FAQ: Estonia's Digital Nomad Visa

The key difference is that the DNV provides holders with the right to a temporary physical presence in Estonia. e-Residency does not provide any travel rights.

e-Residency is a secure, government-issued, digital identity that provides access to Estonia's trusted, transparent e-governance services and business environment. With their unique digital identity card, e-residents can securely authenticate themselves online, establish an Estonian company, digitally sign and encrypt documents and contracts in line with the highest EU standards, allowing them remote access to a broad range of online services.

e-Residency is a great solution for digital nomads and other remote entrepreneurs who want to run a borderless business with minimal bureaucracy from wherever they are in the world. However, e-residency provides no right of citizenship, residence, or travel to Estonia or the EU.

The DNV provides eligible digital nomads with temporary permission to live in and work remotely from Estonia for up to a year. It is meant for people who can perform location-independent work using telecommunication technology. They may for an employer registered abroad, for their own company registered abroad, or as a freelancer for clients mostly abroad. Staying in Estonia on a DNV does not give the right to obtain Estonian citizenship or permanent residency. The DNV is not a residence permit but a temporary permission to stay. Standard Estonian government visa rules and procedures apply in addition to proof of digital nomad eligibility.

The DNV is not connected to e-residency and being an e-resident is not a prerequisite to applying for the DNV; nor does it simplify the application process. This could change in the future as solutions are developed enabling integration e-governance solutions (like the e-residency) with the DNV. Many e-residents will be eligible to apply, but they, too, will be subject to the same application rules and procedures as non e-residents.

That being said, having an e-residency digital identity card could be helpful for holders of a DNV while they are in Estonia as it will enable them to take advantage of some of the country's e-services while they are here.

Applications for the DNV opened on August 1st, 2020, when the implementing legislation became effective.

You can pre-fill the application form online here, then print and sign it, and gather all of your other supporting documents to take to your nearest Estonian Representation that handles visa applications or a Police and Border Guard office in Estonia. See FAQ #7 below for detailed information.

To be eligible, you must prove that you perform location-independent work using telecom technologies, basically that you are indeed a digital nomad.

You will also need to prove that you qualify under any one of these three categories:
1. You work for an employer registered in a foreign country and you have a contract of work with that employer;
2. You conduct business activity for a company registered in a foreign country and of which you are a partner/shareholder; or
3. You offer freelance or consulting services mostly to clients whose permanent establishments are in a foreign country and with whom you have contracts.

For the first category, the legislation does not distinguish between public or private sector employers. You will be eligible whether your employer is a private company, a public sector agency (e.g. government or regulatory body), or a not-for-profit entity. What is important is that you have a contract of employment with the employer and you are able to work remotely using telecom technology.

Eligibility also depends on income, which is meant to provide evidence of how you will support yourself during your time in Estonia. An applicant must provide evidence of their income during the six months preceding the application. Currently, the monthly income threshold is €4,500 (gross of tax). See more in FAQ #20.

There are no eligibility restrictions based on your country of origin or the sector in which you work.

However, applications for the DNV will be denied to applicants who do not at the time of their application have the ability to travel to Estonia due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. See FAQ #6.

There is currently no cap on the number of visas issued.

Currently, due to COVID-19, there are restrictions on traveling to Estonia for citizens of certain countries. The DNV will not be issued to applicants who do not have the ability to travel to Estonia at the time of their application. Therefore you must read the latest information on travel to Estonia on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before applying for a DNV.

We are also aware that in some countries, citizens are not free to travel abroad except in very limited circumstances. Carefully check the travel rules of your own country before applying for the DNV.

Applications opened on August 1st, 2020, at Estonian Representations that handle visa applications (or if you are already legally in Estonia, you can apply at a Police and Border Guard office).

NB: The only official ways to apply for a DNV are:
• directly through an Estonian Representation that handles visa applications;
• directly at a Police and Border Guard office; or
• at a VFS office, which has been delegated the right to handle DNV applications on behalf of the Estonian Government (USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, Ukraine).
(Edit: this paragraph was added by way of clarification on 17.08.2020 and edited to add the 3rd option on 31.01.22.)

The first step is to carefully read the eligibility requirements set out in FAQ #2 above. If you meet the eligibility requirements, the next step will be to complete the visa application form (which you can pre-fill online).

The DNV is subject to standard rules and procedures for issuing visas to stay in Estonia, including as they relate to making the relevant visa application, having a valid travel document, paying the state fee for a visa application, having adequate health insurance and financial resources, and passing a background check. Links to more information on these standard rules and procedures are provided in FAQ #10.

The main difference for the DNV in contrast to other visas is that, in addition to the standard visa application procedures, you will need to provide information and documents proving your eligibility as a digital nomad.  See FAQ #7.

When applying for a DNV, you can apply for either an Estonian long-stay visa (D-visa) or a short-stay visa (C-visa), depending on your planned period of stay. Applications can be made in English, Estonian, or Russian. The state fee for a D visa is €100 and for a C visa is €80.

Once you have completed the application form, print a copy, sign it, and gather copies of all required supporting documents. Submit your application in-person at your nearest Estonian Embassy or Police and Border Guard office (check first whether you need to make an appointment) . Don't forget your supporting documents!

You will need to legally travel to your nearest Estonian Representation that handles visa applications (or VFS office that has delegated authority from the Estonian Government to handle visa applications – added 31.01.22 by Ed.) in another country to apply for the D visa.

Alternatively, if you can legally travel to Estonia from your current location, e.g. on a tourist visa and in line with any COVID-19 travel restrictions/regulations, this could be an option as you can apply at a local Police and Border Guard office here.

In addition to the standard visa application procedures, you will need to provide information and documents proving your eligibility as a digital nomad.

