Deep Dive into Estonian Startup Visa program
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The document provides an overview of Estonia's startup visa program, outlining application instructions for foreign founders and employees in Estonian startups. It details visa and temporary residence permit options, eligibility criteria, application processes, required documents, and financial requirements. This program aims to attract foreign talent to launch and develop startups in Estonia, with specific provisions for family inclusion and exemptions from immigration quotas.
Deep Dive into Estonian Startup Visa program
- 1. Startup visas program Overview and instructions for applying
- 2. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee Startup Visa programme FOR ESTONIAN STARTUP To employ talent from 3rd countries FOR FOREIGN FOUNDER To launch & run a startup in Estonia
- 4. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee I Foreign Founder: Visa for startup entrepreneurship 則 Long-term visa (national D-visa) for up to a 1-year-stay; can be extended for up to 6 months; 則 or short-term Shengen C-visa for 3 months, by default not extendable; 則 Issued to launch or develop a startup in Estonia 則 Required to have minimum of 130 EUR per every month stayed in Estonia. 則 Can bring the spouse and children along For other companies than startups: -For C-visa requirement of 94 EUR per each day spent in Estonia (does notapply for startups) -no entrepreneurship visa option, only possible to apply for a temporary residence permit
- 5. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee II Foreign Founder: Temporary residence permit (TRP) for entrepreneurship 則 For up to a 5-year-stay; can be extended for up to 5 years (starting from October 17 extendable by 10 years) 則 Business entity must be registered in Estonian business registry before applying 則 Required to have a minimum of 130 EUR per every month stayed in Estonia 則 Can bring the spouse and children along 則 Exemption from immigration quota For other companies than startups: At least 65 000 EUR invested into Estonian business entity, 16 000 EUR in case of a sole proprietor Immigration quota applies
- 6. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee For Whom? 則 Visa for startup entrepreneurship for founders who participate in a qualified Estonian business acceleration program: Startup Wise Guys accelerator program BuildIT Hardware accelerator program 則 Visa or TRP for startup entrepreneurship for founders who卒s startup gets a positive evaluation from the STARTUP COMMITTEE
- 7. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (1) How to apply! 則 Before applying for a visa or TRP, a positive evaluation from the STARTUPCOMMITTEE is needed Fill out an electronical application in startup.includer.io Startup community organizations evaluate wheather the company qualifies as a startup as defined in the Aliens Act within 10 working days, the STARTUPCOMMITTEE issues an evaluation Evaluation from STARTUPCOMMITTEEis not needed if applying for a visa to participate in a qualified acceleration program
- 8. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (2) How to apply- VISA! After positive evaluation from the Startup Committee 則 To apply for a visa for startup entrepreneurship: Fill out the application form for visa, print it and sign it (make sure to tick Startup entrepreneurship as Purpose of Stay) Take the application personally to one of Estonian Foreign Representations dealing with long-term visas or at a Service Pointfor the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, if you are already legally staying in Estonia
- 9. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (3) How to apply- VISA? Documents to be submitted along with yourvisa application: a valid travel document confirmation letter from the Startup Committee regarding qualification as a startup or confirmation regarding participation in qualified accelerator program 1 color photo with measures 35x45 mm a document confirming the payment of the state fee an insurance policy valid for Estonia or for the Schengen area with a coverage of at least 30.000 EUR for the entire duration of stay evidence of sufficient means of subsistence evidence regarding accommodation any information which supports an applicant intention to leave the Schengen area before the expiry of the visa
- 10. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (4) How to apply - TRP! After positive evaluation from the Startup Committee To apply for a TRP for startup entrepreneurship: For fill out the application form for TRP, print it and sign it (make sure to tick business as Basis for Application and provideinformation of the Startup Committee positive evaluation in other important information field). Take the application personally to one of Estonian Foreign Representations or to a Service Point for the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, if you are already legally staying in Estonia.
