For citizens of the European Union, EEA and Swiss Confederation
The Citizen of European Union Act regulates the issue of residence permits to the citizens of the EU, EEA and Swiss Confederation (hereafter EU) and their family members.
A citizen of the EU may stay in Estonia without a residence permit:
- for up to three months as of the date of his or her arrival in Estonia, also if he or she is employed or engaged in business in Estonia;
- if he or she is employed in another member state of the EU but resides in Estonia and returns to Estonia at least once a week;
- if he or she is a seasonal worker in Estonia;
- for up to six months for the purpose of seeking employment if he or she has registered the employment seeking pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Employment Service Act
In the cases not provided for above, citizens of the EU and their family members shall hold residence permits to stay in Estonia.
A residence permit for engagement in business shall be issued to a citizen of the EU for participation in a company or activities as a sole proprietor, if the company or sole proprietor is registered pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Commercial Code.
A residence permit for employment and engagement in business shall be issued for five years.
Citizens of the EU do not need a separate permit to work in Estonia.
Additional information
Citizen of European Union Act: http://www.legaltext.ee/et/andmebaas/tekst.asp?loc=text&dok=X70007K1&keel=en&pg=1&ptyyp=RT&tyyp=X&query=Citizen+of+European+Union+Act
Estonian Commercial Code: http://www.legaltext.ee/et/andmebaas/tekst.asp?loc=text&dok=X0001K17&keel=en&pg=1&ptyyp=RT&tyyp=X&query=%E4riseadustik
Employment Service Act: http://www.legaltext.ee/et/andmebaas/tekst.asp?loc=text&dok=X40049K3&keel=en&pg=1&ptyyp=RT&tyyp=X&query=employment+service+act
Citizenship and Migration Board: http://www.mig.ee
For third country nationals
The Aliens Act regulates the issue of residence and work permits to third country nationals and persons with undetermined citizenship.
Residence permits
Residence permit may be temporary (validity period up to five years) or long-term.
Temporary residence permit may be issued to an alien:
- married to a person with permanent residence in Estonia;
- for settling down with a close relative permanently residing in Estonia;
- for working;
- for studies at an Estonian educational institution;
- for business;
- whose permanent legal income ensures his or her subsistence in Estonia;
- whose application for residence permit is based on an international agreement.
A temporary residence permit may be extended if the basis for the permit has not changed and the application is justified. In order to extend a temporary residence permit the applicant may visit the regional office of the Citizenship and Migration Board or submit his or her application by post. An alien residing in Estonia on the basis of a temporary residence permit, who desires to stay outside Estonia for more than 183 days per year, shall register his or her absence from Estonia at the Citizenship and Migration Board.
A long-term residence permit may be issued to an alien:
- who has stayed in Estonia permanently on the basis of temporary residence permit for at least five years;
- holds a valid temporary residence permit;
- has registered residence, health insurance and permanent legal income for subsistence in Estonia;
- has knowledge of the Estonian language at least at a basic level.
Work permits
All people who are not citizens of the EU, the EEA and the Swiss Confederation need a work permit to work in Estonia with the exception of:
- aliens with long-term residence permits;
- aliens who have residence permits for employment;
- aliens who have applied for a residence permit before 12 July 1995 and who have obtained such a permit;
- imprisoned persons during their stay in prison;
- members of locomotive crews;
- staff serving in locomotives and trains;
- drivers for taking passengers or cargo over state borders;
- aliens who hold a residence permit for settling with a close relative who is residing permanently in Estonia;
- aliens who hold a residence permit for settling with a spouse;
- aliens who hold a residence permit issued on the basis of an international agreement.
Short-term employment in Estonia
In certain cases aliens may work in Estonia for short periods of time (up to six months) without a work permit. Such employment must still be registered with the Citizenship and Migration Board.
In certain cases involving short-term employment, employers are obliged to pay an alien a fee to an amount at least equal to the average monthly salary in the field in which the employer primarily operates in Estonia, as most recently published by the Statistical Office, but not less than the average annual gross monthly salary in Estonia most recently published by the Statistical Office multiplied by a coefficient of 1.24. The basis for determining an employer's primary area of operation is the Classification of Estonian Economic Activities code of the Statistical Office.
An alien may work in Estonia as a member of the management body of a legal entity registered in Estonia, in order to fulfill management and supervision functions for up to six months in a year without a work permit or a residence permit for the purpose of employment and without being registered with the Citizenship and Migration Board under short-term employment, provided they have a legal basis for residing in Estonia, not including a residence permit.
For application please contact the Citizenship and Migration Board: http://www.mig.ee
Additional information
Aliens Act: http://www.legaltext.ee/et/andmebaas/tekst.asp?loc=text&dok=X1019K13&keel=en&pg=1&ptyyp=RT&tyyp=X&query=Aliens+Act
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