Estonia to start giving Digital Nomad Visas from 1 August 2020. The new digital nomad visa will allow foreign nationals to reside in Estonia for either a short or long period. On 3 June Estonian parliament adopted amendments in the Alien Act for the creation of a digital Nomad Visa. By doing so, Estonia will be the world’s first country to introduce such a digital visa. Estonia is planning to issue 1,800 digital Nomad visas annually.
According to the interior ministry of Estonia, “Since digital nomads can’t be subjected to the rules of classical employment, this prevents them from coming to Estonia and being here purposefully,” “In the Estonian case, the digital nomads are attracted by the Estonian startup ecosystem, access to the European Union market, a high fluency of the English language and the e-residency program.”
Applicants will be able to come to Estonia for a tourist visa allowing them to work for their employer or as a freelancer. The new amendment will allow for a digital nomad visa for stays for up to a year — nine months longer than the three-month tourist visa allows. It will not be an easy visa to gain, Nomad’s backgrounds will be checked as thoroughly as all the other visa applicants.
According to the Interior Ministry, the main areas where digital nomads work are ICT, finance, and marketing. The country’s interior minister, Mart Helme, said in a statement, “The digital nomad visa will strengthen Estonia’s image as an estate and help Estonia be more influential in the global arena”. “It also helps export Estonia’s e-solutions, which is especially important in recovering from the current economic crisis.”
Who is eligible to apply?
You can apply for the digital nomad visa if you meet the following requirements:
- You can work independently of the location,
- You can perform your work duties remotely using telecommunications technology,
- You either have an active employment contract with a company registered outside of Estonia, conduct business through your own company registered abroad, or work as a freelancer for clients mostly outside of Estonia,
- You can provide evidence that your income met the minimum threshold during the six months preceding the application. Currently, the monthly income threshold is €3504 (gross of tax).
Who can apply for the visa?
The digital nomad visa will be phase-wise processed. The applicants who will be able to prove they are digital nomads can apply for the visa. They must show proof of their steady remote income. The interior ministry is also planning to merge an e-residency with this newly announced visa.
Sponsorship from Estonia
The application must be sponsored by an authorized intermediary or undergo an ‘alternative assessment’. Estonian authorities have not yet published a list of authorized intermediaries, instructions on how to obtain authorized status, or practical instructions on alternative assessment.
What does the intermediary provide
The intermediary must fulfill typical immigration sponsorship obligations such as guaranteeing the visa holder’s accommodation and bearing the costs of stay. Stay period in Estonia: Applicants will either be allowed to apply for a short-term 3-month visa or a long-term 12-month visa.
Employment requirements
Typically, there is no employment required from inside Estonia. And that is perhaps the biggest advantage of the digital nomad visa in Estonia. However, applicants must be under their home country employment contract, hold shares in or provide services primarily to foreign companies, or hold shares in a company registered in Estonia to qualify for this visa. Freelancers must have mostly foreign-based clients to qualify for this visa, though the bill does not expound on this requirement.
How to apply for a Digital Nomad Visa?
Interested applicants can apply for the digital nomad visa in the consulate or embassy of Estonia in their country of origin. One can also come to Estonia on a tourist visa and then can apply for a digital nomad visa. (Click here to find Estonia’s embassies and consulates around the world.)
Why Estonia needed this?
Estonia wants young workers to bring their hard-earned money into their country without snatching the jobs from locals. This is a good way to raise the economy of the country by allowing digitally remote workers to be a part of the land. On the other hand, Nomads will also be able to benefit from the Estonian startup ecosystem, access to the European Union market, a high fluency of the English language, and the e-residency program.”
Who are digital nomads?
Digital nomads are people who use telecommunication technology to earn their livelihood. They use wireless devices through the internet by sitting in a restaurant or a coffee shop, or space work. They can work remotely from around the world being nomadic. Read here about Estonia’s E-Residency
Why Estonia?
Estonia is a unique and emerging country for newcomers with each passing day. The major reasons are:
- It is Europe’s number 1 most entrepreneurial country.
- Almost 3,700 IT companies regularly go on hiring new talent.
- It is number three in Europe as per startups per capita.
- According to the Police and Border Guard Board, the number of international talent has increased to 2 times during the last 5 years.
- IELTS is not mandatory even if your job has English language requirements.