Estonia Digital Nomad Visa: Full 2023 Requirements And EASY Steps To Apply

Everything You Need To Know About Digital Nomad Visa

1. What is a digital nomad visa?

With a digital nomad visa, individuals can work legally in a country for an extended period without the complexities of obtaining a work visa or the short time limit of a tourist visa.

Freelancers and digital nomads who love to travel can now have the opportunity to stay in their preferred location for up to two years with the digital nomad visa. Additionally, the visa renewal process is simple.

2. Why get it?

Visa restrictions and immigration are two of the largest hurdles faced by digital nomads, as reported by many in the industry.

Prior to the implementation of digital nomad visas, digital nomads had no other option but to apply for a tourist visa. However, a tourist visa prohibits visitors from engaging in any work activities within the country and typically has a maximum stay allowance of 90 days. Thus, digital nomads and freelancers who traveled had to discreetly work while pretending to be tourists.

After their travel visa expires, they must visit the immigration office, endure extended waiting times, and pay fees to renew it. Occasionally, digital nomads struggle in countries that don’t allow renewal, so they use a loophole identified as a “visa run.” This involves traveling to nearby countries for a few days, and returning to the original country to get a new travel visa stamp (however, some countries do not permit this practice).

Engaging in such activities for years as a digital nomad will ultimately exhaust you in all aspects, including physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

If you are eligible, it’s recommended to consider applying for a digital nomad visa as it eradicates travel visa constraints, extended waiting periods in the immigration office, and visa runs. Additionally, it allows you to work in a novel environment, which can enhance your efficiency and innovation.

‍3. How to get it?

Although the procedures and prerequisites may differ across various nations, a broad outline regarding the acquisition of a digital nomad visa can be presented as follows:

Find out whether you are eligible by going to the country’s immigration website or embassy office in your or a nearby country.
Prepare all the necessary documents such as bank statements, passport, and proof of being a digital nomad or freelancer.
Submit all documents either by applying online or at the embassy office.
Wait for approval and processing while planning the long-anticipated travel.
Collect your digital nomad visa, book your flight tickets, and begin your long-term nomadic lifestyle!

Click on the links provided at the end of this article to access the requirements and eligibility criteria for each country participating.

4. Who is eligible for a digital nomad visa?

The eligibility criteria for a digital nomad visa may vary from country to country, but in most cases, the following items are necessary for application:

You are location-independent.
You can work digitally and remotely.
You have a stable flow of income and earn more than the minimum requirement.
You are from one of the eligible countries (e.g, Europe allows people from certain countries to apply).
You have proof of employment or ownership of a company.
You have travel or health insurance.

5. How long does the process take?

The duration of the digital nomad visa application process can range from 3 to 4 months, and it heavily varies depending on the country of application.

Estonia Digital Nomad Visa – Overview

With the Estonia digital nomad visa, you have the permission to lawfully stay and operate from a distance in Estonia for a maximum of 12 months.

In order to have a successful application, it is necessary to demonstrate that you work remotely utilizing telecommunication technology such as a laptop and wifi.

June 2020 marked a milestone for Estonia as it became the first country to permit digital nomads to conduct their work within its borders.

Type C (short-stay of up to 90 days) visa
Type D (long-stay, longer than 90 days) visa

7. Can I bring my family members with me?

A few nations’ digital nomad visas enable you to bring your relatives for an extra charge. Family members are permitted in places like Anguilla (UK), Antigua and Barbuda (Caribbean), Dubai (UAE), and Estonia (EU).

8. What are the typical restrictions I need to be aware of?

The digital nomad visa is a recognized visa issued by certain countries, which enables holders to move freely without encountering any street-related challenges.

If you’re not trying to cause problems, having a visa won’t be enough to save you.

9. How do I renew my digital nomad visa?

Reapplying for digital nomad visas typically involves a fee for renewal and is a relatively straightforward process. To renew a visa that is soon to expire, simply visit the immigration office and submit an application.

Key Benefits of the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa

Although this visa may not offer the full advantages of being a citizen of Estonia (and the EU), it is a great starting point towards achieving that goal.

Some of the main advantages that you will receive are as follows:

You have the legal right to work remotely for companies outside Estonia
You can visit other countries within the Schengen Area
You’ll have legal rights to work from Estonia for up to one year
You’ll be able to renew the visa
You’ll have access to developed digital infrastructure and high-speed internet
You’ll meet thousands of other digital nomads just like you
You’ll get to see the beautiful country of Estonia

Eligibility and Documents Required

In order to be considered for the digital nomad visa in Estonia, it is essential that you satisfy the necessary qualifications and provide all the required documentation. Let’s examine both aspects more closely.

Eligibility requirements

In order to be eligible for the digital nomad visa in Estonia, there are certain criteria that must be met.

You must be at least 18 years old and not a citizen of the EU/EEA or Switzerland (Also, Russian nationals are currently suspended from the program)
You must have a contract of employment with a company outside of Estonia
You have to present proof that you’re a digital nomad
You must prove that you can work independently and remotely using a computer and internet access
You must have earned at least €3,504 per month for the past six months

While beginners may find some of these demands difficult, those with prior experience in digital work should have no trouble meeting them.