- 11. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (5) How to apply - TRP? Documents to be submitted along with yourTRP application: a valid identity document data on close relatives and family members (if applicable) confirmation letter from the Startup Committee regarding qualification as a startup color photo with measures 40x50 mm a document confirming the payment of the state fee have health insurance contract for the whole duration of the TRP and sufficient legal income min 130 EUR per every month of stay in Estonia
- 12. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee For employment in Estonian startup
- 13. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee I Employment in Estonian Startup: Short-term employment 則 Long-term visa (national visa) for short-term employment issued for up to a 1-year- stay; can be extended for up to 6 months 則 Exemption from limitation of maximum working period 則 Requirement to pay at least the Estonian minimum gross salary to the foreigner 則 Can bring the spouse and children along For other companies than startups: Can work up to 9 months in a 12 month period Requirement to pay at least the monthly Estonian average salary
- 14. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee II Employment in Estonian Startup: Temporary residence permit (TRP) for employment 則 TRP for employmentfor up to 2 years and extendable for up to 5 years (starting October 17 permit for 5 years and extendable by 10 years) 則 Requirement to pay at least the Estonian minimum gross salary to the foreigner, notthe Estonian average (as under general terms) Can bring the spouse and children along Exemption from immigration quota For other companies than startups: 則Prior consent from Estonian UnemploymentOffice (stating employee with same skills cant be acquired nationally) 則Immigration quota applies 則Requirement to pay at least monthly Estonian average salary
- 15. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee For Whom? 則 Foreign employees that commence employement in Estonian startups, that get a positive evaluation from the STARTUPCOMMITTEE 則 Foreign employees that commence employment in Estonian startups, that are listed as startups by the degree of Ministry of Interior: http://startupestonia.ee/visa/estonian-startups
- 16. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (1) How to apply! 則 Before applying for a visa or TRP, the Estonian startup needs a positive evaluation from the STARTUPCOMMITTEE Employermust fill out an electronical application in startup.includer.io Startup community organizations evaluate wheather the company qualifies as a startup as defined in the Aliens Act within 10 working days, the STARTUPCOMMITTEE issues an evaluation Evaluation from STARTUPCOMMITTEEis not needed if the companyhas already been listed as startup
- 17. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (2) How to apply- VISA! After positive evaluation from the Startup Committee 則 Before applying for a visa, the Estonian startup needs to register the foreigners short-term employment 則 Employer needs to fill in the application form and send it to the Police and Border Guard Board within 10 working days, the decision will be taken by the PBGB 則 To apply for visa for short-term employmentin Estonian startup: Fill out the application form for visa, print it and sign it (make sure to tick short-term employment as Purpose of Stay) Take the application personally to one of Estonian Foreign Representations dealing with long-term visas (see the link) or to a Service Point for the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, if you are already legally staying in Estonia
- 18. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (3) How to apply- VISA? Documents to be submitted along with yourvisa application: a valid travel document confirmation letter from the Police and Border Guard Board regarding short-term employment registration 1 color photo with measures 35x45 mm a document confirming the payment of the state fee an insurance policy valid for Estonia or for the Schengen area with a coverage of at least 30.000 EUR for the entire duration of stay evidence regarding accommodation any information which supports an applicant intention to leave the Schengen area before the expiry of the visa
- 19. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (4) How to apply - TRP! After positive evaluation from the Startup Committee To apply for TRP for employment: Fill out the application form for TRP, print it and sign it (make sure to tick employment as Basis for Application and provideinformation of the Startup Committee positive evaluation in other important information field) Take the application personally to one of Estonian Foreign Representations or to a Service Point for the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, if you are already legally staying in Estonia
- 20. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee (5) How to apply - TRP? Documents to submitted along with yourTRP application: a valid identity document data on close relatives and family members (if applicable) color photo with measures 40x50 mm a document confirming the payment of the state fee The employer must submit to the Police and Border Guard Board: an invitation letter (the employer must tick Employment in Startup as data regarding employment) confirmation letter from the Startup Committee regarding qualification as a startup
- 21. #startupestoniastartupestonia.ee Killu Vantsi killu.vantsi@moi.ee +372 53234092 Rivo Riistop rivo@startupestonia.ee +372 5250902