Employed Worker Residence Permit

To come to Estonia with the purpose of working as an employee, you can register a short-term employment or apply for a temporary residence permit for employment.

your employment must be registered by the employer with the Police and Border Guard Board before the employment commences. A written confirmation will be issued to confirm the registration for short-term employment,

The employer can submit the invitation by employer and a permission of Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund , if required, to the Police and Border Guard Board by e-mail ( ppa politsei [dot] ee ( ppa[at]politsei[dot]ee ) ) or by post (Pärnu mnt. 139, 15060 Tallinn, Estonia).

An employer should pay a salary at least equal to the latest annual average wages in Estonia published by Statistics Estonia.

you must have the requisite qualifications, education, state of health, work experience and the necessary professional skills and knowledge to assume the position in question,

the employer has to be registered in Estonia.

the employer should pay the employee a remuneration in the amount of the annual average gross monthly salary in Estonia last published at the time of the application.

Employment and business migration from third countries to Estonia is regulated by the annual immigration quota which shall not exceed 0.1 per cent of the permanent population of Estonia annually. The immigration quota includes temporary residence permits granted for employment and enterprise and on the basis of an international agreement. The immigration quota does not include information and communication technology employees as well as third-country nationals employed at a start-up company or engaged in start-up business. Neither does the quota include employment as teaching staff and employment as a top specialist to whom the employer pays at least 1,5 times the average Estonian salary. The quota also does not include European Union citizens and their family members, the citizens of the United States of America, Japan and United Kingdom, and applicants for international protection.

If you have been granted a residence permit for employment, you may be employed by several employers concurrently following the conditions determined in the residence permit for employment.

If you have been issued a residence permit for employment, you are allowed to take employment in another post at the same employer provided that other conditions determined in the residence permit do not change and the same professional and qualification requirements are required in the other post. You must notify any change in the conditions of employment as defined in the residence permit for employment to the Police and Border Guard Board.

A temporary residence permit for employment is granted for up to 5 years with the possibility for extension.

After five years of continuous residence on the basis of a residence permit, you may apply for a long-term residence permit at the Police and Border Guard Board.