Are you planning to get a student visa in Estonia? If yes, then you are at the right place. Of the three Baltic states, Estonia is the northernmost, bordering Russia to the east and Latvia to the south. Finland’s southernmost point is located just a short distance away across the sea.
Table of Contents
At 1.3 million people, Estonia is among the least populous nations in Europe. In total, Estonia has roughly twenty higher education establishments. You can study English at that level.
Estonia is a technological leader in the globe despite its tiny size. It is the original home of TransferWise and Skype. Estonia is at the forefront of technology.
The Bank of Estonia, the world’s first bank to provide e-residency for financial services and enterprises, is also based there.
In this blog, we have given detailed information about student visas in Estonia. From the application process to the possibilities of rejection, we have covered it all.
Who Needs To Apply for a Student Visa in Estonia?
To study in Estonia, anyone who is not from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland must apply for a student visa. Your options for applying to study in Estonia will depend on how long you want to stay:
- Short-term study visa: You have six months to spend ninety days in Estonia with this visa. For training sessions, conferences, courses, etc., a short-term visa is recommended.
- Long-term student visa: You have 365 days to visit and study in Estonia with this visa.
- A temporary residency authorization: You have five years to stay and study in Estonia with a residence permit.
For ninety days, citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are exempt from needing a visa to study in Estonia.
However, they must register their place of abode and apply for an Estonian ID card if they intend to stay longer than ninety days.
What Are The Types of Estonia Student Visa?
Sorting students based on the reason for and length of their education in Estonia is the simplest method to convey the available possibilities.
But keep in mind that they are broad classifications. Variations could be relevant to specific personalities, programs, or educational levels.
So, please strictly abide by the precise instructions that UT staff members provide you. It is recommended that personnel and students select a multiple-entry visa.
Degree-seeking students:
- Study period in Estonia up to one year – D visa, TRP is not required.
- Study period longer than one year – entering Estonia with a D visa and requires students to apply for TRP for studies once they are in Estonia.
Short-term students:
- Study period up to 3 months – D visa or C visa, TRP is not granted.
- Study period up to 12 months – D visa, TRP is not granted.
What Is The Difference Between an Estonia Schengen Visa and a Long-Term Visa?
The differences between an Estonia Schengen visa and a long-term visa are:
| Estonia Schengen Visa | Estonia Long-Term Visa |
| Is issued for 90 days. | It is issued for 365 days. |
| It is recommended more for short visits, for tourism, etc. | It is recommended more for study, work, business, and family reunion purposes. |
| You are not able to obtain a residence permit. You must leave Estonia before the visa expires. | You can obtain a residence permit, and extend your stay indefinitely. |
What Are The Documents Required for an Estonian Student Visa?
1. Valid passport:
After the return date, your passport must still be valid for at least three months. Ascertain that your passport is in good shape and enclose a copy of any prior visas, if any.
2. Two passport-sized pictures:
The images had to be from the previous six months. They need to be photographed against a light background and in color.
3. Application form:
The Estonian application form must be completed electronically, printed on paper, and signed at the end. Make sure there are no spaces left unfilled.
4. Proof of fee payment:
The cost of obtaining an Estonian study visa is €100. When you turn in your paperwork at the embassy or consulate, you can pay with cash or a credit or debit card. Attach the receipt to your application after completing the payment for your Estonian visa.
5. An acceptance letter from the college:
Provide documentation attesting to your acceptance to a university in Estonia.
6. Statements from banks:
Provide documentation of your last six months’ worth of bank statements. This paper serves as proof of your ability to pay for yourself in Estonia.
7. Evidence of accommodations:
This document needs to attest to the fact that you are staying in Estonia. This document, for instance, could be a:
- A letter from the Estonian university confirming that you would be living with other students.
- A letter of invitation. This document, which attests to their ability to sponsor and pay for your stay in Estonia, may be provided by one of your relatives living in Estonia.
- Make a hotel reservation.
- Rent contract.
8. Health insurance document:
Evidence of current, legitimate health insurance that is valid within the Schengen area.
9. Criminal history:
A police record from your nation of origin attesting to your lack of criminal background.
How To Apply For A Student Visa In Estonia?
You must do the following procedures to apply for an Estonian student visa:
- Make an appointment by contacting the Estonian embassy or consulate that is closest to you in your home nation.
- For your visa appointment, turn in the application form, the receipt for the fee, and all other required paperwork.
- Await hearing back regarding your visa outcome from the embassy or consulate. After submitting your documents to the embassy or consulate, you will receive an email or text message containing the outcome of your visa application.
The visa application process for most European countries is similar. For example, the Spain student visa application process is quite similar to that of the process for a student visa in Estonia.
How Long Does It Take To Get an Estonia Student Visa?
It takes ten to thirty days to process an Estonian student visa. Processing of your application will begin on the day it is submitted.
Once the processing period is up, the embassy or consulate of your home country will reply to you via email or SMS with the results of your visa application.
