Estonian Digital Nomad Visa - how can you turn it into a residence permit
- Ingmar Lääts
- Jan 20
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 3
Estonia’s Digital Nomad Visa has become increasingly popular among remote workers and global freelancers. But what happens when you fall in love with the country and want to stay longer than one year? Can you transition from a digital nomad visa to a residence permit in Estonia?
The short answer is: yes — it’s possible. At Expat Legal Estonia, we've successfully helped many clients navigate this transition. While every situation is unique and eligibility can vary, here's a general roadmap to making Estonia your long-term home.
Step 1: Set Up an Estonian Company (via e-Residency or notary)
The most straightforward path is to become employed by your own Estonian company (of course it can be another company as well!). To do this easily, we recommend applying for Estonia’s e-Residency program. Having a digital e-residency card will make life easier in Estonia anyway as many services require a digital card.
Step 2: Move Your Business Under the Estonian Company
Once your Estonian company is established, begin routing your freelance or remote work income through it. This transition creates a legitimate employer-employee relationship, where your company becomes your employer.
From 2026 onwards, when applying for a residence permit based on employment the employer (your company) has to have had at least 6 months of economic activity in Estonia.
Step 3: Meet the Salary Requirement & Apply for a Residence Permit
Once your company has had consistent business activity and is financially stable enough to pay you a monthly salary, you can apply for a residence permit based on employment.
You’ll need to prove your company pays at least the average Estonian gross monthly salary, which is
updated annually. You can find the current figure here:Estonia Average Monthly Wages
Need Help with the Process?
We’ve helped many digital nomads and expats make Estonia their permanent home. If you have questions or need legal support, feel free to reach out:
