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.
Required documents
How to apply
- Temporary residence permit may be granted to an alien, if the conditions for granting the residence permit are fulfilled and there are no obstacles which would bring about refusal to grant a residence permit;
- The requirements for granting the temporary residence permit must be fulfilled throughout the validity period of the residence permit.
The general terms for granting temporary residence permit toa n alien are the following:
- justification of the purpose for settling in Estonia;
- actual residing place in Estonia;
- sufficient legal income which would enable subsistence of the alien and his/her family in Estonia;
- insurance cover for costs of cure caused by illness or injuries of an alien.
An alien who owns shares in a company or acts as a sole proprietor and who has continuous financial means, may apply for residence permit for business in Estonia. The company or the sole proprietor must be registered in the Estonian Commercial Register and the settlement of the alien in Estonia must be important for the business.
The fields and, if necessary, the territory of activities, shall be determined in the residence permit for business.
The company or the sole proprietor is required to have a business plan which states the character and range of the business, number of staff, necessary qualification and know-how of the staff, and:
- the alien has invested in Estonia a capital sum of 63 900 EUR under his/her control in the case of a company;
- the alien has invested in Estonia a capital sum of 15 950 EUR under his/her control in the case of a sole proprietor.
An alien applying for residence permit is subject to the annual immigration quota for aliens immigrating to Estonia, which shall not exceed 0.1 per cent of the permanent population of Estonia annually. The immigration quota does not apply to the following:
- an Estonian
- a citizen of the United States of America or Japan.
An alien is required to have continuous legal income that ensures his or her subsistence in Estonia during the six months preceding the submission of the application. Lawfully earned remuneration for work, income received from lawful business activities or property, pensions, scholarships, support, benefits paid by a foreign state and the maintenance ensured by family members earning legal income are deemed to be legal income.
An alien has to have an insurance contract guaranteeing that any costs related to his or her medical treatment as a result of illness or injury during the period of validity of the residence permit applied for will be met to the extent equal to persons covered with health insurance.
If an alien has no opportunity to conclude a conforming insurance contract before the residence permit is granted to him/her, then he/she must submit:
- a written assurance that he/she will conclude the required insurance contract no later than within two months after the settlement in Estonia;
- an insurance contract which shall cover the medical treatment expenses until the conclusion of a conforming insurance contract (e.g. travel insurance contract).
There is no need for an insurance contract if the person is insured by a compulsory health insurance pursuant to the Health Insurance Act, and in cases provided for by international agreements.
Documents issued by a foreign state must be translated either into Estonian, Russian or English and the accuracy of the translation must be certified by a notary. Documents must be confirmed by a relevant certificate (apostille) or legalised, unless issued by a state with whom Estonia has concluded a contract for legal assistance: Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, Russian Federation. More information on the legalisation of documents and their confirmation with the relevant certificates can be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A residence permit for undertaking business in Estonia on the circumstances which form the basis for the issue of a residence permit may be granted for the maximum of 5 years. If an alien has been granted a residence permit for business he/she cannot work in Estonia under the subordination of any other person. If an alien has been granted a residence permit for business for the purpose of participation in a legal entity, then he/she may work in the legal entity determined by the residence permit for performance of management.
It is possible to pay the state fee of up to 10 EUR in cash, or any larger sum by debit card at Service Points of Citizenship and Migration Bureau of the Prefecture. The holder of a debit card has to pay the bank's service charges. More precise information about bank service charges please contact your bank.
