Visa Information
VISA TYPES
Select the visa type that is right for you to see important information on visa fees, documents required, forms, photo specifications and processing times.
Short Term
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Overview
A visa allows you to stay a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period in Estonia and is normally valid for the entire Schengen region. The Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the start of the planned journey.
Decisions about visa applications will normally be made within 15 days from the day the Estonia Consulate receives the application, excluding submission and administration time at VFS.
EU CITIZEN'S FAMILY MEMBERS
Applicant under the directive 2004/38/EC
Are entitled to apply for a Schengen visa submitting fewer documents than regular tourists and are exempted from paying the applicable visa fee. The directive is applicable only, when traveling together or joining with their EU/EEA or Swiss national’s family member. For more information and guidance on EU/EEA family members, click here.
Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six (6) months before the start of the planned journey.
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Visa Fees
VISA FEE LIST Visa category Visa Fees EURO € Visa Fees USD$ Schengen visa application (90 €): € 90 $ 105 Schengen visa application for minors aged 6-11 (45 €): € 45 $ 53 Schengen visa application for citizens of countries with Visa Facilitation Agreement (35 €): € 35 $ 40 Urgent visa for citizens of Belarus and Ukraine € 70 $ 82 Short-term Schengen visa (type C) for citizens of Cabo Verde (for children 12-18 y.o. 35€, 38$) € 67.50 $ 79 Short-term Schengen visa (type C) for citizens of Gambia (120 €): € 120 $ 140
Please Note:
- There is a service charge of Euro 10.96/ USD 13. All service charge are non-refundable and inclusive of applicable tax
- The visa application center offers an optional service at a nominal additional cost:
- The following persons are exempted from paying the visa fee:
- Children under 6 years.
- A family member of an Estonian or an EU/ EEA citizen of a third country whose nationals are required to hold a visa for the Schengen area
- Persons who intend to attend meetings of the United Nations or its organizations, the Council of Europe, the European Union or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to be held in Estonia.
- School children, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose only of study or educational training.
- Researchers coming from third countries travelling in the Community for conducting scientific research with a view to facilitating proceedings carried out by Member States for issuing uniform short -stay visas.
- Persons invited by Parliament or the Estonian Government.
- Anyone who, by virtue of an international convention, is entitled to a visa free of charge.
- Representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations.
- Holders of diplomatic and service passports
- According to Visa Facilitation Agreements
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Documents Required
Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries. If you have not purchased, please click here
Applicants applying for Short term Visa for Estonia are advised to submit the documents as per the checklist of the Visa Categories they are applying for.
Below are the checklists for the list of documents for various Visa Categories.
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Photo Specifications
- No more than 6-months old
- 35X45mm in width
- Taken against white background
- Distance of your head and top of your shoulders so that your face takes up 70 -80% of the photograph
- No glasses
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Processing Time
All visa applications are examined according to the EU Visa code. According to Article 23 of the Code, applications shall be decided on within 15 calendar days from the date of registration at the Embassy. This period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.
The diplomatic representation does not provide any information or comments about the procedure or decision-making process during the review period.
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Download Forms
Long Stay (D)
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Overview
A long-stay (D) visa is a national visa that can be issued to an alien for a temporary stay in Estonia once or several times.
Restrictions on accepting visa applications for Russian and Belarusian citizens
A long stay (D) visa is meant for staying in Estonia for more than 90 days in 180 day period. Long stay (D) visa may be issued for the period of stay of up to 365 days within twelve consecutive months and it allows to stay in the whole Schengen Area up to 90 days in any 180 day period. In case of consecutive long-stay visas, the whole period of stay shall not be longer than 548 days within 730 consecutive days.
Travel purposes of D-visa is not restricted, in general person can apply for long-term visa on any travel purpose providing that applicant can prove his or her intention to stay in Estonia for more than 90 days in 180 day period.
D-visa issued by a Schengen Member State gives to its holder right to stay in Estonia as described on the visa sticker and stay up to 90 days in 180-day period also in other Schengen Member States.
Who can lodge D-visa application in VFS Global VACs in the United States
- Citizens and residents of US. Resident status can be confirmed either by valid US residence permit (Green Card) or valid resident visa type A, E, F (with form I-20), G, H, I, J (with form J1) , L, O, R. The US residence permit or visa should be valid at least three months beyond the intended departure from Schengen area.
- Residents of other countries provided that there isn’t Estonian representation, which is handling visa applications in the country where applicant resides. Residents of such countries can apply for Estonian long stay (D) visa in any visa center of VFS Global in US. List on Estonian representations which are handling visa applications can be found here.
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Visa Fees
VISA TYPE VISA FEE IN USD D-visa (long-term visa) application (120 €): $ 140 D-visa (long-term visa) application for minors aged 6-11 (60 €): $ 71 D-visa (Long-term visa) for children below 6 (0 €): $ 0
- The applicable visa fee in USD depends on the monthly exchange rate therefore the fee in USD is subject to change without notice. We accept credit or debit cards only.
