To facilitate doing business in Estonia, there is a residence permit for business program in place. It is possible to apply for a temporary residence permit for business:

• under general conditions – if you have a holding in a company or you operate as a sole proprietor and you have invested in business activity in Estonia at least 65,000 euros of capital (in the case of a self-employed person, 16,000 euros). The company’s equity capital, subordinated liability and the amount of registered fixed assets can be regarded as constituting investment
• for conducting business at a startup – the startup company must have been previously evaluated by the expert committee, unless a specification applies. You can find more information on the evaluation and specifications of startups on the webpage of Police and Border Guard Board or on the webpage of Startup Estonia
• as a major investor – if you have made a direct investment of at least 1,000,000 euros in a company entered into the commercial register of Estonia that invests mostly into the Estonian economy, or an investment in an investment fund, according to the investment policy of which the instruments of the fund are invested mainly in the companies entered into the commercial register of Estonia. You can find more information on the conditions of applying for residence permit as a major investor on the webpage of the Police and Border Guard Board

For submitting an application, please address in person a foreign representation of the Republic of Estonia. If you have a legal basis for staying in Estonia, you may submit the application at the Police and Border Guard Board office. For that you need to make a reservation.

If you have any questions regarding residence permits, please contact a migration advisor.

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Imagine yourself living in a society where your input is valued and all your out-of-the-box ideas truly cherished. Imagine living in a clean, safe and tech-savvy country together with educated people who value innovation and forward-looking ideas.

Estonia is one of Europe’s most spacious countries. With a territory roughly matching that of the Netherlands, it is home to only 1.3 million people.

In Estonia you are never more than a 30-minute drive away from a forest or a lake.

The living environment is very clean, relaxed and safe. According to the World Health Organization, Estonia has the best overall air quality in the entire world.

Despite of its size, you would still take a lifetime to enjoy all the galleries, theatres, concerts, festivals, markets, fairs and beaches this country has to offer.

In Estonia most everyday tasks are carried out digitally. From online banking to e-school and digital prescriptions, our public services run efficiently and smoothly.

The clean environment comes with an added bonus: natural and organic foods are Estonia’s priority. This means you’ll always know what you are eating, and will feel good.

You don’t have to break a bank to rent or buy real estate in here. Both modern and more historic accommodation have remained affordable. You’ll also find it quite easy to find a place with a park or a forest nearby.

Estonians work hard and party well. The organisational work-ethic is very high in this part of the world, but everyone also knows how to relax. As proof, new and surprising entertainment venues pop up in every season all over the country.

To find out more about living in Estonia, visit the Living in Estonia section of Work in Estonia webpage.

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