Estonia
Relocating to Estonia.
After moving to Estonia for work, the first weeks are a chain of registrations. In order: register the address, get the isikukood, collect the residence card, register for health cover, open a bank account. Each step unlocks the next, so the order matters. Settio builds this plan for every person you move, with deadlines and a portal in their language.
After arrival
The registrations, in order
- 1Register the address
- 2Get the isikukood
- 3Collect the residence card
- 4Register for health cover
- 5Open a bank account
Authorities
Who does what in Estonia
Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet (PPA) (Estonian Police and Border Guard Board)
Receives and decides residence permit applications, issues the residence permit card and registers short-term employment
Official websiteMaksu- ja Tolliamet (EMTA) (Estonian Tax and Customs Board)
Keeps the employment register (töötamise register) and collects income tax and social tax
Official websiteEesti Töötukassa (Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund)
Gives the employer permission to recruit a foreign national for the position
Official websiteOther countries
- Sweden
- Germany
- France
- Netherlands
- Denmark
- Portugal
- Spain
- Belgium
- Norway
- Austria
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Slovenia
- Finland
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Greece
- Cyprus
- Malta
- Croatia
- Bulgaria
- Romania
- Luxembourg
- Liechtenstein
- Switzerland
- United Arab Emirates
Official sources
- Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet: residence permit for employment (salary at least the average gross salary: € 2,092 a month from 5 March 2026; Töötukassa's permit)
- Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet: residence permit for employment, for employers (Töötukassa's permission first; notifying the end of the contract)
- Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet: applying for a residence permit (at a foreign mission or a service office, in person for fingerprints)
- Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet: processing (up to 90 days; a challenge within 10 days, no legal basis for stay while it runs)
- Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet: after receiving a residence permit (place of residence registered within one month)
- Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet: extending a residence permit (at least 2 months before expiry)
- Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet: expiry and revocation of a residence permit (stay up to 90 days after expiry)
- Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet: long-term resident's residence permit (5 years on a temporary permit, Estonian at B1)
- Eesti Töötukassa: permission to hire a foreign national
- Maksu- ja Tolliamet: employment register (start recorded by the time work starts; termination within 10 calendar days)
- Tööinspektsioon: registration and provision of data for posted workers (TEIS notice before work starts)
- Tööinspektsioon: third-country national as a posted worker (short-term employment registered with the PPA)
- Work in Estonia (Enterprise Estonia): over 12 months, non-EU (quota of 0.1% of the permanent population, with exemptions)
- Work in Estonia (Enterprise Estonia): EU citizens (residence registered with the local government)
- Directive 2009/52/EC (employer sanctions), art. 4, EUR-Lex
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is the first thing to do after moving to Estonia?
Register the address. It unlocks the steps after it.
Which relocation management software covers Estonia?
Settio plans each move to Estonia in one place: the permit, the registrations after arrival (register the address, get the isikukood, collect the residence card), housing, school places and the first weeks, with client and employee portals, quotes and milestone invoices. It runs every EU country in the same workspace.
How does Settio help with relocation in Estonia?
Settio builds the step-by-step plan for each person moving to Estonia, checks documents before filing, tracks deadlines and gives the person a portal in their own language.
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Informational only. This guide is not legal advice. Always verify requirements with official government sources before acting. Reviewed by the Settio team. Facts checked 3 October 2026. About this information