Estonia Work Visas & Work Permits [Best Guide]

If your organization is preparing for an expansion into Estonia, a vital part of the process will probably be bringing employees in from outside the country to work on the expansion operation. To do this, each foreign employee will need a valid Estonia work visa.

Obtaining work visas for Estonia can be a difficult process, with various visa options, a different language, and strict requirements all potentially posing barriers.

At Horizons, our foreign expansion specialists offer a wide selection of Estonia work visa services, immigration help, and outsourcing services to give your business everything it needs to expand into Estonia with the help of the best global workers.

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Basic requirements for Estonia work visas

There are several different types of visas for Estonia, but for foreign workers, the general requirements include:

Contract of employment from an Estonia-based employer
Valid passport
Application forms and fees
Passport photos
Biometrics
Medical insurance

Types of Estonia work visas

Estonia is a member of the European Union (EU), so nationals of EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need visas to enter. However, individuals coming from countries outside the EU/EEA do need visas. There are several EU-wide visas that apply to Estonia, but the most commonly used by foreign employees is the Type D visa for long-term stays in the country. How to get an Estonia work visa Applications for Type D visas for Estonia must be done in person. This is possible either through an authorized Estonian government office in the applicant’s home country or at a police station/border office in Estonia. D visas are valid for one year but can be renewed for longer stays. If your employee needs to stay and work in Estonia for more than six months, then they will also need to apply for an Estonian temporary residence permit.

Other considerations

If any of your foreign employees wish to remain in Estonia for the long-term, they can upgrade their temporary residence permit to a long-term residence permit after five years or more.

The exact requirements for any individual’s visa application can vary, so be sure to engage with the process and provide any of the requested information/documentation to avoid the chance of delays.

How can Horizons help?

At Horizons, we support businesses through their expansion into Estonia and we are experts in helping employees obtain Estonian work visas. Our Estonia work visa experts offer reliable advice and custom outsourcing solutions to support you through the country’s complicated immigration process rapidly and effectively. We will ensure that you and your valued employees are in total compliance with Estonia’s immigration and employment laws, save you time, and provide answers to any queries you have throughout the visa process. Beyond visas, we also offer extensive outsourcing services covering recruitment, payroll, HR, administration, and more to help you grow your Estonian operation as efficiently as possible, even if you don’t have a registered Estonian subsidiary.