The decision as to whether or not to issue a temporary residence permit shall be decided within a period of 2 months from the date of starting the processing of the application or rectifying the deficiencies found in the application.

The Citizenship and Migration Bureau shall make a decision as to whether to extend or refuse to extend a residence permit at least 10 days before the date of expiry of the temporary residence permit.

If there are any faults in the application, the processing of the application shall be suspended and term for rectifying the faults shall be determined.

In case there are faults in the application for the extension of a residence permit a decision as to whether to extend or refuse to extend a residence permit shall be made within two months from the date of rectifying such faults.

The CMB shall not review the application if the applicant has not rectified, on time, any deficiencies found in the application or documents, or has not submitted all the necessary documents.

An applicant shall be informed in writing, on the basis of contacts given in the application, about the issue of a residence permit, the place of issue, the extension of the period of processing of his/her application, the refusal to process his/her application or the refusal to issue a residence permit by sending him/her a notice at the address given in the application.

Upon the issue or extension of the residence permit an alien is issued an identity document (ID-card) at the place of issue given in the application. The document is issued to an alien personally.

ID-card of a minor less than 15 years of age shall be issued to a legal representative at the place of issue given on the application.

A close relative with whom an alien is going to settle will have the obligations of a sponsor.

An alien is required to register his or her residence in Estonia in the population register within one month after entry into Estonia or the commencement of his/her stay in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit.

An alien who resides in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit and who wishes to stay outside of Estonia longer than 183 days a year must register his/her stay outside of Estonia at the Citizenship and Migration Bureau.

An alien is required to notify the Citizenship and Migration Bureau of the following circumstances:

• change of marital or family status if such change has been registered in a foreign state;
• punishment under criminal procedure if the punishment was imposed on the alien by a law enforcement authority of a foreign state;
• termination of the insurance contract.