Residence permit card for an adult
Applying for a residence permit card at a service office
To apply for a residence permit card, find a suitable service office and bring an identity document with you.
If desired, reserve a slot at the service office for your residence permit card.
Applying for a residence permit card under ordinary procedure
After your application has been accepted, it will take a maximum of 30 days to prepare your residence permit card under ordinary procedure.
Applying for a residence permit card under expedited procedure
When opting for the expedited residence permit card application procedure, the card will be ready in five business days. The residence permit card preparation period is calculated as of the next business day following the submission of the application.
While an expedited residence permit card application may be submitted at all client service offices, the card must be collected at a client service office located in Tallinn.
Providing fingerprints
You will have to give fingerprints when applying for a residence permit card. You do not need to provide fingerprints again if you are over 70 years old and have previously provided fingerprints and are applying for long term residence card.
Authorization for claiming residence permit card
You may authorize someone else to claim your residence permit card only if the authorization is submitted together with the application at the service office.
The person authorized must present a valid Estonian identity document when claiming the document. They must also have the applicant’s old residence permit card with them.
Document photo
You can send your document photograph in digital format by email to ....
See requirements and recommendations for document photos.
Taking a document photo at the service office
All client service offices (except for Keila) are equipped with photo booths where you can take a document photograph free of charge.
State fee
Residence permit card
The state fee for a residence permit card is €40.
The state fee for a residence permit card is €10 for people who have reached the general retirement age applicable in Estonia.
People with a moderate, severe or profound disability are eligible for a discount rate and are charged a state fee of €10 for a residence permit card. To use the discount, you need to provide proof of disability at the client service office.
The state fee if you are applying for the residence permit card under expedited procedure is €64.
Residence permit card and alien’s passport
The state fee for the passport and residence permit card is €70.
Under general conditions, the state fee for a passport and residence permit card for those who have reached retirement age in Estonia is €25.
Persons with a moderate, severe or profound disability have the right to a discount and the state fee for the passport and residence permit card is €25. In order to obtain the discount, you must present a document to the service office substantiating the disability.
Payment of state fee at the service office
The state fee may be paid at the service office:
- in cash
- by card payment
- over the customer computer terminal
American Express is not accepted for the state fee.
Marriage, divorce or name change abroad
If there is a change in personal data while you are abroad, you will have to present a document substantiating the change when applying for a document.
Document translation
If the document is not in Estonian, Russian or English, it must be translated and the translation must be made by a sworn translator or notarised.
Some foreign documents do not need to be legalised
If the country that issued the document is a party to the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, it does not need to be legalised. In this case, the public document must be certified by an apostille in accordance with the requirements.
Documents issued in these countries do not have to be legalised.
Information on legalisation of documents and apostils
For more information on legalization of documents and apostils, visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Applying for a residence permit card for a person in the care of a guardian
The application for a residence permit card for a person in the care of a guardian may be submitted only by their legal guardian.
If the data on the guardianship have not been entered into the Estonian Population Register, bring with you to the service office a document substantiating the guardianship.
Applying for a residence permit card for a person with a physical disability
If, due to a health condition, the person is not able to come to the service office to submit the application, we recommend that the residence permit card be applied for by mail or email.
If it is necessary to capture fingerprints, an official will pay a house call to the applicant.
If necessary, the application for residence permit card may be applied for on behalf of the disabled person by a representative authorized by a municipality or city government or nursing institution.
If the application is submitted by a representative authorized by a municipality or city government or nursing institution, the following must be submitted in addition to the application:
- the applicant’s application so that their fingerprints would be captured at their place of residence
- a document certifying the applicant’s state of health, certifying his or her permanent disability (e.g. a medical certificate)
- applicant’s written consent for the representative authorized by a municipality or city government or nursing institution to turn in the application for residence permit card and receive the document.
- authorization of the representative authorized by a municipality or city government or nursing institution
- the authorized representative’s identity document
- confirmation of the municipality or city government or nursing institution stating that the applicant has a permanent/chronic health condition that prevents them from coming to a service office
- report on authenticating the applicant’s identity (prepared by the authorized representative).