Estonia will accept 1,315 new immigrants from around the world in 2021. Estonia’s Minister of the Interior Alar Laneman also confirmed it after he was appointed newly for his seat.
At the sitting held on 3 December, the Government of the Republic approved the immigration limit for the following year as 1,315, which is one more than the quota for that year. This is also the maximum size that the Aliens Act currently allows.
It is not yet known how the immigration limit for 2021 will be divided according to the reason for applying for a residence permit and the basis for issuing a residence permit. According to the draft, a certain part of the immigration limit will be reserved for creative workers next year as well; athletes, coaches, and judges, and foreigners coming to Estonia on the basis of an international agreement. The remaining part of the quota remains free to be distributed. It is not yet known exactly how much of the immigration quota will be freely distributed and how much will be reserved for the above-mentioned persons.
The new immigration limit comes into force from January 1, 2021. The quota for foreign labor was set in the early 1990s and is now obsolete due to changes in both the political and economic landscape.
When is it possible to apply for a residence permit under the quota for the following year to work?
From 23 November, it was possible to book time for December and January to apply for a residence permit on the basis of the 2021 immigration limit. According to the Chamber of Commerce, it is no longer possible to book times today because all times have been met. If someone frees up time, this free time is created in the reservation system of the Police and Border Guard Board, but the availability of free time must be checked by those interested on an ongoing basis. Appointments can be booked at the website of the Police and Border Guard Board.
Entrepreneurs of Estonia are increasingly talking about the need for foreign labor precisely because, despite rising unemployment, they continue to have a shortage of skilled labor, and in order for their economy and wages to grow, they need people to do jobs that locals do not know.
Who can apply under this quota?
The immigration threshold covers temporary residence permits issued to third-country nationals on the basis of employment, business, an international agreement, or an overriding public interest. The immigration quota means the number of people for whom the state issues a residence permit to work in Estonia if different conditions are met. There are several conditions, for example, the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund must confirm that the job the person comes to cannot be filled with an Estonian citizen, and the alien must also be paid a salary equal to the average annual salary in Estonia. In other words, the 1,315 people who join Estonia’s workforce in 2021 on the basis of a residence permit for work, will receive an average or higher salary and will perform roles directly where no employees can be found.
Salary in Estonia for foreigners
When using foreign labor (by the Estonian employers), the lowest possible salary is the average gross monthly salary in Estonia last year, which is 1407 euros, and in various cases up to twice the average salary in Estonia, which is 2814 euros, must be paid. At the same time, the minimum wage for a local resident with full-time employment is 584 euros per month, and based on 2018 data, nearly 426,000 employees, or 66 percent of employees, received less than the average salary.
Who is exempt from the immigration limit?
The following are exempt from the newly announced quota system:
- applicants for international protection.
- foreigners moving to a spouse and close relative;
- aliens who are granted a temporary residence permit for permanent residence in Estonia;
- aliens who are issued a residence permit for employment in a professional position in information and communication technology;
- foreigners studying or doing research in Estonia;
- foreigners who are issued a residence permit to work in a start-up company;
- foreigners working as teachers in Estonia;
- foreigners who are granted a temporary residence permit for business as a major investor or in connection with a start-up business;
- aliens who are granted a temporary residence permit to work as a top specialist;
- citizens of the United States, Japan, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein;
- citizens of a Member State of the European Union;
Famous job categories of English jobs in Estonia
| Administration | Banking and insurance | Transport and logistics |
| Sales | Security and rescue | Trade |
| Production | ||
| Media and PR | Management | Marketing |
| Legal (law and services) | Information technology | Internship |
| Finance | Health and social care | Human resources |
| Energetics and electricity | Electronics and telecommunications | Education and science |
| Culture and arts | Construction and real estate | Civil service |
| Technology | Travel | Tourism |
Who can apply for a work visa?
The foreigners can apply for a work or temporary residence permit in many conditions. All of these have certain requirements. This could be done only if you want to work with an employer who is registered in Estonia for scientific or research work. The main reasons may be as follows:
- working as an employee transferred within an undertaking
- employed as a temporary agency worker
- on the basis of the European Union (EU) blue card
- for scientific research
- for employment as a top specialist
- working at a start-up
- With the consent of the Estonian unemployment insurance fund and by matching the salary criteria
- consent of Estonian unemployment insurance fund and not matching the salary threshold criteria
- Settling to work as an expert, consultant, or advisor (professional qualification is mandatory) without consent of Estonian unemployment insurance fund but fulfilling the salary criteria
- Applying for shortage occupations, listed by Government and without the consent of Estonian unemployment insurance fund but fulfilling the salary criteria
Important immigration and visa programs of Estonia