On 01.01.2020 the Estonian population was 1 328 976. For a small country like Estonia, every person is valuable if they are participating in economic activity. Therefore for some years, Estonia has cultivated an open immigration policy, especially towards specific interest groups. Our immigration policy has a welcoming attitude towards entrepreneurs, people working in IT positions, top specialists earning 2814+ euros, and people working in our startups. 

Quick basics of immigration

Before jumping into the specifics of one often overlooked opportunity, let's go over the basics: legal grounds to enter and stay in Estonia vs legal grounds to work. Anyone interested in Estonia first must evaluate if they have a legal ground to enter Estonia and for what duration these legal grounds enable them to stay. This could either be the right of residence for EU citizens, visa-freedom for some special countries, short-term C-visa (most often a tourism visa), a long-stay D-visa, or a temporary/ long-term residence permit. Unfortunately, legal ground to stay in Estonia does not always mean that the person also has the right to work. To achieve the right to work, there are some things the new employer could do or some immigration options to receive a residence permit that makes working in Estonia legal. 

Statistics

If we look at 2019. numbers, there were over 144 000 C-visas given out by Estonia that allowed them to enter and stay in the Schengen area for 90 days in a period of 6 months. In addition to that, during the same year, a bit over 25 600 D-visas were given out that allowed them to stay in Estonia for up to 1 year and additionally also travel and stay in the Schengen area for 90 days in the period of 6 months. Compared to 2018, the C-visas given out has increased by 13% and D-visas given out has increased by 35%. For both visas, groups exist an option to have legal grounds to work for up to 1 year in the period of 1,25 years if the employer registers the foreigners' short-term employment. In 2019, more than 32 000 people had their short-term employment registered. Compared to 2018, the number of short-term employment registrations has increased by 39%. From the top 5 countries to have C-visas, D-visas, and short-term employment registrations both Belarus and Russia were among the nationalities most represented. 

For non-EU people who are interested in a long term legal ground to stay in Estonia, they should be looking for a temporary residence permit. The residence permit is a legal way to live in Estonia and it can be applied for either staying with a spouse, studying, employment, entrepreneurship, etc. Unfortunately, it is not as easy and not all jobs can give a person access to a residence permit for employment. On the 1st of January 2020, there were 30 917 people in Estonia with a valid temporary residence permit. For example, the 2 nationalities who have the most number of TRP's in Estonia are Russians and Ukrainians. Year after year, the number of first-time temporary residence permits, given out, has been on the increase. From 2015 to 2017, the yearly increase of first time TRPs was around 6%, yet the increase in 2018 and 2019 was around 18%. 

Permit offering independence from sponsor

In 2016 Estonia introduced a new basis for a temporary residence permit: a temporary residence permit for permanently settling-in. This is meant for foreigners who in the past 5 years have stayed in Estonia based on a temporary residence permit for at least 3 years. 

In 4 years, it has been given out in total for 8072 foreigners who were fortunate in proving that they have been successful in adapting to Estonia and have set up their life here. Estonia has not put too much advertisement effort in promoting this legal way to get grounds to stay and work in Estonia. People who have this type of temporary residence permit are allowed to work in Estonia without any salary criteria and as their permit is not sponsored by an employer, they do not have any worry about what will happen to their legal grounds to stay in the country, once their employment ends. The permit can be given out for a maximum of 5 years and it can be renewed up to 10 years. 

What do you need to apply?

Make sure that you check the requirements:

✨ In the past 5 years you have had valid temporary residence permits covering at least 3 years;

• The 3 years do not have to be consecutive, but they do have to be backed by a temporary residence permit. Therefore any period staying here on your visa or visa-freedom, does not count.

• PS! Currently, there is still an exception for people who have obtained a master's or doctoral degree in Estonia! 

✨ You are well settled;

✨ Your temporary residence permits have been in accordance with the rules;

• meaning on the duration of your permit, you have had a valid address registration or if you were registered as employed then you received legal income etc.

✨ You have a legal income or sufficient funds to cover your living expenses. It is perfectly fine if you have savings or some recurring income outside of employment;

• The threshold for sufficient funds is 130 euros per month. Meaning if you are applying for a 5 year permit, in theory you should have 7800 euros to show as funds to cover your living expenses. There is also an alternative of having a solid explanation on planned ways to cover expenses.

✨ You have a valid health insurance coverage

• either access to Estonian public insurance or have private insurance. For private insurance you would need to have at least a 6000 euro coverage.

How can I apply?

Preparing your documentation for the immigration purposes is always very important to get correctly. Therefore my warm recommendation is to make sure that you know what you are doing, as having misleading or dodgy immigration documentation on your record will most certainly not have any positive impact.

To apply for the permit, prepare the following documents:

• Fill in the temporary residence permit application;

• Fill in a family form about your immediate family members;

• Have a valid passport;

• Have or take a digital photo at the Police Board;

• Pay the state fee of 64 euros;

• Have a written motivational letter to prove you have settled in well in Estonia.

Good thing is that you do not have to go to the Police Board in-person to apply, therefore it is as easy as making sure you fit the requirements and fill the paperwork correctly. After submitting the application and waiting 2 months for the Police Board decision, you can feel more secure of not having your life connected to your employer, but also you are 1 step closer to Estonian long-term residence permit.