Why apply for the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa?

 Estonia does have a Digital Nomad Visa and has started accepting applications for Digital Nomad Visa on August 1st, 2020. Under Estonia Digital Nomad Visa, there are two types of Visas

• Estonia Type - C Digital Nomad Visa: With this Visa, the digital nomads can work and live in Estonia for a period of 90 days. This is a temporary visa.
• Estonia Type D Digital Nomad Visa: These Visa-holding digital nomads can work and live up to 1 year in Estonia. This is a long-term stay visa.

The Digital Nomad Visa holder should have a minimum income of 150 Euros per day per person. The monthly income should be 4,500 Euros, and an income of 54,750 Euros per year per person.

The eligibility criteria for a person to apply for this visa are as follows:

• The applicant must be above 18 years of age
• The applicant must either be working as a freelancer or work remotely
• The applicant’s work must be from one of the following 3 categories:
  1. Work for a company that is registered in a foreign country along with a work contract with the employer. 
  2. Run business activities for a company that is registered in a foreign country where you are either a business partner or a shareholder of that company.
  3. Perform consulting services or freelance work for clients who have their head offices in a foreign land.
• The applicant must have an income of 150 Euros per day or a monthly income of 4500 Euros per person.
• Proof of income for the previous 6 months from the date of the application is required.

The cost of living in Estonia is cheaper compared to the other European countries. On an average the expenses per person in Estonia is EUR 1430 and the average expenses for a family of 4 members in Estonia is EUR 3780 including the rent expenses.

The other costs, such as entertainment, can cost up to 6 euros per person, and for education, the tuition fee can range between EUR 1,660 - EUR 7,500.

The requirements to apply for Estonia Digital Nomad Visa are as follows:

• A valid passport
• Application Form
• Employment Contract or offer letter that states that the applicant is working remotely for a valid company or the clients based out of Estonia
• Proof of Income: A bank statement for the previous months from the date of application
• Proof of accommodation for the duration of stay is required.
• The applicant must not have any kind of criminal record in the home country.
• The applicant must have health insurance that is valid in Schengen Area with coverage of €30.000.
• The applicant must have all the educational related documents such as university degree, training certificates (if any) etc.

The main difference between the Estonia e - e-residency and Digital Nomad Visa is that the digital nomad visa holders have the freedom to travel while staying temporarily in Estonia, and the e-residency Visa does not provide the visa holders the freedom to travel. Some of the differences between the e-residency Visa and Digital Nomad Visa are as follows:

The Estonian Digital Nomad visa is generally valid for 12 months; after this period, you will need to reapply for a new visa if you wish to stay longer. With an Estonia Digital Nomad visa, you can reside and work remotely for one year, and apply for a new visa after your current visa expires, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.

No, a digital nomad visa holder is not permitted to work for an Estonian company. To qualify for an Estonia digital nomad visa, you must be working remotely only for companies or foreign clients outside Estonia. A digital nomad visa in Estonia, allows you to stay in the country and work remotely, but does not allow you to work for local companies. If you wish to work for an Estonian company, you must apply for a different work visa or permit, based on your qualifications and requirements.

Yes, the Estonia Digital Nomad visa is open to freelancers and self-employed professionals. The Estonia Digital Nomad Visa, or DNV, is primarily designed for remote workers, freelancers, and self-employed individuals, enabling them to reside in the country for up to one year and work remotely for foreign clients.

The documents required to apply for the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa (DNV) are as follows:

• An original passport
• A fully-filled DNV visa application form
• Copies of your latest passport-sized photographs
• Proof of remote work (employment contract)
• Proof of minimum monthly income of €4,500 through bank statements of the last 6 months
• Educational qualifications (diploma or certificates)
• Medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000.
• Criminal clearance certificate

Proof of accommodation in Italy (rental agreement or lease)

It takes an average of 15-30 days to process an Estonia Digital Nomad visa application. The processing time for an Estonia Digital Nomad visa may also extend up to 60 days if additional documents are required or if the application is made during peak seasons. It is always recommended to apply for Estonia’s digital nomad visa at least 8-12 weeks before your intended travel date.

Yes, you can bring your family members to Estonia on a Digital Nomad Visa, provided they apply for a separate visa, such as a residence permit for family members or D-visas. To have your family accompany you on an Estonian digital nomad visa, you will be required to submit certain documents, such as proof of sufficient funds to support them in the country and evidence of a relationship with the family member (e.g., a birth certificate for children and a marriage certificate for spouses). Each family member you bring to Estonia on a DNV must also have a valid medical insurance policy to cover their stay in Estonia.

Yes, health insurance is mandatory for the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa (DNV). You must have a valid medical insurance policy with a minimum coverage of €30,000 to apply for a digital nomad visa in Estonia. You can use this medical coverage throughout your stay in Estonia for any medical treatments or emergencies. You may also qualify for Estonia's public health insurance (Haigekassa) if you reside in the country for a qualifying period of time, during which you will be required to use your private medical insurance.  

You may be required to pay taxes in Estonia, even as a digital nomad, depending on your residency period in Estonia and its associated tax implications. In general, anyone residing in Estonia for over 183 days is automatically considered a tax-paying resident and would be required to pay taxes on their overall income. However, if you plan to stay in Estonia for under 183 days in 12 months, you do not need to pay taxes, as you would not qualify as a tax-paying resident. Whether digital nomads are required to pay taxes in Estonia depends on their length of stay in the country.

No, the Estonia Digital Nomad visa cannot be directly extended or renewed. If you wish to stay in Estonia longer as a digital nomad, you will need to apply for a new visa after your exiting visa expires. You will, however, be required to meet the eligibility criteria, with a maximum stay limit of 548 days in a 730-period.

No, you cannot apply for permanent residence or citizenship in Estonia through the Digital Nomad Visa. The Estonia Digital Nomad Visa is valid for up to 12 months and is issued for short-term purposes. The time spent in Estonia on a digital nomad visa will not be counted towards any residency applications, and is only possible if you switch to a different visa type. While the Estonian digital nomad visa cannot directly qualify you to apply for permanent residency, it, however, gives you the chance to explore the other long-term visa options, allowing you to switch to a long-term pathway in Estonia.

The Estonia Digital Nomad visa qualifies you for freelance or remote jobs for companies or clients outside the country. Estonia's digital nomad visa is ideal for freelancers, remote workers, and self-employed individuals in high-demand fields such as IT (developers, analysts), digital marketing (SEO or social media), finance, education, consulting, and design.

Yes, Indian citizens can apply for the Estonia Digital Nomad Visa to live and work remotely in Estonia for a period of one year. Indians must, however, meet specific criteria, such as income requirements (monthly €4,500), medical insurance (€30,000), proof of employment, and other documents, to be eligible for an Estonian Digital Nomad visa. With a digital nomad visa in Estonia, you can work for foreign companies and clients that are based outside Estonia for a maximum of 12 months.

The major difference between the Estonian digital nomad visa and a Schengen visa is that the DNV is specifically designed for digital nomads or remote workers, offering long-term remote work benefits for one year. In contrast, the Schengen or Type C visa allows non-EU nationals to enter Estonia for short-term stays of up to 90 days within 180 days for tourism or business purposes, but does not permit employment. The main differences between an Estonian digital nomad visa and a Schengen visa are the purposes, visa durations, and work authorization requirements.

Yes, Estonia is a great country for digital nomads compared to other EU countries, as it is renowned for its high-speed internet, advanced e-government facilities, a strong tech environment, and streamlined online administration processes, with access to the Schengen area. The success rate for an Estonian digital nomad visa is also high, with a positive outcome for eligible applicants.