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Estonia is one of the first countries to embrace digital nomads. In this post, we explain all about Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa.
For the past few years, even long before the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more employees are turning into digital nomads. With the rise of this trend, every remote worker/ digital nomad is on the lookout for the top places to work remotely.
Leading the list is Tallinn, Estonia. Digital nomads are very familiar with Estonia as the country has long embraced the wonders of the internet. In 2020, the Estonia digital nomad visa was adopted by the country. With this, digital nomad freelancers and remote workers of non-Estonian companies can move to Estonia and stay there for up to a year.
In this post, we will explain all about Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa and how you can apply for it.
What is Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa
Estonia is one of the first governments that recognised the advantages of digital nomads to a country. As long as you can support yourself, you can work remotely in Estonia. The country’s Ministry of the Interior states:
“The Estonian digital nomad visa allows people to come to Estonia and stay here as a tourist while continuing working for a foreign employer or as a freelancer, independent of location.”
Not everybody who wants to live and work in Estonia is given a digital nomad visa. There are still standards, steps, and qualifications required under this visa application.
What Is the Eligibility for This Visa?
The purpose of the country to open a visa application for remote work in Estonia is to attract people who can work no matter their location. Estonia has demanding criteria on what is considered a “digital nomad.”
Here are Estonia’s digital nomad visa eligibility criteria:
- Your work must be location-independent.
- You can continue working remotely through telecommunication.
- You have an employment contract with a non-Estonian company. If you own the company, it must be registered abroad. If you are a freelancer, your clients should be mostly non-Estonian.
- Your monthly income for the last six months should be more than the minimum government-prescribed threshold, currently at €3504 (gross).
- You should have adequate health and medical insurance that will cover your health costs in Estonia.
How to Apply for This Visa?
If you meet the criteria above, you can apply for an Estonia digital nomad visa online or contact your nearest Estonian embassy. You can either apply for a long-stay visa (D-visa) or a short-stay visa (C-visa). The type of visa is based on the length of your stay.
You can fill up your application in Russian, English, or Estonian. You will also have to pay a state fee of €100 for a D-visa or €80 for a C-visa.
Aside from the standard visa application procedure, the Estonia digital nomad visa requires you to submit information and documents that will verify your eligibility as a digital nomad.
Here are some documents you need to provide:
- Documents certifying that your work is location-independent and that you use telecommunications technology to perform your duties.
- Documents certifying that you work either:
- for a foreign-registered employer
- for a foreign-registered company in which you have a shareholding
- as a freelancer or consultant that provides services to clients with a foreign establishment according to a contractual relationship
- Documents certifying your income six months before the application. It should indicate the amount, regularity, and sources of income.
- A description of your study and professional life.
After filling up the application form, you can submit it with your supporting documents to your nearest Estonian Embassy. Then, the relevant administrative authority will review your application and conduct a thorough background check before granting your digital nomad visa.
Related: Find the best remote jobs with EU-based companies
What Is the Monthly Cost of Living in Estonia?
Estonia is considered to be the first e-country in the world. With this, the country is evolving fast, which spikes the cost of living. However, Estonia costs much lower than Finland and most Western European countries.
The currency in Estonia is the Euro. The average monthly cost of living in Estonia is around €620 per person. This estimate does not include rent. Here’s a breakdown of the costs of common day items in Estonia:
- Monthly Rent for 1-Bedroom Apartment in City Centre: €420
- Monthly Bus/Transport Pass: €24
- One-Way Bus Ticket: €1.20
- Basic Monthly Utilities (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment: €170
- Monthly Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL): €23.50
- A Meal in an Inexpensive Restaurant: €8
- Cappuccino: €2.70
- 1 Litre Milk: €0.70
- A Loaf of Fresh White Bread: €0.75
- A Dozen Eggs: €1.50
- 1-Kilogram Chicken Fillet: €5.55
- Marlboro 20-Pack Cigarettes: €4.70
How is The Internet Connectivity in Estonian Cities?
Estonia is very digitised. One of the most digitised nations in the EU in fact!
With this, it’s not very surprising that it has free and speedy wireless internet almost everywhere. In bigger cities, there’s Wi-Fi public places, restaurants, and bars. Fast mobile internet also covers remote nature spots.
Monthly Internet plans (e.g 60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) could cost up to €23.50.
Where to Stay in Estonia?
Tallinn is a hub for online entrepreneurs and digital nomads. It’s a classic port city with a bustling Estonian startup scene. The best neighbourhood in Tallinn is Kalamaja. It has a creative vibe as it’s considered the coolest part of the city. If you want to work in Estonia as a digital nomad, this is the place to stay.
For a more authentic Estonia experience, you can stay in Tartu. It’s the second-largest city in Estonia, and it’s home to Estonia’s largest university. There are a lot of young people everywhere, which means a lot of parties. Alongside museums, co-working spaces can also be found in this city. Additionally, it’s cheaper than Tallinn.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Estonia?
To get a taste of the warm weather, the best time to visit Estonia is around May to late August. Specifically, June and July are the best months to loiter around Baltic beaches and inland lakes.
When you work remotely in Estonia around June, make sure to pack an eye mask as the days are long and the “white nights” are short. It means that there isn’t much darkness that time of year as the north pole tips towards the sun.
How to Get Around in Estonia?
The most common way to get around Estonia is by public transport. You can either choose from buses or trains. However, there are limited rail networks in Estonia. If public transport is not your cup of tea, you can travel by bike. The country is very bicycle-friendly.
Estonia is one of the first countries to embrace digital nomads. By launching a digital nomad visa, the government is promoting Estonia to the world and enriching their community at the same time. If you’re eligible for remote work in Estonia, this Baltic country may be the digital nomad haven you’re looking for.