Estonia Citizenship by Investment: How It Works

Foreign nationals can obtain citizenship by investment in Estonia if they qualify according to their business venture and if they spend sufficient time in the country. Our Estonian lawyers describe the process and the timeline and can assist with your application.

Quick facts
Temporary residency for major investment in Estonia	Make a one million euro investment into Estonian companies OR Invest one million euros into an investment fund directed to Estonia.
Temporary residency for start-up businesses	Requires an evaluation by an expert committee at the Ministry of the Interior
Temporary residency for sole proprietors	Invest at least 16,000 euros in Estonia's business activities
Temporary residency for company shareholders	Invest at least 65,000 euros of capital in Estonia's business activities
Validity of the temporary residence permit	5 years
Extension of the temporary residence permit (YES/NO)	YES, up to 10 years
Permanent residency	Reside in Estonia continuously for 5 years under a temporary residence permit. Our lawyers can help you obtain permanent residency and then citizenship.
Citizenship by naturalization	Live in Estonia for at least eight years (last 5 years on a permanent basis); Pass the Estonian language test and the exam on the Constitution and the Citizenship Act; Have permanent legal income; Demonstrate loyalty to the Estonian state.
General documents required for applying for residency	– application form, – ID documents, – digital photo, – details of close family members, – proof of investment, – proof of fee payments, etc.
Description of the business plan document	Required for sole proprietors and company shareholders for obtaining temporary residency. Our attorneys can help with the business plan.
Timeframe for obtaining temporary residency permit	2-3 months
Residence card – characteristics	It serves as proof of your right of residence in Estonia, functioning as your identity card.
Other types of visas in Estonia	– work visa, – study visa, – digital nomad visa, – family reunification, etc.
Dual citizenship allowed (YES/NO)	NO
Assistance	Our law firm in Estonia will help you obtain a residency permit if you decide to invest in Estonia. This can be a pathway to citizenship for those interested.

Is citizenship by investment available in Estonia?

While there is no direct citizenship route through investment, our lawyers in Estonia highlight the fact that entrepreneurs may first apply for temporary residence in Estonia, renew their permit accordingly, and finally proceed to apply for citizenship by naturalization.

Who can apply for an investment residence permit, followed by citizenship?

Foreign entrepreneurs can obtain a temporary residence permit for Estonia when they make certain types of investments (see below).

There are no nationality restrictions when applying for a temporary residence permit that can lead to citizenship by investment in Estonia.

What documents do I need?

To apply for a residence permit for business (the first step in obtaining citizenship by investment), you will need:

The filled-in application form;
Data about your family members (if any);
Biographical information;
Valid identity document;
Proof of sufficient income and proof of investment;
Criminal record certificate;
A digital photograph and proof of having paid the state fee.

What types of investments are available?

The main conditions for the equivalent of the Estonian golden visa are listed below by our team:

Business: foreign nationals can invest in a business activity in the country with a capital of at least 65,000 euros;
Self-employed: entrepreneurs conducting business as sole traders make a minimum investment of 16,000 euros;
Start-up: the investor visa in Estonia also have an option for opening a startup company, however, a prior evaluation by an expert committee is needed;
Major investor: for those who are able to make a direct investment of at least 1,000,000 euros in an Estonian company or an Estonian investment fund.

The following conditions apply in case of major investments:

The minimum investment of 1,000,000 euros is made in an Estonian registered company or an Estonian investment fund;
The investment needs to be permanent during the validity period of the residence permit that is issued as a result thereof;
The investment should not decrease during the validity of the residence permit, other than for reasons related to the fluctuation of the investment’s market price;
The company or the investment fund in which the initial investment is made can change, under the condition that the target of the initial investment continues to invest mostly into the Estonian economy.

Where do I submit the application for the business residence permit?

Investors who are outside Estonia at the time of the residence permit application submit it with the Embassy or Consulate in their country.

How long is my business permit valid for?

Temporary residence permits issued for business purposes (such as those listed above) are valid for up to 5 years.

What are the next steps after obtaining the residence permit?

You must apply for a residence permit card. This will function as an ID whilst you live in Estonia to manage your business, and it contains your personal information along with biometric data (fingerprints and a photograph).

How fast do I obtain the residence permit for investment in Estonia?

If you want to ultimately obtain citizenship by investment in Estonia, you submit the application for the residence permit and can expect to have it processed within 90 days.

The residence permit card for business is issued within 30 days of receiving a response, in most cases.

What are the general conditions for obtaining Estonian citizenship?

One should also note that several other conditions apply when making a request for Estonia citizenship by investment:

having adequate knowledge of the Estonian language (passing a proficiency test);
passing an exam concerning the Constitution and the Citizenship Act and being loyal to the Estonian state;
having permanent legal income and a place of residence, along with being registered in the population Register.

Those who are already in the country make their submission with the Police and Border Guard Office.

What income conditions am I expected to meet as an investor in Estonia?

In addition to the requirements for the startup company, as well as those for the major investment, entrepreneurs who enter the country using this visa need to comply with income requirements.

The holder of a golden visa is required to provide proof of legal income for every month of stay in the country, for each member of the family.

For 2026, the subsistence level is 220 euros for a single individual (or the first member of the household), 176 euros for any additional adult family member, and 264 euros for every minor child.

The following are considered sources of legal income:

Lawful remuneration from employment/work;
Lawful income from business activities or property;
Pensions or scholarships;
Maintenance support or parental benefits;
Unemployment insurance benefits;
Benefits received from a foreign state;
Subsistence provided by other family members who have legal income.

The same conditions for minimum income apply to those who submit a significant investment; however, a major investor is not required to have a place of residence in Estonia, nor does he/she need to register the place of residence in the Population Register.

Foreign nationals who apply for any type of residence permit in Estonia need to be covered by a health insurance contract during their entire stay in the country. This requirement is compulsory.

Contact us for more information about the conditions to first obtain a residence permit for business, followed by citizenship by investment in Estonia, after a sufficient period in the country.

Foreign investors can also obtain residence permits by investment in other Baltic states; for example, Latvia has one of the lowest costs for a golden visa (EUR 50,000).