You will need to provide:
• documents certifying that you can perform your work duties independent of location and that you use telecom technology in the performance of these duties;
• documents certifying that you continue to work either for a foreign-registered employer, for a foreign-registered company in which you have a shareholding, or as a freelancer or consultant mainly providing services to clients with a foreign establishment according to a contractual relationship;
• documents certifying your income during the six months preceding the application and which indicate the amount, regularity, and sources of the income; and
• a description of your study and professional life course.

Examples of documents proving the facts referred to in the first two points above are:
• a written explanation of the applicant regarding the intention to use the visa for teleworking;
• a written confirmation from the employer that the applicant is able to perform work duties remotely;
• an employment contract or other contract showing your obligations to your employer or company;
• a certificate from the competent authority of the state of location of the applicant concerning the payment of mandatory state or local taxes or social security contributions in the state of location;
• a certificate from the competent authority of the state where the company is located, which shows the name, location, field of activity, your participation in the company and information concerning the legal representatives of the company; or
• any other documents which prove these facts.

Freelancers may not have written formal contracts every time they provide services for e.g. webinars, lectures and consultancies. Freelancers should note that where possible, you will need to provide written contracts, but e-mails and other documents can also be taken into account as a contract if you present them as such (as you can enter into a contract via an e-mail conversation). Essentially, show a form of written evidence proving you provide services as a freelancer and get paid accordingly.

The relevant administrative authority with whom you make your application will review your application in full and conduct thorough background checks like they would for any visa application to Estonia. This process will take at least 15 days and on average around 30 days.

NO person is automatically eligible for a DNV and their application and background will be checked as carefully as for any other visa applicant.

Successful applicants will be notified when they need to visit an Estonian Embassy or Police and Border Guard office to verify their identity and pick up their DNV.

If you apply at an Estonian Embassy, please read the following information on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: for D visas and for C visas. For specific questions about your application, please contact your nearest Estonian embassy for support.

If you apply at a Police and Border Guard Board office in Estonia, please read the information published on the PBGB website.
You can also reach out to PBGB migration advisers
• by phone: +372 612 3500 (Monday to Friday 9.00–15.00 Estonian time)
• by email: migrationadvice@politsei.ee.

A foreigner staying in Estonia on a DNV can also work for an Estonian company/employer, but the main purpose of their trip must be the remote work specified in their application, i.e. that they can work independent of location with the help of telecom technology and fit within one of the three eligibility categories outlined above.

For example, an IT specialist who works for a foreign employer and stays in Estonia on a DNV may do additional work for an Estonian company as an IT specialist.

As this is additional employment, registration of short-term employment and payment of the average salary in Estonia is not required. However, the main purpose and activity of the stay in Estonia must continue to be related to teleworking for the benefit of a company, customers, or employer abroad.

If a DNV-holder stays in Estonia for more than 183 days in a consecutive 12-month period, they will be considered an Estonian tax resident and should declare and pay taxes here. Read more about tax residency here.

Otherwise, please direct your specific tax questions to the Estonian Tax and Customs Board by email to nonresident@emta.ee.

Yes. A person staying in Estonia on the DNV may stay here for the entire validity period of the visa.

This depends on whether you have a short-stay or a long-stay visa.

During the validity of an Estonian long-stay visa, the holder can stay in other countries in the Schengen area for 90 days within 180 consecutive days.

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for more information.

A DNV is a temporary basis for stay. A DNV-holder temporarily staying in Estonia must have a health insurance contract that guarantees the payment of medical expenses in case of illness or injury during their stay in Estonia.

The pension is collected by the digital nomad in the country where their social tax is paid, e.g. the country in which they are normally resident or employed.

If a person is issued with a DNV, that person's spouse and minor child (and/or an adult child who is unable to cope independently due to a medical condition or disability) may apply for a visa under the same conditions as the DNV-holder. Decisions on spousal visas are made on a case-by-case basis. For example, if you apply for a long-stay D type DNV, your spouse and children should apply for visas, too. If successful, they will be issued with a visa on the same conditions as your DNV.

Estonia recognizes same-sex unions so same-sex partners can apply for a visa to accompany their DNV-holding partner.

If a spouse is successful in being granted a visa to accompany a DNV-holder, whether they can work will depend on the conditions of their visa.

The amount of sufficient funds for applying for a digital nomad visa is €150 per day. As the DNV can be issued for a period of up to twelve months we do not expect a digital nomad to have €4,500 (i.e. €150 x 365 days) when submitting their application. We expect that a person should have financial means for at least the first month of €4,500 euros (i.e. €150 x 30 days).

Decisions as to what constitutes sufficient legal income will be made on a case-by-case basis based on the proof of income you submit. A person applying for a digital nomad visa has to provide evidence of sufficient legal income within the past six months. The amount of the previous income that is based on the €150 per day / €4,500 per month benchmark. Using this, we can estimate whether you are able to fulfill the requirement of sufficient financial means in the coming months.

The authority reviewing your application will look at all of the evidence you provide, including your bank balance and income in the past six months from sources of revenue. This could include your salary, dividends, director fees, rental income, interest from investments, shares, assets, etc.

Renewal or extension of a DNV is not possible, but you can apply for a second DNV. However, in Estonia (and the EU), the maximum period of stay for a foreigner on long-stay visas shall not be longer than 548 days within 730 consecutive days.

Therefore, if you apply for a DNV for the maximum period of one year, then after that you can apply for a second DNV for a maximum period of six months. These would be two separate applications and decisions and, if you are successful in both, two separate stay visas. After staying in Estonia for 1.5 years, you will be required to leave Estonia.

Please note that staying in Estonia on a DNV has no advantage with regards to gaining any form of residence permit in Estonia.