Estonia
Work permit in Estonia.
To work in Estonia without EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship you need a residence and work permit from Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet (PPA) (Estonian Police and Border Guard Board). The main routes are Temporary residence permit for employment (elamisluba töötamiseks), EU Blue Card, ICT permit, Seasonal work permit. Residence permit for employment: minimum gross monthly salary (the Estonian average gross salary, coefficient 1.0): €2,092 a month since 5 March 2026. Permanent residence is possible after 5 years on most routes.
Permit types
The permits Estonia issues
- Temporary residence permit for employment (elamisluba töötamiseks)
- EU Blue Card
- ICT permit
- Seasonal work permit
- Self-employment permit
- Family member permit
- Residence permit
- Visa
- Residence card
- Social-security certificate (A1 or similar)
Salary levels
What the permit has to pay
Each figure with its legal basis and the official page it comes from.
Residence permit for employment: minimum gross monthly salary (the Estonian average gross salary, coefficient 1.0)
€2,092 a month · from 5 March 2026
Official sourceStaying longer
Faster routes and settling
Permanent residence: after 5 years
- Five years on a temporary residence permit immediately before applying
- Estonian at B1 level and the integration requirement met
- A stable legal income
- Health insurance with the Estonian Health Insurance Fund
- Place of residence registered in the population register
EU long-term residence: after 5 years
- Stable and regular resources
- Sickness insurance
- Integration conditions where national law sets them
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 minimum salary for a work permit in Estonia?
Residence permit for employment: minimum gross monthly salary (the Estonian average gross salary, coefficient 1.0): €2,092 a month (from 5 March 2026).
Who issues work permits 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.
When can someone get permanent residence in Estonia?
After 5 years on most routes. Five years on a temporary residence permit immediately before applying. Estonian at B1 level and the integration requirement met. A stable legal income.
When can someone get eu long-term residence in Estonia?
After 5 years on most routes. Stable and regular resources. Sickness insurance. Integration conditions where national law sets them.
Which software can an agency or HR team use to manage work permits in Estonia?
Settio is relocation management and work permit software with a plan for Estonia: the main route (Temporary residence permit for employment (elamisluba töötamiseks)), the steps with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, the documents, the deadlines and the registrations after arrival, with client and employee portals, quotes and milestone invoices. It runs every EU country in the same workspace, and each case shows only Estonia's own rules and sources.
How does Settio help with work permits 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.
More
- Relocating to Estonia: the first weeks
- Relocation and immigration across Europe
- AI immigration compliance
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