Foreign nationals living in Estonia according to a residence permit are usually allowed to work in Estonian without an additional work permit.
Third-country nationals and persons with undetermined nationality need a residence permit in Estonia. Upon the issue or extension of a residence permit, a residence permit card is granted to a foreign nationals. A residence permit card is a document proving foreigner’s right of residence in Estonia, which also serves as an identity card. The residence card contains foreigner’s personal details, residence permit details, photo and fingerprint images.
A foreigner, who is staying in Estonia without legal basis, including those have been prescribed by administrative act or judicial decision the obligation to leave Estonia, is prohibited to work in Estonia.
NB! Foreign nationals who are given extensions of residence permit in existence of legal income are not allowed to work in Estonia.
The right to work is set in the Aliens Act.
More detailed information on foreigner’s working in Estonia can you find on the website of the Police and Border Guard Board.
How to apply for a residence permit
You can apply for a residence permit for employment:
- at a foreign mission of Estonia, such as an embassy, or
- at the service offices of the Police and Border Guard Board. To submit an application at the service office of Police and Border Guard Board, in advance you need to book an appointment.
More detailed information about residence permit can you find on the website of the Police and Border Guard Board.
Working without a residence permit
Foreigners who are staying temporarily in Estonia (for example, on the basis of a visa or visa-free) are permitted to work in Estonia if:
- their right to work follows directly from a law or a treaty or
- their short-term employment has been previously registered by the employer at the Police and Border Guard Board. More detailed information about registering employee can you find the website of the Police and Border Guard Board.
The right to work of a foreigner who is staying temporarily in Estonia follows directly from the Aliens Act and short-term employment does not have to be registered at the Police and Border Guard Board on the following cases:
- a foreigner who performs directing or supervisory functions of a legal person or a branch of a foreign company registered in Estonia throughout the duration of his or her temporary right to stay
- a journalist who is accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has a legal basis for the stay in Estonia
- a foreigner who has a legal basis for the stay in Estonia, whose employment is of temporary nature and whose term of employment does not exceed five days within the period of 30 days
- a foreigner who has the right to stay in Estonia arising from the expiry of the period of validity of the temporary residence perm
- a foreigner who has been issued a visa for the stay in Estonia for the performance of telework.
European Union citizen's right to work
A citizen of the European Union, a member state of the European Union Economic Area and Swiss Confederation (hereinafter an EU citizen) has a right to stay in Estonia on the basis of a valid travel document or an identity card for the period of up to three months without registration of the right of residence.
EU citizens family members can work in Estonian only in case they have the right of residence (either temporary or long-term).