's short-term employment. 
  • Visa (citizens of certain countries can stay in Estonia for 3 months without a visa). 
  • The applicant must be paid a salary that is at least equal to the average monthly gross salary in Estonia. 
  • The applicant must have sufficient means for subsistence in Estonia. 

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents. 

Documents & Processing: 

  • Processing time: ca 1,5 months.
  • Required documents include employment agreement, proof of sufficient means, health insurance 
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

Visas

C-Visa (Schengen Visa):

For tourism or business trips to Estonia and the Schengen area for stays of up to 90 days.

The C-visa is a suitable option for those non-EU nationals whose stay in Estonia does not exceed 90 days and whose purpose of travel is tourism or business.

Requirements: 

  • Travel and health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30 000 EUR.
  • The presence of sufficient financial resources for the duration of the stay and for return to the country of origin
  • Accommodation in Estonia or sufficient funds to cover accommodation costs 
  • Ability to prove the purpose of the trip 

Documents & Processing:

  • Processing time: ca 1 month.
  • Required documents include documents that prove the purpose of the trip, proof of sufficient means, health insurance 
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille.

Digital Nomad Visa:

Work remotely from Estonia as a freelancer or employee of a foreign company.

Digital nomad visa is suitable for non-EU nationals who work remotely as either a freelancer or whose employer is not registered in Estonia. 

Requirements: 

  • The applicant is able to work independent of location and work remotely. 
  • The applicant must have a monthly income of at least 4500€.
  • Employment agreement with a company registered outside of Estonia, documents that prove that the applicant conducts business through their own company registered abroad, or works as a freelancer for clients mostly outside of Estonia.
  • CV.

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents.

Documents & Processing:

  • Processing time: ca 1 month. 
  • Required documents include documents that prove that the applicant will continue to work for an employer registered in a foreign country with whom they have a contractual relationship, or to conduct business for a company registered in a foreign country in which they have a stake, or to provide services mainly to clients whose place of business is in a foreign country with whom they have a contractual relationship, proof of sufficient means, health insurance.
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

E-Residency:

Establish a digital identity to start and manage an EU-based company online.

Note: This does not grant the right to enter or reside in Estonia.

E-Residency of Estonia is a digital identity which gives entrepreneurs remote access to start a business in Estonia and to Estonian e-services and provides the applicant with Estonia`s digital signature. E-residency does not grant the right to enter and stay in Estonia.

Requirements:

  • Motivation letter and description of business activity.
  • CV. 

Documents & Processing: 

  • Processing time: ca 2 months.
  • Required documents include motivation letter, CV. 
C-Visa (Schengen Visa)

C-Visa (Schengen Visa):

For tourism or business trips to Estonia and the Schengen area for stays of up to 90 days.

The C-visa is a suitable option for those non-EU nationals whose stay in Estonia does not exceed 90 days and whose purpose of travel is tourism or business.

Requirements: 

  • Travel and health insurance with a minimum coverage of 30 000 EUR.
  • The presence of sufficient financial resources for the duration of the stay and for return to the country of origin
  • Accommodation in Estonia or sufficient funds to cover accommodation costs 
  • Ability to prove the purpose of the trip 

Documents & Processing:

  • Processing time: ca 1 month.
  • Required documents include documents that prove the purpose of the trip, proof of sufficient means, health insurance 
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille.

Digital Nomad Visa:

Work remotely from Estonia as a freelancer or employee of a foreign company.

Digital nomad visa is suitable for non-EU nationals who work remotely as either a freelancer or whose employer is not registered in Estonia. 

Requirements: 

  • The applicant is able to work independent of location and work remotely. 
  • The applicant must have a monthly income of at least 4500€.
  • Employment agreement with a company registered outside of Estonia, documents that prove that the applicant conducts business through their own company registered abroad, or works as a freelancer for clients mostly outside of Estonia.
  • CV.

Family Benefits: Family reunification is allowed for spouses, children, and dependents.

Documents & Processing:

  • Processing time: ca 1 month. 
  • Required documents include documents that prove that the applicant will continue to work for an employer registered in a foreign country with whom they have a contractual relationship, or to conduct business for a company registered in a foreign country in which they have a stake, or to provide services mainly to clients whose place of business is in a foreign country with whom they have a contractual relationship, proof of sufficient means, health insurance.
  • Document requirements may vary depending on nationality and require legalization or apostille. 

E-Residency:

Establish a digital identity to start and manage an EU-based company online.

Note: This does not grant the right to enter or reside in Estonia.

E-Residency of Estonia is a digital identity which gives entrepreneurs remote access to start a business in Estonia and to Estonian e-services and provides the applicant with Estonia`s digital signature. E-residency does not grant the right to enter and stay in Estonia.

Requirements:

  • Motivation letter and description of business activity.
  • CV. 

Documents & Processing: 

  • Processing time: ca 2 months.
  • Required documents include motivation letter, CV. 

Need Help?

Our expert team can help you navigate the application process and ensure you meet all the necessary requirements.
Contact us for personalized assistance!

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