As Estonia continues to attract international talent, many employers are looking for efficient ways to hire non-EU nationals. One of the most practical solutions is short-term employment registration, which allows eligible foreign nationals to work in Estonia without first obtaining a temporary residence permit. Hiring a foreign national and applying for a residence permit straight away has been made quite challenging by law so short-term employment registration and subsequen

Most countries have certain rules regarding permanent establishment which allow them to tax foreign legal entities even thought they are established in another jurisdiction. For example the Estonian Tax Board has stated the following regarding rules for Estonia: https://www.emta.ee/en/business-client/registration-business/non-residents-e-residents/taxation-profit-permanent To put it more simply, just by establishing a foreign company, does not mean the company can escape the

In a world where business no longer needs borders, Estonia’s e-Residency program has become one of the most practical tools for entrepreneurs, freelancers, consultants, remote founders, and digital creators.Originally launched by the government of Estonia, e-Residency allows non-residents to establish and manage an EU-based company entirely online. Banking, signing contracts, filing taxes, and running operations can all happen digitally — often without ever stepping foot in E

The amendments to Aliens Act attempt to make certain hiring of foreigners easier. As the country is faced with labour shortages, another attempt to ease the immigration rules is made. The Government of Estonia can now enact a list on economic fields where hiring is made easier (economic areas with labour shortage). The list is enacted for up to 5 years. The salary obligation in the fields shall be 80% of the last published yearly gross salary. The Government can also extend t

Managing the Estonian company is relatively easy - this includes making certain corporate changes, liquidating etc. Making shareholding changes can still pose quite a challenge and create confusion. Especially as there are quite a few options for this. In the article we will cover the option of selling the shares without a notary involvement. By default, share sales is a transaction that requires a notarial deed. Although Estonian notarial deeds can nowadays be made online, v

The Financial Intelligence Unit just renewed our license for providing trust services. The Estonian anti money laundering and KYC rules are already one of the toughest out there and already compliant with upcoming EU regulations. This year the FIU undertook to review our internal documentation and we are glad to announce that everything was approved after a few months of scrutiny and also working with our external advisors. Thanks to everyone involved.

It is no secret the Estonian Police and Border Guard like to give lengthy Schengen entry bans without hesitation when it comes to for example overstays. Often this is done automatically without any consideration, at least it appears so. There have been some recent court cases in Estonia that have highlighted the fact that Schengen entry bans should not be given out lightly. Every case needs to be considered based on their circumstances and entry bans are usually grounded when

Starting a company in Estonia is attractive for many entrepreneurs due to its straightforward business environment and digital infrastructure. While e-residency has made company formation easier for foreigners, it is not the only way to establish a business in Estonia. If you do not have e-residency (for example it was refused), you can still incorporate a company by using a notarized power of attorney with an apostille. This method allows you to appoint a trusted representat

Immigration matters can be complicated and quite often the Police and Border Guard decisions can go either way. The decision is made by weighing all the important factors in the case. It is no secret that the tendency in Estonia is to make negative decisions. It is also no secret that most people do not want to go to court against the Police and that is very understandable. The process can be long and costly as well. We do see many decisions which are legally very questionabl

As an EU citizen the right to move around member nations is easy and the rules quite simple, usually no legal assistance is needed. When an EU citizen is married to a third country national then their right to move around EU is not always so straightforward. In Estonia the right to settle with your spouse as a third country national is subject to following conditions: The EU citizen spouse must be employed, self-employed, studying, or have sufficient financial means and healt