Estonia Visa Guide

Estonia is a European country located in the north of the Baltic region. Since it is part of the Schengen Agreement, visitors are subject to common Schengen rules when traveling to the country. This means that while some visitors can enter Estonia freely, others must apply for an Estonia travel visa, depending on their passport.

Keep reading this informational Estonia visa guide we prepared to find answers to all your questions.

Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Estonia?

The answer to this question depends on your country of origin and the type of passport you hold. Therefore, you must learn whether you need a visa when planning your trip.

There are various Estonia visa types. Depending on the purpose of your visit, you might need to apply for a student visa, an investment visa, or a family reunification visa. As a result, different types of visas might require different documentation, for example, while an Estonia visa for business requires you to prove business relations, you may need to show confirmation of enrolment for a student visa.

Therefore, you should carefully assess what type of visa you need and what documents you must present.

Estonia Visa Types

Category C Visa (Schengen Visa - For Short Stay Visits)

A Schengen Visa is basically an authorization allowing a person to travel within the boundaries of the Schengen Area. Since a Schengen Visa is a short-term visa, this type of visa is suitable for those planning to travel to Estonia and stay in the country for no more than 90 days.

Estonia Schengen Visa Required Documents

Estonia visa documents for Schengen visa are as follows:

• Schengen visa application form filled online, printed, and signed
• A travel document, typically a passport, issued within the last 10 years and valid at least three months beyond the return date,
• A portrait photograph taken within the last six months,
• Travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 coverage,
• Document(s) indicating the purpose of the journey,
• Document(s) in relation to accommodation, or proof of sufficient means to cover the cost of accommodation,
• Document(s) demonstrating that the applicant has sufficient finances to support their travel,
• (In the case that the state fee was paid through a bank transfer) a payment order proving the payment.

No matter what type of visa you are applying to, you will also be required to show flight tickets to prove that you'll return. Thankfully, with Pegasus' affordable flights to Estonia, you can book your flight at the most affordable rates.

Category D visa (For Long Stay Visits)

A Category D visa is called a National Visa, which allows the applicant to stay in Estonia for longer than 90 days. This type of visa, similar to a short-term Schengen visa, allows the applicant to not only travel within Estonia but all of the Schengen Area.

Estonia Category D Visa Required Documents

Category D Estonia Visa Documents are:

• A travel document, typically a passport, issued within the last 10 years and valid at least three months beyond the return date,
• Category D Visa application form filled online, printed, and signed (click here to access the page),
• Travel medical insurance that covers any costs related to the applicant's medical treatment during the validity of the visa.
• Proof of financial means demonstrating that the applicant has:
  • €800 per month for studies,
  • €1200 one-time for short-term work,
  • €800 one-time for short-term seasonal work or startup business and employment at a startup,
  • €4,500 per month for a digital nomad visa,
  • €70 a day for all other purposes.
• Other documents indicating the purpose of the stay (see the subsequent title),
• Biometrical data, 10 fingerprints of the applicant,
• Payment of visa fee.

Other Documents Required to Apply for the Estonia Visa

Applicants are required to present documents related to the purpose of their stay.

For Business Trips

• An invitation from a firm or an authority,
• Documents showing the trade relations or work-related relations,
• Entry tickets for events, if possible,
• Documents proving the business activities of the company,
• Documents proving the applicant's employment status.

For Short-Term Study Purposes

• A certification of enrolment at an educational institution,
• Student cards or certificates of the courses attended.

For Long-Term Studies

• Confirmation of admission,
• (For exchange students) confirmation from the local educational institution,
• (For exchange students) confirmation from the local coordinator of the exchange program.

For Tourism or Private Reasons

• Documents relating to accommodation,
  • (If staying with a friend or family member) an invitation from the host,
  • Confirmation of the booking of a form of accommodation,
• Documents relating to the itinerary,
  • Confirmation of the booking of an organized trip,
  • Any document indicating the travel plans.

For Political, Scientific, Cultural, Sports or Religious Events

• Invitations, entry tickets, enrolments, or programs with the name of the host organization and the length of the stay,
• Any other document indicating the purpose of the stay.

For the Members of Official Delegations

• A letter issued by an authority of the third country confirming that the applicant is a member of the official delegation.

For Medical Reasons

• An official document from a medical institution confirming medical care necessity in an Estonian medical institution,
• Proof of sufficient financial means to sustain the applicant's stay in Estonia and to pay for the medical treatment.

