EstoniaVisa

Long-stay D visa in Estonia

A national long-stay visa for foreign nationals who wish to stay in Estonia temporarily for more than ninety days. The visa is issued for business, work, study, telework or other specific purposes. It is important to understand that the visa is not a residence permit and does not automatically give the right to work in the country. To live in Estonia long term you should later apply for a residence permit. The visa is not renewed automatically, so an extension requires a new application.

Source: Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet (politsei.ee)

The main ways the visa is used

The long-stay visa suits various purposes of stay in Estonia. Choose the option that matches your situation.

Employment

Work under an employment contract with an Estonian employer
Registration of short-term employment with the Police and Border Guard Board
Telework for a foreign employer is possible

Study and development

Study at Estonian educational institutions
Professional development
Participation in scientific or cultural programmes

Business and enterprise

Setting up and running your own business in Estonia
Working as a self-employed person or sole trader
Working with local partners and investment

When the programme is not a fit

You plan to stay in Estonia for less than 90 days

The long-stay visa is issued for stays of more than 90 days. For short trips, citizens of Russia, Belarus and some other countries usually need a Schengen visa

You need a formal residence permit in order to live in the country permanently

The D visa is not a residence permit. After 5 years of living on a temporary residence permit you will be able to apply for a long-term resident's residence permit

You are looking for short-term work of up to 90 days without applying for a long-stay visa

There is a simplified registration procedure for short-term employment, but it requires you to already be in Estonia on a lawful basis

What it costs

State fee for the long-stay visaThe same amount both at a representation and when filing in Estonia	120 EUR
Proof of financial means (calculated per day)The income required for each day of stay; checked against account statements for 3 months	70 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	190 EUR

Paid separately

Medical insurance — Compulsory, but the cost of the policy is not part of the state fee; it depends on the insurance company and the cover
Translation and apostille of documents — Translations of foreign documents by a sworn translator and an apostille are required; the cost is set by the translator and by the authority that issued the document
Registration of short-term employment — If you need to work in Estonia; the state fee for registration is set by the Police and Border Guard Board

Documents to gather

When filing an application for a long-stay visa you must provide the originals or copies of the following documents:

A completed long-stay visa application form (the form from the politsei.ee system)
A photograph of 35×45 mm meeting the requirements for document photographs
A valid passport or another travel document (the original or a copy)
A medical insurance contract covering the cost of treatment in the event of illness or injury
Bank account statements or other documents proving lawful income for the three months preceding the application (for telework — for six months)
Documents confirming the purpose of stay (an employment contract, a letter of admission from an institution, company registration and so on)
Translations of all documents in a foreign language, made by a sworn translator
An apostille or legalisation of foreign documents (under the Hague Convention or through consular channels)
Proof of payment of the state fee
Family and biographical details (where required)

How the process runs

Obtaining a long-stay visa involves several stages, from preparing the documents to receiving the visa.

1
Prepare and translate the documents
1-2 weeks
Collect all the documents required. If documents were issued outside Estonia and are not in Estonian or English, have them translated by a sworn translator and obtain an apostille or legalisation. This preparation is a key stage, as mistakes can delay the filing of the application.
2
File the application
1 day
File the application in person or through a representative. If you are outside Estonia, file it at an Estonian representation in your country (an embassy or consulate). If you are already in Estonia, file it at a Police and Border Guard Board office in one of these cities: Tallinn, Tartu, Jõhvi, Narva or Pärnu. Be sure to do this no later than 30 days before your current period of stay expires.
3
Review of the application
30 days
The authorities review your application. The time limit runs from the moment the complete set of documents is accepted. During this period you may be asked for additional documents or clarifications.
4
Receive the decision and the visa
1 day
You will be notified of the decision. If it is positive, the visa will be affixed in your passport. Where the application was filed abroad, the documents may be delivered by post; in Estonia the documents are handed over in person.
5
Register your place of residence (if you plan to stay)
a few days
After receiving the visa, register your address in the Estonian population register (rahvastikuregister). This registration will be needed for the later move to a residence permit and for other services.
6
If necessary: registration of employment
15 working days
If you plan to work in Estonia, your employer must register the short-term employment with the Police and Border Guard Board. Registration is processed within 15 working days; you may start work from the same day on which the employer filed the registration. Short-term employment may be registered for up to 365 days within the period of stay.

