Possibilities for application
Documents requested for application
The following persons who are not EU or Estonian citizens are considered to be family members of EU citizens (hereinafter called "family members"):
- a spouse of the EU citizen;
- a child under 21 years of age or a dependent adult child of the EU citizen or of his or her spouse;
- a dependent parent of the EU citizen or of his or her spouse; or
- a person not named in clauses 1-3, who is dependent on the EU citizen or has a shared household with him or her in the country of origin or a person who, due to his/her state of health, is permanently incapable to manage without assistance and it is necessary that he/she is taken care personally by the EU citizen.
A dependent person is deemed to be a person who is living in common household with an EU citizen and who has no separate income.
A household member is deemed to be a person who is living in common household with an EU citizen and who has separate income.
Permit for stay
A family member has the right to stay with an EU citizen in Estonia on the basis of a valid travel document and a visa for the time period of up to 3 months.
No visa is required for a family member who has any other legal ground for stay in Estonia as stipulated in the Aliens Act.
A visa may be granted to a family member, if:
- he or she has a valid travel document;
- it isproven that he or she is travelling together with or is going to join a EU citizen; and
- his or her status as a family member is proven.
A family member is not requested to have a health insurance.
A family member is not permitted to be employed or self-employed in Estonia during his or her stay in Estonia and submission of an application for right of temporary residence.
Right of temporary residence
If a family member wishes to settle with an EU citizen in Estonia, then he or she must submit an application for temporary residence permit.
A family member shall have the right of temporary residence provided that the EU citizen with whom he/she wants to settle:
- is employed or self-employed in Estonia;
- he/she has sufficient legal income which ensures his/her own subsistence and that of his/her family member and he/she has a valid health insurance;
- studies in Estonia and he/she has sufficient legal income which ensures his/her own subsistence and that of his/her family member and he/she has a valid health insurance.
A child under the age of one year of a family member who resides in Estonia on the basis of right of temporary residence is also entitled to the right of temporary residence.
The right of temporary residence of a family member shall be granted for up to five years but not for longer than the period the EU citizen resides in Estonia. The right of temporary residence of a family member is extended for the time perid the EU citizen resides in Estonia, but not for longer than five years at a time.
A family member must submit an application for extension of the right of temporary residence at least 1 month prior the expiry of the right of temporary residence, or must leave Estonia within 2 months from the expiry of the right of temporary residence.
An application on behalf of a minor child under age 15 of a family member is submitted by his/her legal representative.
NB! Please view also additional information about the processing of the application.
