Residence permit for a family member

What is a residence permit to settle with a family member?

A residence permit allows you to come to Estonia at the invitation of an Estonian citizen or a foreign national residing in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit, in order to join a close family member living here, or to settle together in Estonia upon arrival. When a residence permit is granted, you will receive a residence permit card.

Who needs it?

You need a residence permit to settle in Estonia with a family member if:

• you are a foreign national
• you do not already hold an Estonian residence permit on other grounds.

Who is a foreign national?

A foreign national is a person who is not a citizen of Estonia or of the European Union (that is, not a citizen of an EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland).

When to apply?

You can apply for a residence permit to settle with your spouse if your spouse is an Estonian citizen or a foreign national residing in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit, and you wish to settle in Estonia to live with them.

What are the requirements for a residence permit to settle with a spouse?

• You must be prepared to register your place of residence in the Population Register after receiving the residence permit.
• You have sufficient income (double the subsistence level) to support yourself in Estonia, which you confirm by signing the application. The subsistence level is established annually by the State Budget Act.
• Your child has a health insurance contract, confirmed by signing the application. The requirements for the health insurance contract are listed in § 120 of the Aliens Act (insurance cover).

What are the requirements for the spouse?

To apply for a residence permit to settle with your spouse, your spouse must meet one of the following conditions:

• he or she is an Estonian citizen, or
• a foreign national residing in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit, or
• a foreign national applying for a residence permit for business, or
• a foreign national applying for a residence permit for employment or study (in such cases, settling with a foreign national residing in Estonia on these grounds is possible only in exceptional cases, for which you can obtain further information from a migration consultant).

How long is a residence permit to settle with a family member issued for?

A residence permit to settle with a family member is issued for up to 5 years, but not longer than the validity of the residence permit of the inviting party.

How long can a residence permit to settle with a family member be extended for?

A residence permit to settle with a family member may be extended for up to 10 years at a time, but not longer than the validity of the residence permit of the inviting party.

What restrictions do I need to take into account?

The period of validity of your residence permit depends on the period of validity of the residence permit of the inviting party, if the inviting party is not an Estonian citizen.

How can your foreign family member visit you in Estonia for a short time?

If your family member is a foreign national and wishes to visit you in Estonia for a short time, they must have a legal basis for doing so. A legal basis for visiting Estonia may be a visa, or visa-free travel in the case of some countries.

A migration consultant is available to help you every step of the way. Seek advice from a migration consultant.