Information for Study in Estonia
VISA REGULATIONS AND TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT INFORMATION FOR STUDY IN ESTONIA
How to apply for undergraduate and graduate studies in Estonia
Admission requirements for studies at university in Estonia
Acquiring different obligatory documents in order to study and live in Estonia may take about 3 months; therefore it is very important to gather information and submit applications well before the beginning of studies.
All students must have a valid passport for the period of study in Estonia. The citizens of 40 countries, including the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the Baltic States, as well as EU Countries, can enter Estonia visa-free for a period of three
months. The citizens of other countries coming to study in Estonia for up to three months can obtain a visa from the nearest Estonian Consulate or Embassy.
A residence permit for study may be issued to a foreign student for study in vocational educational institution, institution of applied higher education or university. A residence permit for study may be issued for a period of up to one year but no longer than the estimated duration of the studies. If a foreign student continues his/her studies in the same educational institution, his/her residence permit may be extended by one year at a time but not for longer than six years all together. Foreigners who are issued residence permits for study are exempt from the immigration quota.
Foreign student may be issued a residence permit for study if he/she has a permanent legal income for subsistence in Estonia. Lawfully earned remuneration for work, income received from lawful business activities or property, pensions, scholarships, benefits paid by a foreign state and the maintenance ensured by family members earning legal income are deemed to be legal income.
Foreign student must have a dwelling in Estonia which he/she must register at the Population Register within a month from the date of his/her arrival in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit or from the date of his/her stay in Estonia.
Foreign student has to have an insurance contract guaranteeing that any costs related to his or her medical treatment as a
result of illness or injury during the period of validity of the residence permit applied for will be met. Foreigner who has been
granted a residence permit for study is not covered by Estonian health insurance.
Foreign student who has been issued a residence permit for study may take employment in Estonia without a work permit in order to participate in practical training pursuant to the curriculum. Otherwise he/she may take employment in Estonia only on the basis of a work permit but only outside of school hours on condition that such employment does not interfere with his/her studies. An educational institution must inform the Citizenship and Migration Board (CMB) about the exmatriculation from the institution, and the termination or suspension of studies, of foreign student who has been granted a residence permit for study.
All students must have a valid passport for the period of study in Estonia. The citizens of 40 countries, including the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the Baltic States, as well as EU Countries, can enter Estonia visa-free for a period of three
months. The citizens of other countries coming to study in Estonia for up to three months can obtain a visa from the nearest Estonian Consulate or Embassy.
A residence permit for study may be issued to a foreign student for study in vocational educational institution, institution of applied higher education or university. A residence permit for study may be issued for a period of up to one year but no longer than the estimated duration of the studies. If a foreign student continues his/her studies in the same educational institution, his/her residence permit may be extended by one year at a time but not for longer than six years all together. Foreigners who are issued residence permits for study are exempt from the immigration quota.
Foreign student may be issued a residence permit for study if he/she has a permanent legal income for subsistence in Estonia. Lawfully earned remuneration for work, income received from lawful business activities or property, pensions, scholarships, benefits paid by a foreign state and the maintenance ensured by family members earning legal income are deemed to be legal income.
Foreign student must have a dwelling in Estonia which he/she must register at the Population Register within a month from the date of his/her arrival in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit or from the date of his/her stay in Estonia.
Foreign student has to have an insurance contract guaranteeing that any costs related to his or her medical treatment as a
result of illness or injury during the period of validity of the residence permit applied for will be met. Foreigner who has been
granted a residence permit for study is not covered by Estonian health insurance.
Foreign student who has been issued a residence permit for study may take employment in Estonia without a work permit in order to participate in practical training pursuant to the curriculum. Otherwise he/she may take employment in Estonia only on the basis of a work permit but only outside of school hours on condition that such employment does not interfere with his/her studies. An educational institution must inform the Citizenship and Migration Board (CMB) about the exmatriculation from the institution, and the termination or suspension of studies, of foreign student who has been granted a residence permit for study.
DOCUMENTS
Upon the application for a temporary residence permit for study in an educational institution located in Estonia the following documents must be submitted:
- a standard application form;
- the additional form «Application for residence permit or extension of residence permit»;
- the additional form «Data concerning close relatives, spouse, family members and dependants»;
- the additional form "Confirmation of educational institution or students organisation that the student will start studies in certain educational institution" (confirmation is valid for up to two months from the date of its issue);
- a standard curriculum vitae;
- a document which certifies the legal income of the applicant or his/her family members, who ensure his/her subsistence, during the six months preceding the submission of the application, including the amount, regularity and sources of the income;
- the identity document of an applicant;
- a coloured photograph sized 40x50 mm;
- an insurance contract;
- a document certifying the payment of the state fee.
PROCEDURE
If a foreigner wishes to come to Estonia to study in an educational institution located in Estonia the educational institution must issue him/her a confirmation that he/she will commence studies in that institution. As a general rule an applicant should submit his/her application for a residence permit at a representation of the Republic of Estonia. Foreign student has to submit an application for a temporary residence permit and the transfer of the data of his/her residence permit into his/her travel document. The decision as to whether or not to issue a temporary residence permit shall be decided within a period of 3 months from the date of starting of the processing of the application. The CMB may extend the above-mentioned terms if the checking of the data and documents added to the application and the verification of whether the application is verified takes longer than foreseen for the processing of applications. The CMB shall not review the application if an applicant has not rectified, on time, any deficiencies found in the application or documents, or has not submitted all the necessary
documents.
Further information and application forms is available on the home page of the Citizenship and Migration Board -
http://www.mig.ee
e-mail: reklaam@eaba.ee
http://www.eaba.ee
documents.
Further information and application forms is available on the home page of the Citizenship and Migration Board -
http://www.mig.ee
e-mail: reklaam@eaba.ee
http://www.eaba.ee
COMING TO ESTONIA
Updated information on visa requirements can be found on the web site of the Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs –
http://www.vm.ee
http://www.vm.ee
