Residence permit for employment

What documents must an employer submit for a foreign national to apply for a residence permit for employment?

For a foreign national to apply for a residence permit for employment in Estonia, you must submit, either personally or through an authorised representative:

• invitation by employer
• permission from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund to employ a foreign national

The proceedings officer may request additional information or documents if necessary.

What are the employer’s obligations when recruiting a foreign national?

• Hire a foreign national who has the right education, work experience, health, and professional skills for the job.
• Ensure your company is registered in Estonia.
• Pay the foreign national at least the average gross salary in Estonia (general requirement, subject to exceptions).
• If the foreign national applies for a residence permit, obtain a permit from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund to recruit them for the position.

How can you submit the documents for employing a foreign national?

Submit the documents to the Police and Border Guard Board by e-mail at ... or by post to Pärnu mnt. 139, 15060 Tallinn.

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

What obligations does an employer have in connection with receiving a foreign national?

The inviting party is required to:

• verify that the foreign national invited to Estonia has a legal basis for staying in Estonia,
• receive the foreign national in Estonia,
• ensure accommodation for the foreign national, if necessary,
• cover the costs of the foreign national’s stay in Estonia and departure from Estonia, if necessary.
• The employer also has an obligation to notify the authorities when hiring a foreign national.

What is the employer’s notification obligation in connection with receiving a foreign national?

As a representative of the employer who has submitted an invitation for the purpose of granting a residence permit to a foreign national, you must notify the Police and Border Guard Board if the foreign national who has been granted a residence permit:

• does not commence work on time, or

• experiences changes in the conditions of the residence permit granted for employment

• has their employment contract terminated.

The employer must submit digitally signed application for registration of a change of workplace, a permit from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund and a copy of the page with the personal data of the foreigner’s travel document.

Application form for changing of workplace

When sending the application by email, please name the application file "Job Exchange" and add the same name to the subject of the email so that it can be quickly distinguished from other emails.

It is permitted to submit requests for changes of workplace for multiple foreign employees in a single email; however, in such cases, the requests must be clearly distinguishable. This means that a separate digital container must be prepared and attached to the email for each employee, containing all the documents required specifically for that individual.

The application will be reviewed within 30 days, and a decision will be made whether the change of workplace is permitted or not. Upon receiving positive confirmation, the foreigner can start working for a new employer.

The foreigner does not have to apply for a new residence permit or residence permit card but continues to work with the same residence permit. The new employer takes over the obligations of the sponsor from the previous employer since the moment the foreigner starts working for him. Additional documents must be submitted in cases where a specific type of employment requires additional permits or approvals. Please submit such additional documents immediately together with the application for a change of employer.

The Unemployment Insurance Fund permit does not need to be submitted if the employee changes jobs with the same employer or if the foreigner changes jobs within the framework of an existing residence permit and has lived in Estonia for 12 consecutive months to work with a residence permit.

A job cannot be changed through the job change procedure if the foreigner has a temporary residence permit for intra-company transfer or is a posted worker within the meaning of the Working Conditions of Posted Workers Act.

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