Estonia is very different from all other republics that are part of the post-Soviet space. Immigrants to the small Baltic country are attracted not only by the cultural environment and the medieval spirit, but also by a decent standard of living, the opportunity to get a good education, the absence of crime, and a favorable ecological situation.
A little about Estonia
The small Republic of Estonia (just over 45 thousand km²) is located in the north of Europe, it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea. The eastern border with Russia is almost three hundred kilometers; on the southern side, Estonia borders on the Republic of Latvia.
In 1992, the country was declared a parliamentary republic, with 100 members of parliament (Riigikogu). Administratively, it is divided into fifteen counties, which are headed by elders.
Other facts:
- The population of Estonia is 1.32 million people;
- Unemployment - around 5 %, annual inflation -3,1%;
- The average salary is 1240 euro, income tax - 20 %;
- The capital of the republic is Tallinn, the official language is Estonian
For those planning to emigrate from Russia to this republic, it is useful to know that Estonia has a very well developed electronic settlement, a simple tax system, and there is practically no corruption. Tallinn is included in the UNESCO list and is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Almost all Estonians speak English, many know Russian, as the country has a large Russian-speaking diaspora.
The national cuisine of the country is a mix of Russian, German and Scandinavian cuisine. Instead of annoying hot dogs in Tallinn, you can buy the famous blood sausage with cereals for lunch, and drink coffee with marzipan for dessert. Soups, dishes made from potatoes, mushrooms and berries, which are abundant in local forests, are very popular in Estonia.
The climate in the republic is influenced by the proximity of the sea, the air is humid, in spring and autumn it is cloudy and overcast, it rains. Summer is very pleasant and cool, the warmest month is July. Winter is mild due to the influence of the Gulf Stream; it is really cold only in February.
Emigration to Estonia. How to proceed?
In order to emigrate from Russia with the intention of moving to one of the cities of Estonia, you need to have a certain basis for that. Any citizen can get a visa and go on a visit or on vacation, but in order to immigrate to the republic, this is not enough.
The difficulty lies in the fact that there is a quota for foreigners who wish to obtain a temporary residence permit in Estonia. Such people must be no more than 0.1 percent of the total number of permanent residents in Estonia at the end of a calendar year.
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Grounds for moving and preparation of documents
In order to settle in the republic, you need to choose the path according to which it will be possible to obtain a residence permit.
This could be:
- Entrepreneurial activity;
- Business;
- Family connection;
- Work;
- Education in one of the higher educational institutions.
After the move strategy has been chosen, the presence of good reasons for the application has been found, you can begin to prepare a package of documents.
It can be as follows:
- Passport (foreign), which is valid for at least another six months;
- Two copies of the application form, an application and two photographs, as for a visa;
- A rental agreement or a certificate of purchase;
- Certificate of no criminal record for the last three years;
- Confirmation of the actual availability of funds sufficient for life in the republic;
- A document certifying the category of knowledge of the Estonian language;
- An employment contract, another document confirming the fact of enrollment in a university, information about family ties or other grounds for filing a petition.
All Russian papers must be translated into Estonian, and this must be done in Estonia. A translation certified by a Russian notary will be invalid. The documents should be sent to the Estonian consulate. The decision to grant (or refuse) a residence permit usually comes within one to three months.
Immigration to Estonia: possible ways
Most often, a foreigner who has come to study or work in Estonia receives a temporary residence permit for a year, which is then extended. Having lived in Estonia in this way for five years, he can no longer leave, but apply for a permanent residence permit.
Estonian law is more loyal to some migrants (scientists, cultural workers, representatives of rare professions), but basically it is only after five years of life with a permanent residence permit that citizenship documents can be applied for.
Apparatus employed
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The law allows employers to hire citizens of other countries who wish to emigrate only if there are no Estonian applicants for this position. In order to find out this circumstance, you need to obtain consent from the unemployment insurance fund.
If such consent is obtained, you should hurry: it is valid for only two months.
If the insurance fund does not object and the relevant specialist has not been found in Estonia, the employer must sign an employment contract for a period of twelve months. After finding a job, you can apply for a temporary residence permit. IT representatives, doctors, builders, scientists can safely plan a move to Estonia.
Business immigration to Estonia
Estonia is open to entrepreneurs from all over the world, especially if they invest in the country's economy. An individual or legal entity wishing to conduct business has the right to register both a joint stock company and an LLC.