For Short-Term Employment

• Confirmation of the registration of the short-term employment.

For Start-Up Business

• Printout of the decision of the Estonian Startup Committee.

For Moving in with Family

• Documents proving family relations (e.g. birth or marriage certifications),
• (For disabled or chronically ill adult children of Estonian residents) documents proving the health status or disability.

For Digital Nomads

• Documents proving that the applicant is not dependent on physical location to work,
• Documentation proving that the applicant works or has business activities with an employer registered in a foreign country or provides services to customers whose place of business is in a foreign country,
• Documents demonstrating the applicant's legal income within the last six months - the monthly income must exceed €4,500,
• A curriculum vitae (CV).

Remember that the Estonia visa process isn't finished until you obtain your visa and a consular officer may request additional documents at any time.

Plus, authorities may require additional documentation based on your nationality. For example, Estonia visa for Turkish citizens may have different requirements than for another country.

Extending the Visa

Since we covered how to get an Estonia visa, we may talk about another frequently-asked topic: Estonia visa extension. Although it is not common practice, there are a couple of situations where an extension of Estonian visa might be possible.

The first one is based on visa simplification agreements. Citizens of the Russian Federation, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Moldova, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine, or Georgia can benefit from this. Alternatively, those who cannot leave Estonian territory may also request an extension.

To apply for an extension, you must apply at least 3 working days before the end of the period of stay.

Estonia Visa Rules

When making an Estonia visa application, the consular authority will expect you to prove that you will return to your country once your stay in the country ends. So, when you're applying for an Estonia visa for tourism or study, you must demonstrate strong ties to your home country through the following documentation:

• Reservation of a return ticket,
• Proof of financial means in the home country,
• Proof of employment,
• Proof of real estate property,
• Proof of family ties.

Estonia Visa Requirements

Before making an Estonia visa appointment, it's worth checking whether you need a visa to enter Estonia or not. Let's discover different requirements for citizens of different countries.

Estonia visa requirements for Non-Europeans*

Estonia visa requirements for non-Europeans depend on the country and the passport type. For example, all Australian citizens can visit Estonia without a visa. However, only Turkish citizens with diplomatic, special, and service passports benefit from visa-free visits, while holders of regular passports need to apply for a Schengen visa for Estonia.

You can visit the official website of  Republic of Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see the latest updates about countries whose citizens can freely enter Estonia.

Estonia visa for European countries*

Visitors who hold a passport of one of EU and EEA countries do not need visa to visit Estonia.

Estonia Visa Requirement for US, UK, and Canadian Citizens*

Citizens of the United States of America, United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland (and the following categories of British citizens - British nationals (Overseas), British overseas citizens (BOC), British subjects (BS), British protected persons (BPP), British overseas territories citizens (BOTC)), and Canada can travel to Estonia without a visa for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

* All information presented here is obtained from the official website of the Republic of Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We recommend you consult the relevant list published by the Republic of Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs to access up-to-date information.

Estonia Visa Fees

Additionally, the following persons are exempted from paying the Estonia visa fee:

• Children below six years of age,
• Pupils, students, and post-graduate students traveling for the purpose of studying or in-service training, and teachers accompanying them,
• Researchers traveling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research as defined in Recommendation 2005/761/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council,
• Representatives of a non-profit association who are below 25 years of age and who participate in a seminar, conference, sports, cultural, or educational event organized by the non-profit association,
• Family members of citizens of Estonia,
• Family members of EU/EEA Member States citizens, UK nationals, Swiss citizens under the Withdrawal Agreement who meet related requirements under Directive 2004/38/EC,
• Persons who enter Estonia by invitation of the President of the Republic, a member of the Board of the Riigikogu, a member of the Government of the Republic, the Chancellor of Justice, the Auditor General, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or the Commander of the Defence Forces for the promotion of substantiated cultural interests, development policy, foreign policy or other significant public interest or for humanitarian considerations,
• Persons in the cases prescribed by a resolution of the Government of the Republic, an international agreement entered into by the Government of the Republic or legislation of the European Union, or an international obligation or pursuant to international custom,
• Holders of service and diplomatic passports,
• Citizens from certain countries can be exempted from paying visa fees due to visa facilitation agreements.

You can visit the official website of the Republic of Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the latest information.