Timelines and rights

Work

The visa itself does not give the right to work. Work is allowed if the employer has registered short-term employment with the Police and Border Guard Board in advance: registration takes up to 15 working days, and you may start work from the same day on which the employer filed it.

Who you can bring with you

Family members of a foreign national who has obtained a long-stay visa may apply for a visa of their own if they meet the requirements of the programme.

A spouse or registered partner

May apply for a long-stay visa independently, providing documents on the lawful marriage or partnership and the required documents on income and the purpose of stay

Children under 18

May be listed as dependants in a parent's application, but under certain conditions they may also apply for a visa of their own

Other family members

May apply for a long-stay visa only if they have their own lawful basis for staying (work, study, business and so on)

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The visa gives up to 365 days of stay within 12 consecutive months. The period counted towards a long-term residence permit and citizenship is measured in years of living on a residence permit, not on a visa.

The long-stay visa is not renewed automatically. If you need to stay in Estonia longer, you should file a new application for a long-stay visa no later than 30 days before the current visa expires. The exception is an extension of the period of stay for up to 90 days where unexpected circumstances arise (force majeure, serious professional or personal reasons) that came about after the visa was issued or were unknown when it was applied for. Such an extension requires a separate application and documents confirming those circumstances. The long-stay visa is valid for up to 12 months, with stays of up to 365 days within 12 consecutive months.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

A long-term resident's residence permit is granted after 5 years of living in Estonia on a temporary residence permit immediately before filing. You need stable lawful income, Estonian at level B1, registration of your place of residence in the population register and Health Insurance Fund cover. It is issued indefinitely.

Route to citizenship

Citizenship is granted after 8 years of living in Estonia, 5 of them permanently, holding a long-term residence permit or the right of residence. You take an examination in the Estonian language and an examination on the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, and prove permanent lawful income and registration of your place of residence.

Frequently asked questions about Long-stay D visa

Can I work on a long-stay D visa?

The D visa in itself does not give the right to work. However, if you are already in Estonia and your employer registers short-term employment with the Police and Border Guard Board, you may work. Registration is processed within 15 working days, and you may start work from the day the registration is filed. Short-term employment may be registered for a period of up to 365 days during your stay.

How long does it take to obtain a long-stay visa?

The Police and Border Guard Board reviews the application within 30 days of accepting the complete set of documents. The time limit runs only if all the required documents have been provided. Preparing the documents, including translations and the apostille, may take additional time, so it is advisable to start the process in good time.

When do I have to apply to extend the visa?

An application to extend the long-stay visa must be filed no later than 30 days before the current period of stay expires. The visa is not renewed automatically, so a new application has to be filed. Exceptionally, the period of stay may be extended by up to 90 days in cases of force majeure or serious personal circumstances that arose after the visa was issued.

How do I move from a D visa to a residence permit and then to citizenship?

After 5 years of continuous residence in Estonia on a temporary residence permit you may apply for a long-term resident's residence permit. The requirements include stable lawful income, knowledge of Estonian at level B1, registration of your place of residence and medical insurance. The long-term resident's residence permit is issued indefinitely. Then, after a further 3 years of living in Estonia (8 years in total), you may apply for citizenship by passing the examinations in the language, the Constitution and the Citizenship Act, and proving permanent lawful income.

Which documents are needed to apply for a long-stay visa?

You must provide a completed application form, a passport-size photograph, a valid passport, a medical insurance contract, account statements for three months (proof of income), documents confirming the purpose of stay, translations of foreign documents by a sworn translator, an apostille or legalisation of foreign documents and proof of payment of the state fee. All documents in a foreign language must be translated and legalised.

Other ways to move to Estonia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Estonia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.