Finally, The parliament of Estonia has allowed to amend Alien act and create a digital nomad visa which has been under discussion since 2018. Estonia is already offering e-residency to all foreigners who want to run a business in Estonia remotely. However, there was an issue with the e-residency, it doesn’t allow anyone to travel to Estonia. Currently, e residency holders have to obtain short stay visa to travel to Estonia. The digital nomad visa has come to resolve this issue. [Read about: Estonia e-residency]
The digital nomad visa is now issued with no published annual quota. E-residency holders are one of the main target groups of the digital nomad visa.
In past, e-residents have to obtain tourist visa or some other short stay visa to look after their remote business in Estonia. Employment is forbidden on short stay visa; however, the digital nomad visa would allow e-residents to take up an employment, run business or work as freelancers.
The digital nomad visa is issued for short stay as well as long stay. The long-stay (D) visa is valid for up to 365 days within twelve consecutive months and allows travel in other Schengen Member States for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published the application requirements and process: teleworkers must show income of at least 132 euros per day (3,960 euros per month); the application is submitted in person at an Estonian representation abroad or at a service point of the Police and Border Guard Board in Estonia. The visa examination fee is EUR 120.
Official source: Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Application for a long-stay (D) visa