Estonia Schengen Visa Application Requirements

The least populous country in the European Union, Estonia, is home to 1.3 million people and has an area of 45,227km2. Located on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, it shares land borders with Russia and Latvia. It consists of a mainland and 2,222 islands, most of which are not inhabited.

Estonia’s capital Tallinn, is the best preserved medieval city in Northern Europe, and thus a magnet for tourism. Moreover, Estonians can speak at least one other language as English, Russian, Finnish or German.

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You can apply for the Estonian Schengen Visa since 2007 when Estonia as a European Union Member State also became a member state of the Schengen Area.

Fun fact about Estonia: The number of tourists that Estonia receives per year is bigger that the number of its total population.

Estonia Entry Requirements

If you are an EU national you are permitted to enter the territory of Estonia with only an identification document, since 2017 when Estonia became a member of the Schengen Area.

On the other hand, if you are a non-EU national traveling to Estonia you will need to present some documents when you show up at the Estonian port of entry. These documents are:

  • A valid passport or travel document. Valid for at least three more months beyond your planned date of exit from Schengen, and issued within the last 10 years.

  • A visa – if you are a subject to Estonian visa regime.

  • A round-trip ticket to Estonia and back. Required to prove you do not intend to remain in Estonia illegally.

  • Proof of accommodation in Estonia. A document through which you prove where you will stay during your time in Estonia.

  • Sufficient financial means for your whole trip in Estonia. The Republic of Estonia wants you to prove you have at least 100€ per each day you plan on spending in Estonia.

  • Travel insurance valid for the entire Schengen Area, with a minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical emergencies.

 

The Estonian border police who checks these documents gives the final decision if you shall be permitted to enter Estonia or not. In addition, he or she may ask you a few questions about your trip to Estonia like:

  • What is your purpose of visiting Estonia?

  • How long do you intend to stay in Estonia?

  • If the Estonian border officer concludes that you are no risk for Estonia, upon checking your documents, you will be permitted to enter Estonia, and thus the Schengen territory.   Please, make sure that the Estonian border officer stamps your passport when you enter Estonia. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained from Estonia.

    Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Estonia?

    Since Estonia is a member of the Schengen Zone, you may need a Schengen visa to enter the country for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Your nationality is decisive whether you need a Schengen visa to Estonia or not.

    You will need a short-stay visa to enter Estonia and any other member country of the Schengen zone, if you are a:

    • Passport holder of a third-world country that has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states.

    • Passport holder of a third-world country that has signed a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states, but you were previously rejected from entering Estonia or any other Schengen country.

What Type of Visa Do I Need to Enter Estonia?

The application process for a Schnegen visa to Estonia depends a lot on the reason why you wish to travel to Estonia. According to  your purpose of entry and stay in Estonia, you can apply for one of the following Schengen visa types for Estonia:

  • Estonia Airport Transit Visa. If you need to change flights at a Schengen airport located in Estonia to your non-EU destination country.

  • Estonia Transit Visa. If you need to disembark at one of the Estonian seaports, to take a vessel to your non-EU destination country.

  • Estonia Tourist/Visitor Visa. Apply for this visa if you want to travel to Estonia for the purpose of tourism, sightseeing, vacation, or you plan to visit your family members or friends residing in Estonia.

  • Estonia Business Visa. If you need to attend activities related to business in Estonia.

  • Visa for Official Visit in Estonia. If you are traveling to Estonia as the official representative of an institution/organization.

  • Estonia Medical Visa. If you are seeking medical treatment in Estonia.

  • Estonia Study Visa. If you want to attend a study course / training in Estonia, up to three months.

  • Estonia Visa for Cultural, Sports and Film Crews. If you want to attend a cultural or sports event in Estonia, or you are part of a film crew.

Please note that these visas permit you to stay in Estonia for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. If you need a visa to stay in Estonia for a longer period, apply for an Estonian National Visa instead.

What Documents Are Required for an Estonian Schengen Visa Application?

After you select the visa type that corresponds best to your purpose of entry, you will then need to collect the statutory Estonia visa requirement, which are as follows:

  • Application form for an Estonian short-stay visa. The form should be completed, printed and then signed at the end. If you feel insecure about fulfilling it on your own, here you can learn easily how to fulfill the form without any mistakes!

  • Two identical passport photos. Make sure they comply with the requirements for Schengen visa application photos.

  • Your valid passport. Check your passport if it complies with the requirements as set by the Schengen states which are:

    • Your passport must have at least two blank pages in order to affix visa.

    • It must be issued within the last 10 years.

    • It must have a validity of at least three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Estonia and the whole territory of Schengen.

  • Copies of your previous visas (if applicable).

  • Letter of consent. The letter is required for all applicants, to prove they are consenting for processing the personal data.

  • Estonia Travel Health Insurance. For Estonia and the whole Schengen region, with a minimum coverage of €30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation in case of death.

  • Round-trip Flight Itinerary. A document that shows you have a booked seat on a flight that will take you from your current country of residence to Estonia and back. This document should specify flight numbers, entry and exit dates, and your details.

  • Proof of accommodation. You will need to show evidence to the embassy/consulate where you will stay during your whole time in Estonia, i.e. a hotel reservation. Find and Book Hotels in Estonia!

  • Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.

  • Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Estonia. The amount of financial means that every foreigner applying for an Estonian Visa has to demonstrate owning to the Estonian Embassy or Consulate, is 86€ per each day of stay in Estonia.

  • A cover letter. A personal letter in which you explain why you are applying to visit Estonia, how long you plan to stay, when will you leave and other details. >

Additional Estonian Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status

The additional Estonia visa requirements depending on your employment status are as follows:

If you are employed:

  • Employment contract

  • Current bank statement of the latest 6 months

  • Leave permission from the employer

If you are self-employed:

If you are still a student:

If you are retired retired: