Deadline:
As soon as possible
Location(s)
Estonia
Overview
The Startup Visa helps non-EU founders grow their startup in Estonia, one of the world's best places to start and run a company. It also makes it easy for Estonian startups to hire non-EU talent. If your product packs innovation and has the potential to scale, the Estonian Startup Visa may be just the ticket.
Details
Startup Ecosystem
Estonia has a busy, supportive and open startup ecosystem eager to support ambitious individuals and startups. In total we have partnerships with 110 organisations in Estonia, who provide wide range of services for startups. Check them out from graph below.
How to apply for a Startup Visa?
- Step 1: Fill out the qualification formIntroduce your company to the Startup Committee, giving as much useful information as you can. Think of it as applying to an accelerator program or pitching to a potential investor.
- Step 2: Qualification The Startup Committee consists of members of the Estonian startup community. It will review the application and make a decision within 10 working days. You'll get the verification letter with a unique application code. Save this code for the next steps.
- Step 3: Apply for the visaIf your company passes qualification, fill out the startup-visa application or the application for a temporary residence permit, using your unique application code. Apply in person at an Estonian embassy in a city of your choosing, or at a service point for the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. If you need assistance, please contact the Migration advisory service.
- Step 4: Let the adventure beginIf your application is approved, get ready to move to Estonia. There are excellent sites that help you prepare, such as Work in Estonia, Welcoming Programme, and Topia.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
To be eligible for the Startup Visa as a founder, you'll need:
- At least €140 for every month you want to spend in Estonia. This translates to €1,680 for a one-year visa. It is the bare minimum required by law. That said, with decent rental flats costing €500+ a month, plus other living expenses, you'll need more money to enjoy a comfortable life in Estonia.
- A Technology based, innovative and scalable business. Your business model is expected to pack global growth potential. Think Airbnb and Uber, not restaurants or one-man consultancies. The Startup Visa is aimed at tech-driven startups that solve big problems, disrupt massive industries, and will serve millions of people.
- Approval from the Startup Committee stating that you meet the definition of a startup and can pursue the Startup Visa. Your application will be reviewed by people who work with startups on a daily basis. They have eagle eyes, so traditional companies won't make the cut.
To run your startup in Estonia, you have two options:
- If you don't yet have an Estonian company, you can apply for a long-term startup visa (up to 12 months) or a short-term visa (up to 3 months)
- If you you've already set up an Estonian company, you can apply for either a startup visa (both short-term or long-term) or a temporary residence permit for startup business (up to five years).
Dates
Deadline: As soon as possible
Cost/funding for participants
Costs
For a long-term visa, the state fee is €80. Ukrainian and Belarusian residents are exempt from paying the fee. The state fee for a temporary residence permit is €160 when applying in Estonia, or €180 when applying at an Estonian embassy.
Bring your family with youIf a startup is granted a visa, the same may be granted to their family – spouse, minor children, and adult children who, due to their health status or disability, are not self-reliant. The same applies to the family when the Startup Visa is extended.
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