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startup visa

looks like Estonia caught your interest - awesome!
if you’re building a startup and considering your next steps, you’re probably wondering how the startup visa works
good news: we’ll walk you through the basics and what comes next

build your startup in the #1 digital society

You get access to the European market, a tightly connected startup ecosystem, and real unicorn know-how. Btw! Fun fact: Estonia has the most unicorns per capita in Europe. Setting up and running a business here is fully digital, bureaucracy is minimal, and the mindset is global from day one. Less paperwork, more building. The Startup Visa opens the door to this environment. If your idea is ready to grow, Estonia is ready to back you.

so, who is it for?

The Startup Visa is for founders who are already building something real. Not just you, your laptop, and a strong belief.

It’s meant for startups built to grow globally. Innovative, scalable, and designed to expand beyond one market. In practice, this means you’re past the idea stage. Your MVP is ready, it’s being tested in the real world, and you’re seeing early signs that it works.

That means:

paying customers
revenue
and a team

If this sounds like you, you can apply and expect a response within 14 days.

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how to apply?

Before you submit, make sure your startup matches the points outlined above. This visa is meant for teams with a working product, real traction, and plans to grow globally. If that sounds like you, you’re on the right track.

In the application, you’ll introduce your startup and share what you’re already building: your product, your traction, and how things are moving.

Fill out the initial Startup Visa application form and you’ll get a response within 14 days. Yes, for real – and its free.

If all goes well, you can move on to the next steps of your visa process. Read about the full process under the “important bits” section down below.

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See you on the other side!

Apply here

the important bits

Step 1. initial application
Step 2. receive initial acceptance or rejection letter
Step 3. if you receive an initial acceptance letter, submit a long-stay visa at the Police and Border Guard Board or at the nearest embassy to enter Estonia.
Step 4. if granted a long-stay visa, you can come build your startup in Estonia.
NB! The initial application letter does not guarantee long-stay visa acceptance.
If you receive an acceptance letter and make it to the stage of filling out a long-stay application, the whole application and additional documents must be in Estonian or English.

After getting the initial acceptance letter, these documents need to be prepared for the Embassy or Police Border Guard Board to submit the long-stay visa:

Valid travel document issued within the previous 10 years, that has at least two blank pages for visas and is valid until at least 3 months after the expiration date of the visa
Visa application form — completed online
Confirmation letter from the Startup Committee regarding qualification as a startup
A color photo sized 35 × 45 mm
A document confirming the payment of the state fee €120.
An insurance policy valid for Estonia or for the Schengen area with a coverage of at least €30,000 for the entire duration of your stay.
Proof of funds – at least €800 per month
Confirmation of planned accommodation in Estonia
Travel booking to Estonia
Data concerning close relatives and family members
Biographical data
Additional form
Certificate of no criminal conviction or punishment in a foreign country (at the time of submitting the application, the certificate must not be older than 6 months; for children under 14 years of age, the certificate is not needed).
Certificate must be submitted from all countries of previous residence.
A document that was issued in a foreign state in a foreign language must be translated into the Estonian or English language and the translation must be made by a sworn translator.
In addition, a document that was issued in a foreign state must be legalized or certified with an apostille.

Make sure to review your nearest embassy’s website for the list of additional documents prior to scheduling your long-stay visa appointment.
When arranging your trip for visa purposes, opt for flexible flights or travel plans.
Include a brief cover letter outlining your educational and career background, as well as your business intentions in Estonia.
The proceedings officer may request additional information or documents if necessary.
Visa-free travel from countries of the European Union, the European Economic Area and the Schengen area. Short-term(max 90-day) visa-free travel for citizens of third countries and holders of diplomatic, service, official and special passports.

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a few common questions

The initial applicationin the process is free. If you get the acceptance letter, you get to apply for a long-stay visa to come to Estonia. The state fee for submitting a long-stay visa application is 120 euros

The applicant’s’ company has to be in accordance with the startup definition in the Aliens Act. According to Aliens Act, a start-up is a business unit owned by a company registered in Estonia that is commencing operations and whose goal is to develop and launch an innovative and repeatable business model with great global growth potential and which contributes significantly to the development of the business environment in Estonia. Also, the company should be not older than 10 years.

A long-stay visa for startup for a stay to up to 365 days (can be extended for another 183 days) . You may also visit other Schengen countries with the same visa for a stay of up to 90 days.

If a startup is granted a startup visa, the same may be granted to their family – spouse, children and adult children who, due to their health status or disability, are not self-reliant. The same applies to the family when the startup visa is extended.

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moving to Estonia sounds exciting?

planning it usually isn’t. see the roadmap