Primarily there are only three types of visas for Estonia:
| Visa Category (Non-EU citizens) | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Schengen Visa (short-term) | A Schengen visa (short-term), also known as a C-type visa, allows you to stay in any of the Schengen countries for up to 90 days within six months. The Schengen visa allows you to visit other Schengen countries besides Estonia, such as Switzerland, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Latvia, Portugal, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Austria. Sweden, Norway, Malta, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and Poland. In addition, you are not subject to any restrictions on the time you can enter or leave the Schengen area. |
| Criteria to getting Schengen Visa (short-term) | Documents required for employees applying for a short term visa other than the basic documents are:Employment contract.Current bank statement of the last 6 months.Leave permission from the employer.Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary. |
| National Visa (long-term) | The national type visa, also known as D-visa, allows you to remain within the nation of Estonia for a duration of 91 days to 180 days during a six-month duration. The Visa D is often issued for seasonal workers, short-term workers, researchers, volunteers, guest researchers, and students, among others. |
| Criteria to Get National Visa | A travel document issued within 10 years, containing at least two blank pages with a minimum of three months validity after the expiration of the visa.Completed and signed application form.Insurance policy covering all the expenses for illness or injury until the validity of the visa. In the case of a multiple entry visa, the insurance should cover until the end of the first intended period of stay.Confirmation from the employer or registration of short-term employment.A 35×45 mm photoBiometrical data (10 fingerprints) during submission of the applicationFee – General, EUR 100, children 6-11 years, EUR 40. |
| Transit Visa | Compared to the other mentioned visas, a transit visa is completely different. While a transit visa allows you to enter the country, you can only do so for a brief time. It means it’s only issued for a couple of days at maximum. The purpose of issuing a transit visa is to enhance travel experience and convenience. |
| Criteria to Get Transit Visa | Visa in the transit countryCopy of the valid visa for the final destination |
| National Visa (long-term) | If you’re a citizen of the EU, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), or Switzerland, you are authorized to enter Estonia without a visa. If you would like to live or work in Estonia for around 3 months, you can register as an Estonian resident within the Population Register of Estonia during the primary 3 months of your stay. |
Work Permits in Estonia
| Can you apply Work Permit in Estonia? | Yes |
| Processing time | 2-4 weeks |
| Work Permit Process | Step 1: We apply for the Employment permit. Step 2: Ministry of Foreign Affairs approves the work permit. Step 3: The employee enters Estonia with a Schengen visa. Step 4: Police and Border Guard Board approves residence permit. Step 5: Start working in Estonia. |
| Work Permit Validity | 6 months (single/multiple entries). |
| Work Permit Process for Different Countries | The work permit process is broadly divided into EU and non-EU segments. Here is a list of Estonian representations which are handling visa applications. |
| Where is the Application Processed | The application would be processed in the employees home country |
| Work Permit Restrictions | You can find the information on the limitations and obligations of an employer here. |
| When Can Employee Travel to Estonia | An employee can travel to Estonia once they receive the Schengen visa approved by the Estonian embassy, based out of the employee’s home country. This letter has a pre-approved single-entry visa for the employee that gives the employer 6 months to get the employee to Estonia and have the permits issued. |
| What’s the Cost of Business Visa | EUR 300 |
| Duration of Business Visa Processing | 2 weeks |
| Switch Business Visa to Work Permit | No |
| Can Spouses Work on Dependent Visas? | No |
| Termination of Work Permit | The extension or refusal to extend the temporary residence permit is made 10 days before the expiry of the validity term of the temporary residence permit. The residence card is issued at the Service Office found on the application form. |