Estonia — Residency: Work Visa

Key facts

• The employer must be registered in Estonia and obtain a permit from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund to recruit the foreign national.
• The employer must pay at least the average gross salary in Estonia, with exceptions; the PBGB salary table for applications from 5 March 2026 to March 2027 lists the 1.0 rate at 2092.
• Where no specific salary rate applies, pay must cover the applicant subsistence in Estonia.
• New permits are limited by an immigration quota of about 0.1% of the permanent population a year, with exemptions such as top specialists; confirm current exemptions with the PBGB.

Steps

1. Step 1: Determine Eligibility — Contact the Estonian Employment Bureau or a lawyer to determine eligibility for a work visa.
2. Step 2: Find an Employer — Find an employer in Estonia who is willing to sponsor the work visa.
3. Step 3: Apply for a Work Visa — Submit the work visa application to the Estonian Immigration and Passport Service (PID)
4. Step 4: Register with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (EMT) — Register with the EMT to obtain a tax identification number and register for value-added tax (VAT)
5. Step 5: Register with the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (HHF) — Register with the HHF to obtain mandatory health insurance