Estonia is known for its digital society and startup mindset. This guide explains the main immigration steps for foreign nationals who plan to work in Estonia.
Estonia has been part of the European Union since May 1, 2004. Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland can enter and work in Estonia without an Estonian work visa. If you plan to reside in Estonia for longer than three months, you must register your place of residence in the Population Register within three months of entering the country.
If you are not a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland, the immigration procedure depends on the length and type of employment:
- For short-term employment, your employer must register your employment with the Police and Border Guard Board before you start working. You must also have a legal basis to stay in Estonia, such as a visa, visa-free stay, or residence permit. Short-term employment can generally be registered for up to 365 days within a 455-day period.
- For employment lasting longer than one year, apply for a temporary residence permit for employment.
If you want to be part of Estonia’s expat community, this article outlines how to apply for the documents needed to work legally in Estonia.
Steps to Apply for an Estonian Work Visa
The application process depends on whether you are applying for short-term employment with a long-stay D visa or for a temporary residence permit for employment. A D-visa application must be submitted in person at an Estonian representation that handles visa applications or at a Police and Border Guard Board service point in Estonia. A decision on a D-visa application is generally made within 30 days after the application is accepted. A temporary residence permit for employment can be applied for at an Estonian foreign mission or, if you are legally staying in Estonia, at a Police and Border Guard Board service office. A decision on a temporary residence permit is generally made within two months after the application is accepted for processing.
For short-term employment, your employer must register your employment with the Police and Border Guard Board before you start work. Your visa application and your employer’s short-term employment registration are separate parts of the process. You can follow this guide:
Step 1. Prepare Your Documents
Begin by preparing the documents required for your specific application. For a long-stay D visa, foreign public documents submitted with the application must be legalized or certified with an apostille and translated into Estonian or English.
For short-term employment, your employer registers your employment with the Police and Border Guard Board. For a temporary residence permit for employment, you must submit the residence permit application in person, while your employer generally submits an employer’s invitation and, when required, the consent of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund.
Step 2. Complete the Visa Application Form
For short-term employment, your employer can use the short-term employment registration guidance. This registration must be completed before you start working.
If you need a long-stay visa, complete the long-stay D-visa application form. If your employment will last longer than one year, review the temporary residence permit guidance and book an appointment to submit the application in person.
Step 3. Submit Your Application to the Embassy
A long-stay D-visa application must be submitted in person at an Estonian representation that handles visa applications or at a Police and Border Guard Board service point in Estonia. If there is no Estonian representation in your country of residence, you may apply at another Estonian representation that handles visa applications. Contact the representation before traveling there.
When you submit a D-visa application, your biometric data, including fingerprints, will be collected. A consular officer may request additional documents during the review. Temporary residence permit applications must also be submitted in person.
Step 4. Pay the Visa Fee
The state fee for examining a long-stay D-visa application is EUR 120. A reduced fee of EUR 60 applies to children ages 6–11, and certain applicants are exempt. Residence permit applications have separate state fees, so check the current instructions for your application type.
Step 5. Wait for Approval
If your D-visa application is approved, you will receive a long-stay visa. If your temporary residence permit application is approved, a residence card will be issued. You must continue to meet the conditions of your visa or residence permit throughout its validity.
Do not assume that submitting a visa application allows you to start working. For short-term employment, you must have a legal basis to stay in Estonia and your employer must register your employment with the Police and Border Guard Board before you start work.
Documents Needed for an Estonian Work Visa
Depending on your purpose and the planned length of employment, you may need a long-stay D visa, short-term employment registration, or a temporary residence permit for employment.
A long-stay D visa can be issued for a temporary stay of up to 365 days within 12 consecutive months. For short-term employment, the D visa does not replace your employer’s obligation to register your employment with the Police and Border Guard Board before you start work.
A temporary residence permit for employment is intended for work with a specific employer. It may initially be issued for up to five years and can be extended. In most cases, the employer must obtain consent from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund before the employee applies.
The documents depend on the application type. Review the following lists:
General requirements for a long-stay D visa:
- A travel document issued within the previous 10 years, with at least two blank visa pages and validity for at least three months after the visa expiration date
- A completed and signed long-stay visa application form
- One color photograph sized 35 × 45 mm that meets the required standards and is not older than six months
- Travel medical insurance for the required period
- Proof of sufficient financial means, including evidence of income for the three months immediately before the application
- Documents showing the purpose of the trip, such as an employer confirmation and short-term employment registration
- Travel booking confirmation or proof of another mode of transportation to Estonia
- Required forms concerning close relatives, family members, and biographical data
- Any additional documents requested for your case
General requirements for a temporary residence permit for employment:
- A temporary residence permit application
- Information about close relatives and family members
- An identity document
- One color photograph sized 40 × 50 mm
- Proof of payment of the state fee
- The employer’s invitation and, when required, consent from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund
Additional requirements may apply depending on the type of employment. For example, separate rules apply to researchers, top specialists, startup employees, EU Blue Card applicants, self-employed workers, and intra-company transferees. Review the current official guidance for your category before applying.
For remote workers employed by companies abroad, Estonia offers a Digital Nomad Visa for eligible applicants. Additional information for other occupation types can be found here.
If you plan to bring your family with you, different rules apply depending on your status and the length of your stay. Check the current requirements for family members before applying.
We hope this article on how to get a work visa in Estonia was informative and insightful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