Document requirements

To apply for the visa, you’ll be required to provide the following documents in terms of paperwork.

A valid passport with two adequately sized photos – You must submit a passport that’s valid three months after your planned return date, along with two photos that meet the Schengen visa photo requirements.
A valid work contract – You must submit a contract from an employer registered outside Estonia.
A letter of recommendation – You must submit a letter from your employer stating they allow you to work remotely.
Evidence of sufficient monthly income – You must submit bank statements detailing your income in the past six months. The minimum income should be 3,504€.
Evidence of health insurance – You must prove that you’ve got valid health insurance during your stay in Estonia, with coverage of 30,000€.
Evidence of a rental agreement – You must prove that you’ve got a place to live during your stay in Estonia.
Appropriately filled application form – Lastly, you must submit a correctly filled application form, confirming it with your signature.

The Application Process

Once you’ve confirmed that you meet the eligibility criteria and have all the required documentation on hand, the following step is to submit your visa application.

There are several steps to follow when applying for an Estonian digital nomad visa.

Fill out the application form and submit it

Begin by completing the online application for the digital nomad visa.

It is necessary to furnish precise details about yourself and the reason for your visit. The process of submitting the information is simple and should not pose significant challenges.

Choose the “Other” option while indicating the reason for your journey, and specify that your intent is to work remotely.

Make sure to provide precise details regarding your income and financial condition when required to identify the person responsible for funding the journey and stay.

To complete the process, you need to set up a meeting and submit your application. You’re required to download and print the online form, sign it, and take it along with all the necessary documents to the Estonian embassy nearest to you.

Schedule an appointment

It is necessary to arrange a meeting with the staff of the Estonian embassy prior to submitting an application.

You have three options to do this, either directly, over the phone, or through email.

Because there are numerous individuals seeking Estonian visas on a daily basis, it may be a few weeks before the embassy assigns a date for your appointment.

Go to the appointment

Submitting the required documents for the visa is a necessary component of attending the scheduled appointment.

You will be required to attend an interview at the Estonian embassy where the embassy staff will inquire about your application in person.

You may be questioned regarding the motive behind your voyage, the duration of your stay in Estonia, your potential interest in seeking lasting residence, and similar inquiries.

Your character, physical and mental abilities, as well as your financial situation will be assessed by the staff.

If you have traveled to a Schengen country in the past five years, there may not be a need for you to give biometric data, such as fingerprints and a digital photo, to verify your identity, although you might still be asked.

Later on, we’ll discuss the fee for the application, which varies depending on the type of visa you are applying for, and which you must also pay.

Wait for the application to be processed

It is the waiting and uncertainty regarding the approval of your application that can be both wearisome and anxiety-provoking.

Depending on the number of applicants, it may take anywhere from 15 to 30 days for visa applications to be processed.

You will receive a notification from the embassy either through phone or email, informing you of your approval status.

If the denial decision is not satisfactory, you have the option to appeal it. Whether personally or through a representative, you can file the appeal for a fee of 80€.

Taxes for Digital Nomads in Estonia

Receiving an Estonia digital nomad visa will exempt you from paying Estonian taxes for the first 183 days of your 12-month continuous stay.

This means you can spend six months getting accustomed to the country, its way of life, laws, people, and mentality. Estonia provides all these benefits completely tax-free for the first six months.

If you opt for a second digital nomad visa, you shall be subject to mandatory taxation as any other Estonian national.

If you apply for a visa again, upon approval you will only be allowed to stay for an additional six months before being compelled to depart from the country.

Can the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa Lead to Permanent Residence or Citizenship?

Merely possessing the Estonia digital nomad visa will not be sufficient for you to meet the requirements and seek permanent residency upon its expiration.

To become a permanent resident in Estonia, adherence to the laws requires that:

Have resided in Estonia permanently for five years
Have a valid temporary residence permit
Have your place of residence information listed in the population register
Have legal and permanent income to sustain yourself
Have legal health insurance coverage
Know the Estonian language (at least a B1 level)

The first condition means you’ll have to obtain another kind of temporary visa in Estonia (e.g. by setting up a business), even if you meet all the other requirements. But the digital nomad visa provides a useful stepping stone to get you into the country and explore more long-term options.

Differences Between the Digital Nomad Visa and E-Residency

There is often confusion between the Estonia digital nomad visa and the Estonian e-Residency program.

Since this is an error that frequently occurs, we deemed it essential to differentiate between the two categories in a clear manner.

With an e-Residency, you gain a digital signature or identity that grants access to Estonian government services and enables you to oversee a remote enterprise. This option offers an expedited means to circumvent government-enforced regulations that impede your ability to run a company from afar.

An Estonian e-Residency doesn’t allow you to travel to or live physically in Estonia. It also doesn’t provide any of the other benefits of a digital nomad visa.

In Estonia, the digital nomad visa enables international remote workers to temporarily reside in the country, whereas e-Residency grants an EU digital footprint for your company and a virtual identity you can utilize to authenticate business dealings.