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This article gives a review of Estonia Digital Nomad Visa: The Complete Guide for 2024.
Estonia has a reputation as a digital-forward country, having developed an efficient online voting system as early as 2005.
And you might ask: Which was the first country to launch an official digital nomad visa? Of course, it was Estonia.
The country launched the digital nomad visa program in August 2020. This paved the way for digital nomads all over the world to stream in this tiny European country.
As a remote worker or digital nomad, you would easily fit in such an advanced digital environment. With an Estonia digital nomad visa, you can live and work remotely in the country as long as your employer is located outside Estonia.
And the interesting thing is that you have the option to choose from two digital nomad visas. The type C digital nomad visa is tailored for digital nomads who are on a short visit to the country.
They can stay up to 90 days. The other Estonia digital nomad visa is type D, which allows holders to stay in the country for up to one year.
In this guide, we will discuss in detail Estonia’s digital nomad visa, including the eligibility criteria, requirements, how to apply for the visa, and its benefits.
So, keep reading to learn more about this fantastic visa program.
Requirements for the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa
Before you can apply for an Estonian digital nomad visa, you should familiarize yourself with the eligibility requirements. The main requirements include:
- You should be employed by a company registered outside Estonia.
- You are only expected to work remotely using the internet.
- You should be over 18 years old.
- You need to show proof of being a digital nomad or freelancer.
- You should show proof of financial sufficiency. In other words, you need to earn at least €3,504 per month.
- Be an employer, shareholder, or partner in a company registered outside Estonia.
Required Documents
Besides meeting the above criteria, you should also be armed with the necessary documents to support your applications. Here is a list of Estonia digital nomad visa required documents:
- Application form: You should visit the relevant application portal and fill out the application form. After that, you should sign and print the document.
- Valid passport: Part of the application involves submitting your passport. Your passport should last at least three months after the intended return date and should have at least two blank pages.
- Two passport-sized photos: Like most European digital nomad visas, your photos should meet Schengen visa photo criteria.
- Letter from your employer: It is a requirement to submit a letter from your employer showing that your employer allows you to work remotely.
- Work contract: Besides showing your letter from your employer, you should also present your work contract with an employer based outside Estonia.
- Proof of accommodation: Before you can secure a digital nomad visa, you need to make arrangements for your accommodation while in the country. In this case, you should submit a reservation or rental agreement together with your other application documents.
- Proof of sufficient financials means: You should show your bank’s account statement for the last six months. The statement should show that you have the financial capacity to support yourself while you’re in Estonia.
- Proof of health insurance: You should arrange for your health insurance to cover you for the period you are in Estonia. Your health insurance should have coverage of at least €30,000.
- In some cases, you may need to present your academic certificates, for instance, your diploma or degree certificate.
Applying for the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa
There are three ways in which you can apply for an Estonian digital nomad visa:
- Apply via Estonian embassy or consulate: Just like many visas, you can apply for your digital nomad visa through the Estonian embassy or consulate by booking an appointment and submitting all the required documents.
- Apply through a police and border guard office in Estonia: You can enter Estonia visa-free if you don’t require a Schengen visa to enter the country. In this case, you need to submit your documents directly to the Estonian Police and Border Guard.
- You can apply through a VFS office: You can visit any VFS office in the USA, Australia, Ukraine, Canada, or Japan and submit your application. This office has the right to handle digital visa applications on behalf of Estonian authorities.
Once your application is successful, you can enter the country and apply for an e-Residency card. You will get this card from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.
With the card, you can access public e-services as well as the EU business environment.
Are there benefits to the Estonian Digital Nomad Visa Program?
Yes, there are so many benefits to holding such a visa. Here are just a couple of them:
- Friendly weather: The country enjoys mild weather, with relatively cold winters and warm summers.
- Stable internet connection: As a digital nomad, you need a fast and reliable internet connection. The good news is that Estonia offers just that.
- Visa-free travel across Europe: A holder of an Estonia digital nomad visa can travel freely within the Schengen area, just like locals. But note that you can stay in a Schengen country for a maximum of three months in a six-month period.
- Affordable cost of living: Estonia is relatively affordable when compared to most western European countries. So, depending on your lifestyle, you are likely to enjoy a cheaper cost of living.
- Tax incentive: If you are not intending to stay in the country for more than 183 days, then you will be exempt from paying taxes.
- Language: Most locals in Estonia speak more than one language. So, you are more likely to find more people speaking English.
- A digitized environment: As mentioned earlier, Estonia is far ahead when it comes to adopting digital technologies in nearly all sectors, including even the government. In fact, you can access most of these things online.
- Clean environment: Estonia is generally clean and eco-friendly. People take recycling seriously here, and nearly half of the country is covered with forests.
- Live in a safe environment: Estonia is one of the safest countries to live in. The crime rate here is low.
- Enjoy all the Estonian gems. Estonia offers a range of adventures and stunning landscapes. The country is generally beautiful. So, you will enjoy a lot while traversing the country. For instance, you can visit the Rakvere and Narva castles, Soomaa national park, and Hiiumaa island, among many others.
The Cost of the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa
The application fee for your Estonian digital nomad visa will vary based on the type of visa you choose.
- For a type C visa, the visa application fee is €80.
- For a type D visa, the application fee is €100.
Processing Time for the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa
The application process for an Estonian digital nomad visa is fairly fast. Typically, it takes two weeks to one month. However, this duration can extend up to two months in some cases.
So, it is always advisable to understand the visa requirements and submit all the documents.
Does the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa accompany other family members?
Holders of an Estonian digital nomad visa can bring their families to the country. The qualifying family members include:
- Your children are under 18 years old.
- Your spouse.
- Your adult children, who are still depending on you for medical or financial reasons,.
Validity of the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa
As indicated earlier, the Estonian digital nomad visa allows you to stay in the country for up to one year. Of course, the type C visa is only valid for up to 90 days.
But one thing you should note is that you can extend your visa or even apply for another visa while in Estonia.
Estonia Digital Nomad Visa Denial
There are several reasons why your application may be declined. In most cases, it is due to failure to meet certain conditions, as elaborated above. The main reasons for denial include:
- Not meeting the eligibility criteria
- Not submitting all the required documents or submitting incomplete documents.
- Providing false information in your applications or documentation.
There could be other minor reasons, but you should pay more attention to the details you submit and also understand the eligibility criteria.
The good thing is that even if your initial application is denied, you can still reapply. If that is the case, just go through all the steps to ensure that you don’t leave anything in doubt.
But if your reason for denial was the inability to meet eligibility criteria, then you will have fewer chances of succeeding with your second application.
For such cases, your only option is to try other means, for instance, applying for an Estonian work visa or even a tourist visa.
Can You Extend Your Digital Nomad Visa?
Estonian digital nomad visas are somehow fixed. But the good news is that you can apply for another visa upon the expiration of your current visa.
The only challenge is that if you reapply for an Estonian digital nomad visa, you are only eligible to stay in the country for more than six additional months.
For the reapplication of digital nomad visas, you need to visit the Police Border Guard Board.
Parting Shot
An Estonian digital nomad visa is a great way to explore and work in an Eastern European country while traveling across Europe visa-free.
It offers many benefits for those wishing to stay for less than six months. During your stay, you will have a lot to explore and learn while still meeting your job requirements.
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