Residence permit in Estonia - time to prepare for the 2021 quota

Estonia is known to have a small immigration quota for third country nationals. Based on the experience of the last few years, the quota will be full very quickly. If you are working in the IT sector, have a startup business (approved), are a student or a Japanese or US national, you do not need to worry about the quota but all others should keep it mind.

In practice, the Police and Border Guard would start accepting the applications for the 2021 quota already in December. It is important that the residence permit decision would take place in the new quota period and not the application itself. If you have e-residency and have thus given your fingerprints then you do not need an appointment. The application is easier to make - you do not have to book a physical meeting. If you need a meeting with the Police and Border Guard then you need to book an appointment online. This will be available as soon as the quota for the 2021 period is fixed by the Government. Bear in mind that also some of our embassies accept residence permit applications and take fingerprints.

What all this means is that if you wish to apply for a residence permit based on for example business or employment then now is the final time to get all documentation ready. We have advised with all different ways of applying for the residence permit so we are ready to help you this year as well.