Estonia Visa Step by step guide to apply

Estonia Visa grants its holder direct access through their border and right to be accepted on arrival. The country of Estonia is located in the Baltic region of north-eastern Europe and is the most northern country in the region. 

Due to the fact that it is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, its visa policy is to some extent influenced by the general Schengen regulations.

Different visas, such as those for work, family reunification, study, or investment, may be obtained by visitors to the country, depending on the reason for their trip.

If you wish to travel to Estonia, you must first determine whether or not an Estonian visa is required for your trip. If you are a citizen of a nation that requires visas, you have the option of applying for either a short-stay or a long-stay visa.

Estonia Visa

Do I Need an Estonia Visa?

If you are a citizen of a country that is not a member of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland and does not have a visa-free travel agreement with Schengen, you will be required to obtain an Estonia visa to visit the country. 

You are welcome to submit an application for a Visa:

• If you have a visa for a short stay, you can visit Estonia for a total of 90 days within 180 days.

• Long-stay If you have a D visa, you are allowed to stay in Estonia for a whole year. You will need a national visa in order to apply for a temporary residence permit, which will allow you to remain in Estonia for an extended period of time.

If any of the following apply to you, traveling to Estonia does not require a visa:

1. You were born in either Switzerland or the EU/EEA.
2. You come from a nation that has visa liberalization with the Schengen area. In this particular scenario, the maximum amount of time you can spend in Estonia within a period of 180 days is 90 days. For stays of three months or more, you are required to have an Estonian national visa.

Different kinds of Estonia Visa

Depending on the nature of your visit to Estonia, one of the following visa types may be appropriate for you:

• Estonia Schengen Visa. It will allow you to stay in Estonia for a total of 90 days within 180 days. This visa is for tourism and short visits to other countries. In addition, given that Estonia is a signatory to the Schengen Agreement, if you have a valid visa for Estonia, you will also be able to travel to any of the other countries that are part of the Schengen area.

• Estonia Transit Visa. This visa is given to passengers who have a layover in an Estonian airport as part of their journey to another country. Citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland do not require a visa to transit through Estonia.

• Estonia Work Visa. Citizens of countries that are not part of the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland are required to submit an application for a work visa in order to be eligible for employment in Estonia. 

• Before you can submit an application for a work visa in Estonia, your employer is required to first register your employment with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland are required to register as residents of Estonia in the Population Register of Estonia and apply for an ID card within the first three months of their stay.

• Estonia Student Visa. All those who want to study in Estonia and are not from the EU/EEA/Swiss need to apply for a student visa. You can only apply for a student visa only after being accepted into an Estonian university or other educational institution. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens who will study in Estonia only have to register their residence at the Local Government authority and apply for an ID card within the first month.

• Estonia Family Visa. If you want to join your family members or partner living in Estonia, you must apply for an Estonia family visa and a temporary residence permit. It allows you to settle in Estonia, work, study, and enjoy the same residency rights as your family member.

• Estonia 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.

• Estonia Digital Nomad Visa. To allow freelancers work in Estonia, the authorities have created a special visa just for this purpose, which is known as the Estonia digital nomad visa.

Difference Between Estonia Schengen Visa and Long-Term Visa

The difference between an Estonia Schengen visa and a long-term visa is that:

Estonia Schengen Visa

1. Is issued for 90 days.
2. It is recommended more for short visits, for tourism, etc.
3. You are not able to obtain a residence permit. You must leave Estonia before the visa expires. You can obtain a residence permit, and exend your stay indefinitely.

Estonia Long-Term Visa

1. It is issued for 365 days.
2. It is recommended more for study, work, business, and family reunion purposes.
3. Required Documents for an Estonia Visa

There are a few documents that are required when applying for an Estonian visa, such as:

• A valid passport. The passport must be valid at least three months beyond the return date with two blank pages. Include a copy of previous visas (if any) (if any).

• Application form. You must fill out the application form online, print a hard copy, and sign it at the end. Make sure you fill out the application form sincerely and with all the required information.

• Two passport-sized photos. A full-face photo with a bright background. The photo must be taken within the last six months and follow the Schengen visa photo guidelines.

• Schengen Medical insurance. Valid health insurance with at least €30,000 coverage within Estonia and the Schengen area.

• A cover letter. The cover letter must explain the purpose of your visit to Estonia, the flight date and time, the return date, etc.

• Proof of accommodation. Document proof that you have a place to stay in Estonia. This document can be a:

• Civil status. Document proving your civil status if you are married (marriage certificate), if you have a child (birth certificate of the child), or death certificate of the spouse (if applicable) (if applicable).

• Bank statement. This is a document issued from your bank, and it must prove that you have at least €100 every day for the whole time you are staying in Estonia.

• Biometric (fingerprints) . When submitting the requested documents to the embassy or consulate, you must submit your fingerprints.

