Applying for a Schengen Visa to Estonia

You will have to apply for a visa when travelling to Estonia if you are:

• A citizen of a non-EU country that has not reached a visa liberalisation agreement with the EU.
• A citizen of a non-EU country that has reached a visa liberalisation agreement with the EU, but you were rejected from entering Estonia or any other Schengen country visa-free.

You are exempt from applying for a visa to enter Estonia if you fall into any of the following categories:

• You are a citizen of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.
• You hold a passport from the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, or any other country with a visa liberalisation agreement with the EU.
• You possess a valid residence permit from any country within the Schengen area.

For those exempt from a visa, check out the required documents for entry into Estonia. It’s always good to be prepared!

The Schengen visa can be issued for different purposes depending on why you want to visit Estonia.

• Estonia Transit Visa. You must apply for this visa if you’re passing through Estonia on your way to another destination.
• Estonia Tourist Visa. This visa allows you to explore Estonia’s attractions and enjoy a vacation in the country.
• Estonia Visitor Visa. If you want to visit friends or family in Estonia, you must apply for this visa.
• Estonia Medical Visa. You can apply for this visa if you require short-term medical treatment in Estonia.
• Estonia Short Term study Visa.You can apply for this visa if you are planning to participate in study programs that last 90 days or less in Estonia.
• Estonia Business Visa. If you’re planning to conduct business activities, such as meetings or negotiations, in Estonia,you should apply for this type of visa.
• Estonia Cultural Visa.To participate in cultural exchanges, events, or activities, you need to apply for this visa.

If you need to stay longer in Estonia than what the maximum Schengen visa allows you to, then you must apply for a national D visa type.

• Estonia work visa. If you plan to work in Estonia, you must apply for an Estonia work visa and demonstrate employment in the country.
• Estonia family visa. This visa allows you to reunite with family members residing in Estonia under the Estonia family reunification permit.
• Estonia student visa. For long-term studies in Estonia that last over a year or more, you need to apply for a national student visa.
• Estonia EU Blue card. If you’re a qualified professional, you can apply for an Estonia EU Blue Card.
• Estonia Digital Nomad Visa. If you want to do location-independent work, then apply for the Estonia digital nomad visa.
• Estonia working holiday visa. You can apply for this visa if you are from a country that has a working holiday agreement with Estonia and between the ages of 18 to 35.
• Estonia retirement visa. You can apply for an Estonia retirement visa if you meet the eligibility criteria and have enough financial resources to support yourself.
• Estonia investment visa. To apply for the Estonia investment visa, you need to invest a certain amount in the Estonian economy.

If Estonia is the only country in the Schengen Area you plan to visit, it’s straightforward – apply at the Estonian embassy/consulate or the authorized Visa Application Center (VAC) in your country of residence.

However, if your journey includes Estonia and at least one more Schengen state, apply at the Estonian embassy/consulate/VAC in your country of residence only if:

You will spend more days in Estonia than in the other Schengen countries.
You will spend an equal amount of time in each country, but you are starting your Schengen adventure by entering through Estonia.

For more in-depth details, please refer to: How to Choose the Right Embassy/Consulate/VAC to Submit the Visa Application

Visit the eelviisataotlus.vm.ee website, and you will find two application options: one for a Schengen visa and one for a national visa— you need to select the Schengen visa option.

The form is also provided in three languages; select the language that suits your needs.

Once you select the Schengen application form, you will be directed to another page so you can start your application. Here, you need to provide your email address and enter a code to continue to the next page. Please read carefully the instructions.

After you provide your email and code confirmation, you will move to the next part of the application, where you have to start filling out the required information sectioned in the following parts:

1. Personal information.
2. Travel document.
3. Residence and employment.
4. Travel details.
5. EU family members, fingerprints, and entry permits.
6. Travel purpose
7. Host, financial means, and sponsor.
8. Address and visa application spot.

After you have completed filling out the application, you will be directed to the final page, where you must read the information provided carefully as it pertains to your data and security, then click on “Agree” and complete your application. You will be able to access it as a PDF file and download it so you can print it.

You need to sign your application form, and together with your documents visit an embassy or visa centre in your country to submit your application.

• VFS Global. If applying through VFS Global, you can typically book your appointment online through the VFS Global website. You can book your appointment through VFS Global if you are from Australia, Japan, Thailand, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, China, Nepal, Ukraine, Egypt, Oman, United Arab Emirates, India, Russian, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, United States, Iran, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, or Israel.
• You will have to book your appointment with the Estonian Embassy or another Schengen Embassy to whom Estonia has delegated visa processing, if you are from anywhere else.

