🇪🇪Estonia Visa for Emirati Citizens2026 Requirements, Fees & Documents

Long-Stay D Visa – Short-Term Employment

Allows a third-country national to enter Estonia to take up short-term paid employment with an Estonian employer for a period exceeding 90 days but not more than 365 days.

Fee EUR 120 (approx USD 130); children 6–11 EUR 60. Financial means requirement: EUR 1,320 one-time for short-term employment. Two consecutive D-visas cannot exceed 548 days within 730 consecutive days. Also allows up to 90 days travel in other Schengen states. Foreign documents require apostille/legalization and translation.

Long-Stay D Visa – Seasonal Work

Permits third-country nationals to undertake seasonal agricultural or other seasonal work in Estonia for up to 365 days within a 12-month period.

Fee EUR 120. Financial means requirement: EUR 880 one-time for applicant; EUR 704 one-time for accompanying spouse. Separate from the standard work D-visa sub-category.

Long-Stay D Visa – Studies

Enables third-country nationals to enter Estonia for study at an accredited institution (university, college, or other recognised programme) for periods exceeding 90 days.

Fee EUR 120. Financial means: EUR 880/month for student; accompanying spouse requires EUR 2,100/month. PhD students have reduced spouse requirement of EUR 704/month. Schengen travel allowed up to 90 days per 180 days.

Long-Stay D Visa – Digital Nomad (Remote Work)

Allows remote workers employed by companies or clients outside Estonia to live and work in Estonia for up to one year.

Fee EUR 120. Financial means threshold: EUR 132/day (approximately EUR 3,960/month) per vm.ee D-visa table; program income benchmark is EUR 4,500/month (EUR 150/day) per e-resident.gov.ee. Applicant must be employed by or own a company registered outside Estonia, or freelance primarily for foreign clients. Application submitted at nearest Estonian Embassy. Processing up to 30 days.

Long-Stay D Visa – Start-up Business

Permits founders of start-up companies with international growth potential to enter Estonia to establish and operate their business.

Fee EUR 120. Financial means: EUR 880/month for applicant; EUR 704/month for spouse. Typically a precursor to applying for Residence Permit for Start-up Entrepreneur. Expert committee evaluation required via Startup Estonia.

Long-Stay D Visa – Working Holiday

Allows young adults from partner countries to stay in Estonia for up to 12 months, combining tourism with incidental employment.

Fee EUR 120. Available to citizens of Australia and New Zealand (ages 18–35) and Canada (ages 18–35) and Japan (ages 18–30). Bilateral working holiday agreements underpin eligibility. Primary purpose is holiday/travel; work is permitted incidentally.

Long-Stay D Visa – Family Reunification / Other Purposes

Permits third-country nationals joining family members legally residing in Estonia, or other long-stay purposes not covered by other D-visa sub-categories.

Fee EUR 120. Financial means for 'other purposes': EUR 70/day for applicant and accompanying spouse; EUR 70/day per child. Covers family members of Estonian residents and other lawful long-stay purposes. Schengen travel up to 90/180 days also permitted.

Schengen Visa – Diplomatic / Official Passport Holders

Visa issued (or exemption granted) for holders of diplomatic, service, or official passports of countries with bilateral agreements with Estonia/EU, for official travel.

Approximately 25 countries' diplomatic/service/official passport holders enter visa-free for up to 90 days per 180-day period under bilateral agreements. Includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (biometric), Belize, Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Egypt, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia (biometric), Morocco, China, Philippines, Suriname, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam. Russia's diplomatic exemption is suspended per EU Council Decision (EU) 2022/333 of 25 February 2022. Georgia's diplomatic/service exemption also suspended as of 8 May 2025.

Long-Stay D Visa – Start-up Employment

Allows a non-EU national to enter Estonia to take up employment at an officially recognised Estonian start-up company.

Fee EUR 120. Financial means: EUR 880 one-time for applicant; EUR 704 one-time for accompanying spouse. Intended for employees of start-up companies that have received a positive evaluation from the Ministry of Interior expert committee. Distinct from the start-up business D-visa (for founders).

Temporary Residence Permit for Employment

Enables a non-EU/EEA national with a job offer from an Estonian employer to live and work in Estonia long-term, beyond the 12-month limit of the long-stay D visa.

State fee EUR 250 when applied for at a service point in Estonia, EUR 280 at a foreign representation (Estonian embassy). Issued for up to 5 years and extendable up to 10 years at a time. Covers many employment sub-categories (skilled workers, top specialists, experts, ICT, scientists, teachers, athletes, creative workers, posted/company employees, etc.). Most employment requires prior authorisation from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund and, unless exempt (e.g. ICT, start-up, top specialists), counts against the annual immigration quota. Decision within 90 days; residence-permit card issued within 30 days after approval.

EU Blue Card (Estonia)

Residence-and-work permit for highly qualified non-EU/EEA professionals with a higher-education qualification (or equivalent experience) and a qualifying salary who take up skilled employment in Estonia.

Highly-qualified employment residence permit issued under the (recast) EU Blue Card Directive and the Estonian Aliens Act. Requires a completed higher-education programme of at least 3 years (or at least 5 years of relevant professional experience) and a gross monthly salary of at least 1.5x the Estonian average (1.24x for shortage occupations such as ICT). Minimum employment contract 6 months; issued for the contract duration plus 3 months. Excluded from the annual immigration quota. State fee EUR 250 (in Estonia) / EUR 280 (abroad). Decision within 90 days. Also documented on the EU immigration portal: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/eu-immigration-portal/eu-blue-card/eu-blue-card-estonia_en

Temporary Residence Permit for Study

Allows a non-EU/EEA national admitted to an accredited Estonian school, vocational institution or university (bachelor's, master's or doctoral level) to reside in Estonia for the duration of study.

Issued for up to 5 years depending on the nominal duration of study. Decision within 90 days; residence-permit card issued within 30 days after approval. Standard temporary-residence-permit state fee applies (the study category is not separately priced on the official fee schedule). Students may work in Estonia without a separate work permit provided it does not interfere with their studies. The long-stay D visa for studies is used to enter Estonia while this residence permit covers the full study period.

Temporary Residence Permit to Settle with a Spouse or Family Member

Family-reunification permit for the spouse, minor child or dependent close relative of an Estonian citizen or a foreigner residing in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit.

State fee EUR 115 when applied for at a service point in Estonia, EUR 145 at a foreign representation, when settling with a spouse or close relative. Issued for up to 5 years but not longer than the validity of the sponsor's residence permit; extendable up to 10 years at a time. The applicant must have legal income of at least twice the subsistence level and register their place of residence in the Population Register; the sponsoring family member submits a signed invitation. Decision within 90 days.