Estonia Visa Types, Visa Application Process and Costs

Estonia is the northernmost country in the Baltic region of northeastern Europe. It is part of the Schengen Agreement, so its visa policy is determined in accordance with the common Schengen rules. Depending on the purpose of your visit, different visas are available, such as work, family reunification, education or investment visas.

Do I Need a Visa to Go to Estonia?

A short-stay visa allows you to stay in Estonia for 90 days within a 180-day period.

A long-stay D-visa allows you to stay in Estonia for one year. With a national visa, you can apply for a temporary residence permit that allows you to stay in Estonia for a long period.

You do not need a visa to visit Estonia in the following cases: You are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen.

You are from a country that has visa-free travel with Schengen (e.g., USA, UK, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, etc.). In this case, you can only stay in Estonia for 90 days within a 180-day period. For longer stays, you need an Estonian national visa.

Estonian Visa Types

There are different types of Estonian visas depending on the situation:

Estonian Schengen Visa. Allows you to visit Estonia for 90 days within a 180-day period. This visa is issued for short-term visits and tourism purposes. Also, since Estonia is part of the Schengen Agreement, you can visit other Schengen countries with a Schengen visa for Estonia.
Estonian Transit Visa. This visa is issued for passengers who need to transit through an Estonian airport while traveling to a third country. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens do not need a visa to transit through Estonia.
Estonian Work Visa. To work in Estonia, citizens from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland need to apply for a work visa. However, before you plan to apply for a work visa, your employer must register your employment with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens will need to register as an Estonian with the Estonian Population Register and apply for an ID card within the first three months of their stay.
Estonian Student Visa. Anyone who wants to study in Estonia and is not from the EU/EEA/Switzerland needs to apply for a student visa. You can only apply for a student visa after you have been accepted to an Estonian university or other educational institution. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who will be studying in Estonia only need to register their residence with the Local Government authority and apply for an ID card within the first month.
Estonian Family Visa. If you want to join your family members or spouse living in Estonia, you need to apply for an Estonian family visa and a temporary residence permit. It allows you to settle, work, study in Estonia, and enjoy the same residence rights as your family member.
Estonian Investment Visa. If you want to invest in a business in Estonia, you must first apply for an Estonian investment visa and a temporary residence permit.
Estonian Digital Nomad Visa. To allow freelancers to work in Estonia, the authorities have created a special visa known as the Estonian digital nomad visa for this very purpose.
Estonian EU Blue Card. If you are a skilled worker with the right qualifications and are looking for a job in Estonia, you need to apply for an Estonian EU Blue Card residence permit.

Get Information for Company Formation in Estonia

The difference between an Estonian Schengen visa and a long-stay visa is as follows:

Estonian Schengen Visa	Estonian Long-Stay Visa
Issued for 90 days.	Issued for 365 days.
Recommended for short visits, tourism, etc.	Recommended for work, business, and family reunification purposes.
You cannot obtain a residence permit. You must leave Estonia before the visa expires.	You can obtain a residence permit and extend your stay indefinitely.

Get Information on Becoming an E-Resident and Opening a Company in Estonia