Estonia residence permit in 2026: how to get it
Study, visas and the nomad visa are closed to Russian citizens, but employment, business, startups and family remain. Grounds, fees from $285 and the path to permanent residence.
The short answer: in 2026 a residence permit in Estonia is obtained through employment, your own business, a startup or family, and the state fee starts at $285. Russian citizens have fewer routes: study, visas and the digital nomad visa have been closed to them since 2022. Remote work from Estonia is covered on the page Estonia digital nomad visa.
Which grounds for Estonian residence exist in 2026
| Ground | Main condition | For Russian citizens |
|---|---|---|
| Employment | salary at least the Estonian average, Unemployment Insurance Fund permission, a place in the annual quota | possible |
| Own business | investment from 65,000 euros, ~$73,250, in an Estonian company or from 16,000 euros, ~$18,035, as a sole trader | possible |
| Startup | Startup Committee approval, outside the quota | possible |
| Family | a spouse or close relative who lives in Estonia legally or is an Estonian citizen | possible |
| Study | admission to an Estonian university | closed since 2022 |
| Digital nomad visa | income from 4,500 euros a month; a visa for up to a year, not a residence permit | closed |
The 2026 quota for employment and business for non-EU citizens is 1,292 places. Startups and some specialists are outside it, which makes this the most predictable route for founders. A temporary residence permit for business is issued for up to 5 years.
How much Estonian residence costs
Police and Border Guard Board state fees have applied since 1 January 2025. Amounts are at the European Central Bank rate of 6 October 2026, $1.1269 per euro, rounded up.
| Ground | Applying in Estonia | Applying at an embassy |
|---|---|---|
| Employment | ~$285 | ~$320 |
| Business | ~$395 | ~$430 |
| Joining a spouse or relative who is an Estonian citizen | ~$130 | ~$165 |
| Long-term resident, after 5 years | ~$210 | - |
An extension costs the same as a first application in Estonia. The total state fee for the most common route, employment applied for from abroad, is about $320 per person. This excludes health insurance, translations and legalisation of documents and, for business, the investment itself. The cost of support depends on the ground and your family, and a manager will calculate it in the chat.
Fees from $285, and the year's quota has only 1,292 places
The law does not stop you applying for Estonian residence on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: an employer without six months of real activity, a salary below the national average, business investment that does not count towards $74,000, an application filed after the year's quota has run out and a ground closed to your citizenship, such as study for Russian citizens. We check which ground is open to you, register the company and prepare the investment documents, handle the application at an embassy or in Estonia and track renewals up to long-term resident status.
The cost of support depends on the ground and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.
What has changed for Russian citizens
Estonian bureaucracy is digital and fast, but with a Russian passport you first have to find a way in. The rules have changed more than once in recent years.
- Study. Since 2022 Russian citizens have not been issued visas or residence permits for study.
- Visas. Applications for Estonian visas, including the digital nomad visa, are not accepted from Russian and Belarusian citizens. Short-term work can be registered only with an Estonian visa.
- E-residency. It is not issued to Russian citizens, so it cannot be used to run an Estonian company remotely.
- Property. The government has sent parliament a bill under which, from 1 January 2027, Russian and Belarusian citizens without long-term resident status will be barred from buying property in Estonia, including through companies. Property bought earlier is not affected.
- Reviews. In 2026 the government announced it would review the rules for granting temporary residence permits to Russian and Belarusian citizens. In January 2026, 7,797 Russian citizens held such permits.
How to get permanent residence and Estonian citizenship
Long-term resident status can be requested after 5 years on a temporary permit with steady income, insurance and Estonian at B1 level. Citizenship is granted after 8 years in the country, the last 5 of them permanently, after exams in the language and the constitution. Estonia does not allow dual citizenship on naturalisation: the previous passport has to be given up. You become a tax resident after 183 days in the country in a year; the income tax rate is on the page taxes in Estonia.
How we help
The law does not stop you applying for Estonian residence on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fees: an employer without six months of real activity, a salary below the threshold, business investment that is not counted, an application filed after the year's quota has run out and a ground closed to your citizenship. Murblz specialists check which ground is open to you, register the company, prepare the business plan and investment documents, and handle the application and renewals up to long-term resident status. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first application.
Company in Estonia
Registration for an entrepreneur's residence permit.
Learn more →Digital nomad visa
Conditions, income and who it is closed to.
Learn more →Taxes in Estonia
Rates for residents and companies.
Learn more →We will check which Estonian residence permit is open to you. Tell us about your citizenship, work and business plans. We will show the ground, timing and budget.
FAQ
How do you get an Estonian residence permit in 2026?
How much does Estonian residence cost?
Can a Russian get an Estonian residence permit?
When can you get permanent residence and Estonian citizenship?
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We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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