What Is The Duration of a Student Visa in Estonia?
A student’s visa is valid for a full year. You can, however, apply for a temporary residence visa if your studies require you to stay in Estonia for a period longer than a year. You are allowed to stay in Estonia for five years with a temporary residency permit.
Can You Work with an Estonia Student Visa?
If the employment does not interfere with their education, students are allowed to work in Estonia while holding a student visa.
To be able to finish their studies in Estonia, they must, however, pass all of their tests, complete all of their coursework, and finish on time.
What Is The Cost of an Estonian Student Visa?
When submitting the necessary paperwork, you can complete the payment for the visa at the Estonian embassy or consulate in your home nation.
Nevertheless, the cost of an Estonian visa may vary based on your location, age, and the kind of visa you’re applying for.
The general costs of a student visa in Estonia are:
- A short-stay visa is €80.
- A long-stay visa is €100.
- An airport transit visa is €80.
- A Schengen visa for children under the age of 15 is €40.
Can You Extend Your Estonia Student visa?
Yes. To extend your stay in Estonia beyond three months, you have the following options:
- Apply for a long-term visa:
You can stay in Estonia for a year with a long-stay visa. With a long-term visa, you can work, study, and pass through Estonia.
- Apply to extend your Schengen visa:
Only specific circumstances, such as humanitarian grounds, may result in the granting of a Schengen visa extension.
How To Get a Permanent Registration Card in Estonia as a Student?
You need to have a temporary residence permit in Estonia for five years before you may apply for a permanent residency permit. However, students are also subject to this restriction in a different way.
You are not eligible to apply for a permanent residence permit right away if you are a student living in Estonia for five years with a temporary residence permit.
Your time as a student in Estonia will only be counted for half of it. Therefore, while seeking permanent residency, five years of stay as a student in Estonia counts as two and a half years of residency.
Health insurance for students in Estonia
Students’ health insurance from the Estonian Health Insurance Fund is not covered in Estonia. This implies that anyone who is not from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland must apply for a private or foreign health insurance plan.
During the whole time you are studying in Estonia, your private health insurance in Estonia must cover all medical expenses, including accidents or illnesses.
Students from non-EU, EEA, or Switzerland may apply for a student visa that includes travel insurance. After arriving in Estonia, they only need to apply for long-term health insurance.
What Should You Do If Your Estonia Student Visa Is Refused?
If Estonia rejects your request for a visa, you can:
- Submit a further application for the same visa.
- Get a Schengen visa for another Schengen nation, then use that same visa to visit Estonia.
- File an appeal of the ruling. If your visa is rejected, you have 30 days to file an appeal by following the guidelines on the denial letter. If you want to appeal the refusal, you have to pay a fee of €20.
What Are The Reasons For Estonia Student Visa Refusal?
- If you currently or previously have a criminal record.
- If you possess forged travel documents.
- If your passport is damaged.
- If any of the necessary paperwork is absent.
- If any information on your application form is inaccurate.
- If you fail to show up on time for your visa appointment.
- If you lack documentation of your accommodations.
- If your ticket for the return trip is missing.
- If, to obtain a visit, you lie during your interview.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I get a student visa for Estonia?
1. Make an appointment by contacting the Estonian embassy or consulate that is closest to you in your home nation.
2. For your visa appointment, turn in the application form, the receipt for the fee, and all other required paperwork.
3. Await hearing back regarding your visa outcome from the embassy or consulate.
2. How much bank balance is required for an Estonia student visa?
For a student, the required amount is currently €350 per month or €4200 annually. Therefore, to be granted a student residence permit, you would have to provide evidence that you have €4200 in your account.
3. Is IELTS needed for Estonia student visa?
While certain colleges may administer individual language tests, all internationally recognized language competence exams (such as the TOEFL and IELTS) are accepted. Typically, 6 in the IELTS and 72 in the TOEFL (IBT) are the minimal test scores needed for BA and MA.
4. Can international students get a PR in Estonia?
Yes. The candidate must be older than fifteen. The applicant must present official documentation attesting to their eight years of residency in Estonia, five of which must have been spent with a permanent resident card. They need to speak Estonian fluently.
5. Is Estonia expensive for students?
The Euro (€) is the currency used in Estonia. Students’ average monthly living expenses might range from 300 to 500 euros. The cost of housing varies depending on location, kind of accommodation, and time of year, although monthly rates for dorms often vary from €150–350 to €350–750 for private apartments.
Conclusion
Estonia is a participant in the Schengen Area and an EU member. This indicates that there are no border checks in the Area with any other nation.
After registering, citizens of the EU, EEA, and Switzerland are allowed to migrate to Estonia and remain there for as long as they like. This is also applicable to people who are looking to get a student visa in Estonia.
You are considered a national of a third country if you were born outside of the European Union.
Schengen visas are issued by Estonia. These can be used for travel throughout all 26 of the EU’s member nations, except Ireland. However, you have to enter the Area via the nation that granted your visa.
Add Comment