There are many positive aspects in favor of doing business in Estonia. In particular:
- Low investment at the start compared to other European countries;
- Loyal taxation system;
- The country's economy is constantly growing;
- The country is technologically advanced.
In order to immediately obtain a temporary residence permit, you need to invest in your companyat least 65 thousand euros. If you register an entrepreneurial activity, it will be enough 16 thousand euros... You can register any company in a few days.
Important! To extend a temporary residence permit when choosing a business migration, the company needs to be in business for at least the last four months.
You need to be prepared for the fact that the tax return and credit history are carefully checked.
Admission to the University
The advantage of obtaining an education in Estonia is the recognition of the received diploma in Europe in any country. You can study in English if learning Estonian is difficult.
Foreigners have to pay tuition fees. You can apply for emigration not only for a bachelor's or master's degree, but also for a doctorate.
Details:
- Estonia has three private universities and six public universities;
- The main and most prestigious university is the State University of Tartu;
- Educational institutions in the republic offer about one hundred training programs.
If you choose to migrate to Estonia for the purpose of acquiring education, you must provide a document of enrollment in a university when applying for a residence permit.
To begin with, immediately after admission, you will need to issue a student visa, it is not difficult: you will have to provide an invitation from the university for admission. Students are given a temporary residence permit for a year, until the end of their studies it will have to be regularly renewed.
Family reunification
One of the types of available immigration is a temporary residence permit due to marriage with a person who has Estonian citizenship. At the same time, the future spouse must reside in the territory of the republic.
Despite the transparency and seeming ease of this option, it will not be easy to move to Estonia from Russia, since you will have to prove that the marriage is real and not fictitious. You should also stock up on certificates that convincingly prove that a young family cannot live in Russia.
Attention: The spouse of an Estonian citizen or a foreigner who has lived in Estonia for more than two years and has a resident status has the right to obtain a temporary residence permit.
If a foreigner has any relatives in Estonia, he can also apply for permanent residence. Relatives themselves can apply.
A positive answer is guaranteed if it is:
- Persons who need constant care;
- Minor children;
- Any people who need custody.
Estonian relatives must prepare an invitation for the Russian, have a place for him (room not less than 12 sq.m.)... With this option of immigration, it is better to issue a residence permit within a month after the final move.
Buying a property
Acquisition of any real estate in Estonia makes it possible to obtain only a multiple-entry visa, which allows you to live in the country every three months for six months. Its validity period is five years.
According to the laws of this state, the acquisition of any real estate is not a sufficient basis for obtaining a residence permit. However, if you have an apartment, it is much easier to find a job, which indirectly affects a positive solution to the issue.
Based on origin (by blood)
The easiest way to immigrate to Estonia is to obtain citizenship based on origin. It is necessary to convincingly prove that any of the ancestors by blood in a straight line was an Estonian citizen. It can be mother, father, grandfather or grandmother.
Life in Estonia after immigration
A small country is very suitable for the life of a person from Russia: a familiar climate, a familiar way of life, a lot of Russian-speaking people. The salaries in Estonia are decent, this makes it possible to move here with the whole family.
People who have already settled in this region note the merits:
- The country has a good ecological situation, many forests, clean sea;
- Close to relatives from Russia, close to all of Europe;
- Neighborhoods are well equipped, there are many playgrounds, bicycle paths;
- If you have a residence permit, travel by public transport is free;
- High quality and delicious food.
Oleg:I have been living in Tallinn for three years now. There are many national couples in the country, some of them offer bicycles for rent, and a large number of hiking trails. I travel to small towns, they have a lot of interesting things. There are excellent roads in the republic, buses and electric trains go everywhere, you can do without personal vehicles. People in Estonia are nice and quite simple, the external coldness disappears at the first communication.
Michael:The country provides decent social benefits for the birth of a child. Children under 16 years of age benefit from the free health insurance fund.
Before leaving for permanent residence, you should think carefully about whether there is an opportunity to prove to the Estonian pragmatic official the validity of the reasons for living in this country. You should be patient and have money, as the move will not be cheap. However, with a strong desire and desire, you can safely begin to collect documents and pack your suitcases. Estonians always welcome foreigners who come to their land with good intentions with an open heart.
