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Digital Nomad Visa for Estonia: how to get it?
In this article, we are going to tell you all about it, how to apply it, what tools you will need to be a Digital Nomad, and more.
July 30, 2023
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If you are planning to get a visa for your next destination and work remotely, we recommend the Digital Nomad Visa for Estonia.
In this article, we are going to tell you all about it, how to apply for it, what tools you will need to be a Digital Nomad, and more. Keep reading!
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What is the Digital Nomad Visa?
It is a permit that the Estonian government provides to any foreign citizen to live and work remotely in the country for a maximum period of one year.
This Visa, approved in 2020, is part of the e-Residency program that has been operating since 2014, to turn the country into a digital nation. For this reason, the government opens the doors to digital workers who want to stay in the country to work for a while.
What’s the difference between the Digital Nomad Visa and the e-Residency program?
The e-Residency program lets anyone get a digital identity valid to establish or manage a business in Estonia 100% online. This means that this program does not grant residence or work permits in Estonia, or the European Union either.
On the other hand, the Digital Nomad Visa does allow remote workers to legally stay in the country for a period of six months to a year. For this, they will have to demonstrate that they are digital nomads, meeting the requirements that you can find in the list below:
Digital nomad visa requirements in Estonia
Check that you apply in one of these three categories:
1. You work for a foreign employer (public or private)
*In the case of working for a company, a certification from the employer authorizing remote work, indicates the position and tasks to be performed.
2. You are a partner or shareholder of a foreign company
*Certificate that demonstrates the legality of the company for which you work or are a shareholder of.
3. You offer freelance services or consultancies abroad
*In the case of providing services without a contract, written evidence that demonstrates services as a freelance worker.
If you meet the requirements we mentioned, you must get the following documents:
- Identity document and valid passport
- 35x45mm photo
- Criminal record
- Fill out the online Visa application form (Visa D)
- Present a letter with the reasons why you want to request this visa
- Tax and social security payment certificates, issued by a competent authority issued in the country of residence in recent years.
- Documents proving a monthly income of €4,500 in the last six months, specifying: amount, periodicity, and origin. (Can be bank statements)
- Certificates of study and professional experience
- Health insurance policy valid in Estonia, during the period of validity of the visa
This information was consulted on the e-Residency page of the Estonian government.
Usual recommendations to apply for the Digital Nomad Visa
- Valid passport and ID
- Apostilled documents with an issue date of no more than 3 months (from the moment of the visa application)
- Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Estonian, Russian, or English, by a sworn translator
- D Visa fee: €100 / children from 6 to 11 years old €40. Check this link to make the payment.
Advantages of the Estonian visa for digital nomads
- Right to a temporary stay in Estonia
- You can work with Estonian companies (remotely only)
- The e-Residency is not a prerequisite to getting the Digital Nomad Visa
- There are no eligibility restrictions or number of approved visas
- Holders of a VND can process permits for their family (husband/wife, children under 18 years of age, or people with disabilities)
- Permission to enter the Member States of the Schengen territory
Disadvantages of Estonian visa for digital nomads
- The Digital Nomad Visa does not represent a permanent residence permit in Estonia.
- You must prove you have income over €4,500 (not including taxes)
- It does not apply to citizens of the European Union (EU); citizens of the Swiss confederation; or the European Economic Area (EEA).
- You have to go in person to an Estonian embassy or representative office. This means that if there is no consulate or embassy in your country, you must travel to the closest one.
How to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa in Estonia?
You have 3 official ways to apply for the digital nomad visa:
- Estonian Embassies in Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Astana, Canberra, Beijing, Dublin, Cairo, Kyiv, London, Minsk, Moscow, New Delhi, New York, Ottawa, San Francisco, Tbilisi, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo
- Police and Border Guard Office
- VFS office that has been granted the right to manage visas on behalf of Estonia in the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Ukraine.
(You may also be interested in the best eSIM for Kyiv)
Visa response time for Digital Nomads
The competent authority will review the entirety of this application and will verify the validity of the information provided by the applicant. This process will take 15-30 business days and you will be notified if you need to go to an embassy or office to validate your identity and hand over the Estonian Digital Nomad Visa.
Does the holder of a Digital Nomad Visa have tax obligations?
If the visa holder stays for 183 consecutive days, he will be considered a tax resident. Here you will find the service channels so that you can clarify your doubts about taxes and customs.
Important information about visas in Estonia
In Estonia, there are two types of visas:
1. Visa for short stays “C” (You cannot stay longer than 90 days)
2. Visa for long stays “D” (You can stay up to 365 days)
We invite you to visit the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Estonian government to check the type of visa you should apply for, depending on the number of days you need.
What are the work tools for Digital Nomads?
Countries that currently have visas for Digital Nomads have two important conditions to grant the remote work permit and temporary stays to foreign citizens in their country:
- Confirm that those interested are remote workers.
- Make sure they have the necessary tools and technology to regularly carry out their remote work.
Required tools for Digital Nomads
Internet connection: In Estonia, you will find internet and cellphone technology so that you can connect throughout a large part of the sovereign territory. However, you will have to find a solution that lets you keep an internet connection on your cellphone all the time.
Technology resources: Make sure you bring a high-quality laptop, an external hard drive to increase storage capacity; a power bank because you can’t run out of battery, a power adapter, and headphones so you can attend your meetings.
Tools to manage projects: Trello, Shortcut, Miro, Notion, and ClickUp are examples of some apps that will let you organize your daily activities and manage the fulfillment of the proposed objectives with your clients or employers.
Which is the best way to have the internet in Estonia?
Digital Nomads usually use prepaid SIM cards, pocket Wi-Fi or expensive roaming services, but the benefits and prices can vary depending on the provider they choose, including the terms and conditions of their services.
But there is no doubt that to be a Digital Nomad, you have to be well-informed, and that is the reason why many people and Digital Nomads recommend the eSIM card with cellular data to get the internet wherever you go without wasting time signing up for websites or subscriptions to get a data plan.
We invite you to visit the Holafly official website. Also, thanks to the addition of new features to the Holafly eSIM, now it also offers phone calls for those who are traveling around Europe, and as a digital nomad, having access to phone calls with an eSIM is perfect!
Finally…
You have to know that Estonia was the first country to approve the Visa for Digital Nomads in 2020; and since then, more than 40 countries have joined this initiative; which has had a positive impact on the national economy of each country and also beneficial Digital Workers who arrive in their territories.
Don’t waste any more time and become a citizen of the world!
Frequent questions about the Digital Nomad Visa in Estonia
It is a permit that the Estonian government grants to any foreign citizen to live and work remotely in the country, for a maximum period of one year.
In Estonia, digital nomads have two options. The long-stay D visa lets you stay for one year; while the short-stay C visa is valid for 90 days. It depends on the time you are going to stay in the country.
You can only complete the application form online. Once you’re finished, you will have to print it, sign it, and have the documents delivered to an Estonian government representative office.
You must legally travel to a country that has an Estonian government representative office, in case you are applying for the D visa. You can also apply for a tourist visa and travel directly to Estonia to deliver the documents.
