Business Permits and Licenses in Estonia

Companies need to obtain a business license in Estonia when they engage in certain regulated activities. There are certain permits and licenses that are required for all types of businesses while others are only needed for certain industries.

Our law firm in Estonia can provide you with legal advice on how to obtain your business permits and licenses. Estonia is very attractive for businessmen to invest in. Its economy is stable and business regulations are well implemented for business to thrive and be protected.

The business operating permit in Estonia

Before any type of business is permitted to operate in Estonia, it has to be registered. A permit to operate business in Estonia can be obtained by registering with the Commercial Registry. 

Registration is subject to certain state fees and it can depend on the chosen business form. Currently, the following business registration fees should be taken into account:

• 200 euros for the registration of a private limited company or a public limited company;
• 265 euros when the company is registered electronically under the expedited procedure;
• 20 euros for the registration of a general or limited partnership.

Our lawyers in Estonia can help you prepare the desired legal documents for registration.

Registering the business is only the first step. Once this is completed, investors will need to apply for and obtain a business license in Estonia according to the activity or activities they will be performing.

Business permits and licenses in Estonia are applied for with the relevant authorities that govern a certain business sector or industry. The registration requirements and fees differ from one case to another, thus we recommend reaching out to our lawyers in Estonia for detailed information.

The trade license in Estonia is just one example of specific permits that can be issued. Read below to find out some key details about the regulated business sectors.

Types of business licenses in Estonia

There are certain commercial activities that require specific licenses in Estonia. The main law regulating economic activities in Estonia is the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act.

Licenses for economic activities may be obtained from the Register of Economic Activities, which keeps all the records of economic activities and exercises supervision over such undertakings.

A business license in Estonia for financial services, including activities related to offering virtual currency services in some cases, is provided by the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority.

There are many classifications of economic activities that require a business license in Estonia. If special regulations or requirements apply to the business sector in which your company will operate, it is important to know that you will need to apply for a business or trade license in Estonia if your company will be involved in trading before you start your commercial activities.

Our Estonian law firm has listed down some of them:

• Businesses involving food products
• Production and sale of pharmaceutical products
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Mining
• Public transportation
• Gambling
• Banking 

One way to know if a business is subject to special regulation and licensing is to verify the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities. Special assistance during this step is provided upon request by our team of Estonian lawyers who can help you with detailed information according to the chosen economic activity/activities.

In addition to the activities/fields mentioned above, the following business sectors are also subject to regulation and licensing by designated state authorities:

• Education: private schools and other educational establishments (including those that focus on hobby development);
• Tourism: applicable in the case of tourism operators or companies that offer travel packages;
• Financial activities: as mentioned before, banking and financial services, including virtual currency solutions such as those involving crypto exchanges;
• Construction: all activities related to this sector including building and designing, but also expert construction assessment.

License and business permit applications are subject to a fee. Applications are processed only when accompanied by the fee payment proof, as well as the other required documents (such as the business registration certificate mentioned above in this article).

For more information about how to obtain business permits and licenses, just get in touch with our Estonian lawyers. They are very familiar with the legal process. 

Other services offered by our Estonian law firm

Our team can give you more details about business matters, particularly in the case of foreign investors interested in acquiring Estonian residency for business purposes. We can give you details on the investment conditions (eligibility criteria, minimum investment amounts), the fees, and required documents, as well as the possibility of having family members join the business owner. 

Our team also assists foreign investors with other issues, namely the manner in which they can lawfully stay in the country for medium or long-term purposes, once they have incorporated a business and have obtained the mandatory permits and licenses for its functioning. We can also answer questions about applications for Estonian citizenship, based on the mandatory criteria for acquiring this status.

If Estonian immigration is something of interest, you can discuss any matters about temporary and permanent residency with our team. Applicants should know that nationality has a role in the submission they make after five consecutive years in the country: EU/EEA citizens apply for the right of permanent residence while non-EU/EEA nationals apply for a long-term residence permit. 

Contact the experts at our law firm in Estonia if you have questions about the business license in Estonia or how to apply for a specific permit. Our team can also help you start a company in Estonia.