- Along with the visa fees, a service charge of 16.90 € (20 USD) is applicable per visa application. Service charge in USD depends on the monthly exchange rate therefore the fee in USD is subject to change without notice. We accept credit or debit cards only.
The following persons are exempted from paying the visa fee, however will have to pay VFS logistics
- children below six;
- a family member of an Estonian citizen or an EU/ EEA citizen who meet the requirements in Directive 2004/38/EU. Please note that the directive shall apply to all Union citizens who move or reside in a Member State other than that of which they are national, and to their family members who accompany or join them;
- persons invited by Parliament or the Estonian Government;
- anyone who, by virtue of an international convention, is entitled to a visa free of charge;
- holders of diplomatic and service passports.
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Documents Required
Please see Minister of the Interior's regulation The procedure and terms for and the extent of sufficient funds required for the issue of a long-stay visa, the formalisation of a period of stay and extension of a period of stay.
All applicants must present:
Purpose of the trip Applicant Spouse Minor child Studies 880 euros per month 2100 euros per month not applicable Doctoral studies (PhD) 880 euros per month 704 euros per month not applicable Short term employment 1,320 euros one-time not applicable not applicable Short term employment in Start-up company 880 euros one-time 704 euros one-time not applicable Seasonal work 880 euros one-time 704 euros one-time not applicable Start-up business 880 euros per month 704 euros per month not applicable Teleworking (digital nomad visa) 132 euros per day (3,960 euros per month) not applicable not applicable For all other applicants 70 euros per day (2,100 euros per month) 70 euros per day (2,100 euros per month) 70 euros per day (2,100 euros per month)
All foreign public documents submitted as part of a long stay D-visa application must be legalized or certified with an apostille and translated either into Estonian or English
All applicants must present:
- travel document which is issued within previous 10 years, contains at least two blank pages for visas and is valid at least 3 months after the expiration date of the visa
- fully completed and signed application form;
- one color photo (size 35x45 mm). Photo must meet ICAO requirements and should not be older than six months. Photo must be glued on the visa application from (not stapled!)
- travel medical insurance which guarantees payment of any costs related to applicant’s medical treatment due to illness or injury during the validity of the visa. As a rule, travel medical insurance must be valid for the whole period of requested visa. If applicant will be covered with Estonian health insurance (Tervisekassa) after arrival to Estonia, travel medical insurance must cover only the period until Estonian health insurance (Tervisekassa) insurance becomes valid. For example – if person applies visa for short-term employment, travel medical insurance must cover travel period and additionally first 14 days of working;
- proof of financial means. Applicant must prove that he or she has sufficient financial means according to the purpose of stay;
- data concerning close relatives and family members;
- biographical data;
- additional application form 1 (citizens from NATO member states are exempted);
- criminal records certificate or a non-existance proof for receiving such a certificate. Under 14 years old are exempted from the requirement;
- documents indicating the purpose of journey, e.g. confirmation letter from the host or documents proving that applicant is going to work in Estonia (confirmation from the employer, registration of short-term employment) or documents proving that applicant is going to study in Estonia;
- travel ticket booking confirmation to Estonia or proof of use of another mode of transport;
- at the time of submission of the application, biometrical data – 10 fingerprints of the applicant is collected; children under the age of 12 and persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible shall be exempt from the requirement to give fingerprints;
- Visa Fee
- Additional documents If applicant is minor
- birth certificate (original + copy). If single parent or guardian, the court order must be provided. The birth certificate and court order need to be legalized or certified with an apostille certificate. If the documents are not in English, notarized translation must be provided;
- notarized consent letter signed by both parents or legal guardian(s) if not travelling with the minor;
- copy of passport of parent(s) or guardian(s) if not applying together with the minor.
Please review the non-exhaustive list of supporting documents:
Additionally applicants must present documents related to purpose of stay
Please note that during the examination of an application, a consular officer may request additional documents.
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Photo Specifications
Note: We regret we cannot accept photographs that do not meet these requirements
Please provide one recent photograph (not more than 6 months old) of yourself, which should not have been used previously in the passport. The photograph should be in color and:
- one colour photograph with size 35×45 mm, no older than 6 months, showing applicant looking directly to the camera, neutral facial expression, be taken with a plain light-coloured background, without head covering except for religious reasons, but applicant’s facial features from bottom of chin to top of forehead and both edges of your face must be clearly shown. Please find additional information about requirements to the photo here. Photo must be glued to the application form
Note: Please follow these instructions carefully. If photographs presented do not meet these requirements your application will be considered incomplete. A photo booth meeting these requirements is available at the centre.
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Processing Time
All visa applications are examined according to the EU Visa code. According to Article 23 of the Code, applications shall be decided on within 15 calendar days from the date of registration at the Embassy. This period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.
The diplomatic representation does not provide any information or comments about the procedure or decision-making process during the review period.