Balancing migration policy

In the area of migration and citizenship, the Ministry of the Interior designs and implements the policy of temporary stays and settling in Estonia, citizenship policy, adaptation policy and asylum policy.

The aims of the Ministry of the Interior in the area of migration and citizenship:

  • Favouring the immigration of persons who contribute to the development of the Estonian state and society and shaping the legal and organisational solutions for managing the purposeful migration that supports this.
  • Shaping a support system that functions based on cooperation between the private, third and public sectors and supports the adaptation of new immigrants, ensures introductory support services that allow the better integration of immigrants into Estonian society and the creation of preconditions for immigrants to function efficiently and independently now and in the future.
  • Creating reception conditions for people who have been granted international protection and ensuring services that help immigrants adapt considering their culture, gender, religion, language and other aspects.
  • Delivering a balanced citizenship policy based on the Constitution and generally recognised principles of international law, and ensures the preservation of the nation state as well as public order and national security.

Legal migration

As a Member State of the European Union, Estonia shares European values, respects human rights and applies the common immigration policy of the European Union.

Shaping the immigration policy

The basis for the arrival, temporary stay, residence and employment of foreigners in Estonia is regulated by the Aliens Act. 

The Estonian immigration policy has been based on favouring the settlement of those foreigners in Estonia whose settlement here is in accordance with public interest, and to prevent the arrival of foreigners in Estonia who may be a threat to public order or national security. The rights of European citizens and their family members living and working in Estonia are set forth in the Citizen of the European Union Act. 

The Police and Border Guard Board processes residence permits and issues documents.

You can find more information about residence permits and residence rights on the homepage of the Police and Border Guard Board.

Facts:

  • Migration statistics provides a good overview of the facts for 2015–2019.
  • As at 1 January 2018, 188,678 people held a valid residence permit – 163,183 of these were long-term residence permits and 25,495 temporary residence permits.
  • In 2017, the Police and Border Guard Board issued 1,370 temporary residence permits to third country nationals on the basis of family migration, and 2,272 temporary residence permits for work and 1,412 residence permits for study.
  • In 2018, the Police and Border Guard Board registered 19,858 instances of short-term employment in Estonia.

Employment of foreigners in Estonia

The employment rights of people from outside Estonia depend on various factors – whether the person is a citizen of the European Union or another country, for how long and in what position the person is employed in Estonia, and who pays the person’s salary. 

Citizens of the European Union do not have to apply for a separate permit to work. Foreigners (third country nationals) have to register their short-term employment or obtain a residence permit for employment in order to work in Estonia.

No residence permit has to be applied for in order to work in Estonia for a short term (up to 365 days within a 455-day period, and in the case of seasonal work 270 days within a 365-day period). Short-term employment without a residence permit is not subject to the immigration quota and no permit has to be obtained from the Unemployment Insurance Fund for employing a foreigner. However, the employer is obligated to pay the employee at least the average Estonian gross salary. The salary criterion does not apply to favoured categories, such as the employees of start-ups, teachers and researchers, seasonal workers, etc. For short-term employment, foreigners must have a legal basis (visa or other such) for staying in Estonia.

For long-term employment in Estonia (more than 12 months), foreigners must apply for a residence permit for employment. Before applying for a residence permit, the employer must obtain a permit from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund to employ the foreigner, and the salary criterion applies. Various individuals in favoured categories, such as the employees of start-ups, foreigners who have obtained a higher education in Estonia, etc. are exempt from the salary criterion and the Unemployment Insurance Fund permit requirement.

The number of foreigners coming to work in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit is limited – the number of such persons must not exceed 0.1 per cent of the permanent population of Estonia. This limit does not include individuals in favoured categories, such as top specialists, the employees of start-ups, and ICT professionals.

Table concerning opportunities for short-term employment in Estonia

Table concerning opportunities for employment in Estonia under a residence permit

International protection

Receiving international protection is one of the fundamental rights of a person. Estonia has assumed the international obligation to protect foreigners for whom it is impossible to live safely in their home country. Estonia also participates in the development and implementation of the common migration and asylum policy of the European Union.

Links

Ministry of Social Affairs »

Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens »

Applying for asylum »

The Ministry of the Interior develops the international protection policy in Estonia and the Police and Border Guard Board processes asylum applications. The Ministry of Social Affairs is responsible for receiving asylum seekers and organising the settlement of those who have been granted international protection in local government units.

The basis for granting international protection to foreigners, the legal status of foreigners and the basis for their stay in Estonia are regulated by the Act on Granting International Protection to Foreigners in accordance with international agreements and the legal acts of the European Union.

Facts:

  • In 2018, 90 foreigners submitted applications for international protection to Estonia, compared to 108 foreigners in 2017 and 84 foreigners in 2016. In 2018, Estonia granted international protection to 17 people, compared to 16 in 2017 and 64 in 2016. This does not include the people who have come to Estonia under the European migration plan: 89 in 2016, 104 in 2017 and 18 in 2018. 
  • Since 1997, 1,101 foreigners have applied for international protection from Estonia and international protection has been granted to 481 foreigners (as at 2019).

Action plan for preventing illegal employment

We are working towards preventing illegal employment. 

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Brexit

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Last updated: 11.09.2023