Student Residence Permit

If you wish to come to Estonia as a student, you must be admitted to a(n): basic school; gymnasium; vocational educational institution; university or institution of applied higher education; institution offering a pre-degree preparatory course; or international students’ organisation for the purpose of a training.

The educational institution or student organisation should issue an invitation showing you will attend one of its programmes.

You must prove sufficient legal income

You should have an insurance contract to cover any costs related to your medical treatment as a result of illness or injury occurring during the period of validity of your residence permit.

For university or professional higher education studies, you must prove that you can speak and understand the language of instruction at the required level.

You must prove that you have paid the State fee.

If you are a minor you must show parental consent.

If you have been issued a residence permit as a student, you can work in Estonia without a work permit, on the condition that your employment does not interfere with your studies.

Students, who study in Estonian higher educational institutions, may take employment without prior authorisation and without limit for working hours under the condition that such employment does not interfere with the studies.

A residence permit for study may be granted until the end of the nominal study period but for no longer than the estimated duration of studies. The residence permit for study may be extended until the end of the nominal study period or, if the nominal study period has terminated, until the end of the estimated duration of studies.

In case you have been issued a residence permit for study, you have the right to stay in Estonia for 270 days following the expiry date of the period of validity of the residence permit, if the period of validity of the residence permit of the person terminated on the date of expiry.

As a student, you will not be able to apply for long-term residence. The period of the stay in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit for study is taken into account for half in the calculations of the period of stay required for the issuance of a residence permit for a long-term resident if you have been issued a residence permit on another basis later.