Estonia Visa Application Process

Follow these steps when applying for an Estonia visa:

• Contact the consulate/embassy of Estonia in your home country and book an appointment. If there is no consulate or embassy of Estonia in your country, you can contact another Schengen country’s consulate representing Estonian interests and book an appointment.

• Complete the application form. Fill out the application form through Estonia’s online visa system. Download it, sign it at the end and submit it with all other requested documents to the consulate or embassy.

• Pay for the fee. You must pay the application fee when submitting the documents. The cost of the fee changes depending on the type of visa you apply for or your nationality. Make sure you attach the receipt of payment to other requested documents.

• Submit the documents. Submit all the required documents listed below. Make sure you translate the documents into Estonian or English.

• Wait for a response. You will receive a response via email or SMS from the embassy or consulate with your visa result.

Estonia Visa Application Processing Time

The processing time for an Estonia visa is 15 to 60 days. However, the processing time depends on when you submit the documents or your specific case. 

Therefore, ensure you fulfill all the requested steps, so there are no delays in your visa response.

What Can I Do If My Estonian Visa Application Is Refused?

If your visa application for Estonia is refused, you can:

• Re-apply for the same visa one more time.

• Apply for a Schengen visa to another Schengen country and visit Estonia with the same visa.

• Appeal the decision. You can appeal the decision within 30 days of your visa rejection by following the instructions on the visa rejection letter. You must pay a fee of €20 when you appeal the rejection.

The main reasons why your Estonian visa can be refused are:

• If you have a past or a current criminal record.

• If you have false travel documentation.

• If you have a damaged passport.

• If any of the required documents are missing.

• If you have any incorrect information in your application form.

• If you don’t attend your visa appointment on time.

• If you don’t have proof of accommodation.

• If you don’t have a return flight ticket.

• If you lie at your interview for your visit purpose.

How Long Can I Stay in Estonia With a Visa?

Depending on how long you plan to stay in Estonia and what type of visa you apply for, you can stay in Estonia for 90 days with a short-stay visa or one year with a long-stay visa. You can calculate your short stays in Estonia online by using the visa calculator.

Estonia Visa Extension

If you want to stay in Estonia for longer than three months, you can:

Apply for a long-stay visa. The long-stay visa will allow you to stay in Estonia for one year. You can work, study and stay in Estonia with a long-term visa.

Apply for an extension of your Schengen visa. Extensions for a Schengen visa are granted only under certain conditions, such as humanitarian reasons.

Estonia Visa Fees

You can finish the payment for the visa fee at the embassy/consulate of Estonia in your home country when submitting the documents. However, the Estonia visa fees can change depending on the type of visa you apply for, your age, or your location.

• A short-stay visa is €80.

• A long-stay visa is €100.

• An airport transit visa is €80.

• A Schengen visa for minors under the age of 15 is €40.

Hot Tips: Attach the receipt of the payment to your Estonian visa application after concluding the fee payment.

Estonia National (Long-Stay) Visas

Estonia extended stay visas are provided for up to a year, depending on the reason of your stay. 

It can be provided for job, study, family reunification, retirement, or investments. In addition to that, the validity of this category of visa can be prolonged or changed into a permit for temporary residence.

You have the ability to travel within Schengen for up to three months if you have a visa designated for long-term stays (D).

Important Facts About Estonia

Before you go, here are some interesting things you should know about Estonia:

• There are relatively few people living in Estonia because more than half of the country is covered in forest. On the other hand, it also indicates that a variety of species consider Estonia to be their native home.

• Kuressaare, located in Estonia, has more than 1,200 spa beds, making it the town with the highest concentration of spas in the world.

• In Estonia, there is a sport known as "Wife Carrying," in which male athletes compete in obstacle courses while carrying a female teammate.

• It is well-known around the world that Estonia has the highest number of supermodels per capita.

• Estonia has spa issues.

• The collection of Estonian national folk songs, which numbers over 133,000, is considered to be the largest of its kind in the world.

• It is believed that Estonians, both men and women, are the third tallest people in the world.

Covid 19 Tips

Many nations still have entry restrictions and closed borders. If you need assistance planning your travels, please visit the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Centre website. 

Before leaving for the airport, you are encouraged to check with your airline or travel agency to make sure that your flight routes are still operating because the measures implemented could cause flight cancellations and a decrease in flight frequency.

For further travel details regarding the locations, you can also consult the MFA Travel Information pages.

Information for Incoming and Outgoing Travellers

• Under the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF), all countries/regions will be classified under the General Travel or Restricted Category and accord border measures by individual traveller’s vaccination status. Currently, all countries/regions come under the General Travel Category. There are no countries/regions in the Restricted Category at the moment.

• Advisory for Belgian students studying overseas can be found on the MOE website and the Travel Advisory on the MOH website. Common concerns pertaining to the advisory have been addressed here. FAQs on the MOH website (under Border Measures) also provide information for students on overseas studies.

• Updates on Belgium's border control measures in response to COVID-19 can be found on the ICA website. Information on the SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration can be found here.

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