NB! This information is meant for third country nationals. You can find information about the right of residence for EU citizens and for their family members here.
How to apply
Required documents
Long-term residence permit may be issued to an alien, who:
- has stayed in Estonia permanently on the basis of temporary residence permit for at least five years directly prior submitting an application for long-term residence permit;*
- holds valid temporary residence permit;
- has registered residence in Estonia;
- has permanent legal income for subsistence in Estonia;
- is covered with health insurance;
- complies with the integration requirement, i.e. has knowledge of the Estonian language at least at B1 level established by the language act or level corresponding to that.
Permanent stay in Estonia includes temporary absence from Estonia, if such absence does not exceed six consecutive months and a total of ten months during five years prior to the date on which the alien submits an application for long-term residence permit.
The permanent stay in Estonia, requested for granting a temporary residence permit for an alien who holds an EU blue card, includes temporary absence from Member States of the European Union, which does not exceed 12 consequtive months and in total 18 months within the last five years directly prior submission of an application for temporary residence permit.
* In relation to an alien, who holds an European Union (EU) blue card in Estonia, instead of the requirement of permanent residence in Estonia the requirement may be applied, that directly prior submission of an application for permanent residence permit he/she has been residing on the basis of the EU blue card in Member States of the European Union permanently at least five years, including the last two years in Estonia based on the EU blue card.
If absence from Estonia during the last five years prior to the submission date of the application has exceeded six consecutive months and a total of ten months during the last five years and if the alien has previously registered his or her absence in the Police and Border Guard Board ori f the Police and Border Guard Board has subsequently deemed his or her absence to be reasoned, then the period of permanent stay in Estonia, requested for long-term residence permit, will extend by the absence time.
An alien holding permanent residence permit shall automatically be deemed as an alien holding the long-term residence permit.
All aliens who were issued permanent residence permit before 1 June 2006 shall automatically be deemed as having the long-term residence status.
If you hold permanent residence permit, more information is available here.
An alien, who holds long-term residence permit, does not require a work permit in order to work or be engaged in business activities in Estonia.
Long-term residence permit shall not be issued to an alien who:
- has received temporary residence permit for study;
- has received temporary residence permit due to significant public interest;
- or does not comply with the conditions for the issue of long-term residence permit.
