Electronic registration is the most convenient and quickest way of establishing a company. In order to log in to the the e-Business Register portal and perform the registration procedure, you need an Estonian ID-card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID.

You can register a business electronically in the e-Business Register only in the case all persons related to the establishment (members of the management board, founding members, members of the supervisory board etc.) are able to sign the initial entry application and establishment documents digitally.

For a foreign citizen who wants to start a company in Estonia, it is useful to become an e-resident. Holders of e-resident's digi-ID-card can sign documents digitally and digi-ID provides access to all Estonian e-services.

If the company is located in a foreign state, the company must designate a contact person.

The e-Business Register portal can be used to register private limited companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships and non-profit associations, and enter business as a self-employed person. Commercial associations or public limited companies cannot be established electronically.

Upon the electronic registration of a private limited company, one must enter data concerning the founding members and the company to be established; enter the business name; design a template for articles of association; pay the state fee; and make a share capital contribution.

Begin electronic registration of a company in the e-Business Register

In the best case, electronic registration will take only a few hours but still it is advisable to budget one business day.

If you do not have the option of establishing the company electronically or do not wish to do so, you can use the services of a notary.

You will have to do so in case if:

• the contribution of the company’s share capital is not monetary but rather a monetarily appraisable thing or proprietary right to be transferred to the private limited company (such as equipment, software etc);
• the founders of the company cannot digitally sign documents.

First make the contribution of share capital and pay the state fee. Then, with the assistance of a notary, prepare and file the following documents with the Commercial Register:

• memorandum of association;
• articles of association;
• application;
• information on communications devices;
• bank certificate regarding deposit of share capital;
• certificate regarding payment of state fee.

The notary will prepare the necessary documents for you. The notary’s office will have all of the samples of documents and templates necessary for founding companies. Registering a company through a notary will usually take 2-3 days.

Find a suitable notary and contact information

Establishing in the e-Business Register 

The state fee for registering a company in the e-Business Register is EUR 265. 
Registering a self-employed person (FIE), general partnership, and limited partnership in the e-Business Register costs EUR 20. 
A commercial association and public limited company can only be established via a notary. 

Establishing via a notary 

The state fee for registering a private limited company, public limited company, and commercial association in the Commercial Register via a notary is EUR 200. Registering a self- employed person (FIE), general partnership, and limited partnership via a notary costs EUR 20. 
When registering a company through a notary, notary fees are added to the state fee.

Depending on the company’s area of activity and size, a varying number of additional steps must be taken. 

• First you will have to open a bank account.
• If the area of activity is subject to special requirements, a license has to be acquired. Information on the areas of activity and electronic registration.
• For the use of e-services Estonian tax and Customs Board, you will have to conclude a contract for the use of e-Tax/e-Customs.
• If needed, register the company as a VAT payer on the website of Tax and Customs Board.
• If your company has employees, register the employees in the employement register on the website of Tax and Customs Board.