Choose the representation where you will submit your Schengen visa application.

Select the service you want to book an appointment for. In this case, you must select “Schengen visa (C-visa) application.”

Sometimes your country may not have an option for a Schengen visa application to book an appointment, as seen here:

In this case, you will most likely need to book an appointment with an external visa application centre, like VFS Global.

If that is not the case, then continue to provide the required information, such as your full name, date of birth, phone number, email address, and the pre-filled visa application number, which you received in your email when filling out the online application form.

Finally, confirm your appointment if there are available open slots. You will receive an email confirming your appointment along with a link for cancellation. Please ensure to attend the appointment on time.

You are allowed to book your appointment as early as 15 days before your travel date and no earlier than 6 months before. However, you are advised to schedule your appointment at least a month or three months in advance.

This way, you will have enough time to consider any possible delays in your visa processing. While official processing times are valid, unpredictable delays can often occur.

After you book and confirm your appointment, you will be provided with a link to cancel it. Please note that cancellations are compulsory, and if you booked an appointment before but did not cancel or show up, the embassy can cancel your future appointments at any given time.

Please note that if you booked your appointment via an external visa application centre or another Schengen embassy, you must follow their cancellation instructions.

Travel Medical Insurance is compulsory for Schengen visas under Regulation (EU) 2009/810 of the European Parliament.

You need to provide proof that you have at least EUR 70 per day to spend in Estonia as well as proof of financial means to support your journey home.

Estonian authorities will take your photo and collect your fingerprints on the same day you submit your Schengen visa application. If you have already given fingerprints for a visa in the last 59 months, you will not need to do it again.

On the same day, you will be required to sit down for a brief interview regarding your travel plans to Estonia. Please ensure to answer all the questions honestly.

See which mistakes to avoid during your interview.

When submitting a visa application, you are required to pay a processing fee as follows:

• Schengen Visa- 80 EUR.
• Children 6-11 years- 50 EUR.
• Children under 6 years- FREE.

However, this payment does not ensure visa approval. Additionally, submitting your application via an external service provider incurs an extra service fee.

*When making a payment via bank transfer, ensure the payment order specifies the recipient as the Estonian Ministry of Finance.

Yes, someone else can apply on your behalf as long as you have given them the authorisation to do so, and you are not required to submit your biometric information.

You can track your application online by using a code that is stamped on the visa fee receipt of your application or by using an application reference number you receive during your online application.

However, this option may not be available to all applicants, especially those applicants who must submit their application to another Schengen embassy representing Estonia in their country.

When your visa is finished processing, you will receive a notification of the decision. If your application has been approved, you can simply pick up your passport and continue with your travel plans to Estonia.

If your visa is denied, you will receive a denial notice which contains the reasons for your denial and instructions on how to continue next. You can submit an appeal request against the denial notice or reapply for the visa again.

If you choose to reapply for the visa, then you must first address the reasons for your initial denial so that your visa is not rejected again.

An extension of a Schengen visa is permissible under specific conditions, such as cases of force majeure, humanitarian grounds, or for personal reasons, including the death or illness of a family member.

To extend your visa, you must submit a request for extension at least three days before your current visa expires to the Estonian Police and Border Guard at one of the following offices personally:

• Tallinn (P. Pinna 4 and A.H. Tammsaare tee 47).
• Tartu (Riia mnt 132).
• Jõhvi (Rahu 38).
• Narva (Vahtra 3).
• Pärnu (A. H. Tammsaare pst 61).

Typically, this visa grants permission for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day timeframe, suitable for tourism or business visits. The duration of a Schengen visa for Estonia may vary depending on your intended travel purposes and itinerary.

The Estonian embassy or consulate determines the validity period of your visa during the application process based on your travel plans.

Exceeding the duration permitted by your visa in Denmark or any other Schengen country can lead to severe outcomes. Consequences may include fines, a temporary ban from re-entering the Schengen Area, deportation to your home country, and increased difficulty in obtaining future visas.

Holding a Schengen visa enables you to travel freely within the Schengen Area, but it’s important to note that your stay cannot exceed 90 days within any 180-day timeframe.

Yes, a Schengen visa not only allows you to visit member states within the Schengen Area but also grants you the possibility to travel to certain countries outside of the European Union and the Schengen Zone.

Holding a Schengen visa does not authorize you to take up paid employment in Estonia. This type of visa is intended solely for short-term visits. For employment purposes in Estonia, you must obtain a specific work visa.