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Estonia · Spouse visas

Estonia Spouse of a citizen

Income needed: €440+ a month ≈ $490

Temporary residence permit to settle with a spouse who is an Estonian citizen

First checked against official sources on Change log

Key facts

Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Estonia. Applicants need income of €440+ a month ≈ $490. You can stay 5 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.

Money needed
€440+ a month ≈ $490
Government fees
€115 ≈ $130
Processing
Up to 90 days
First stay
5 yrs

Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fee €115 ≈ $130; income to show €440+/mo ≈ $490; decision: up to 90 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

Government fees€115 ≈ $130
  • EUR 115 (≈ $130)State fee for settling with a spouse who is an Estonian citizen, applied for in Estonia; EUR 145 (≈ $160) at a foreign mission.
Shown, not spent€440+/mo ≈ $490
  • EUR 440 a month (≈ $490)Income of at least double the subsistence level (EUR 220 (≈ $250) per month in 2026).
RenewalRenewable

A residence permit is issued for up to 5 years and can be extended for up to 10 years at a time.

Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia

Permanent residenceAfter 3 years of residence

A long-term residence permit needs at least 3 of the last 5 consecutive years in Estonia on a residence permit or right of residence, plus Estonian at A2 level, health insurance, income at subsistence level and the basic adaptation programme.

Police and Border Guard Board

ProcessingUp to 90 days

The Police and Border Guard Board decides within 90 days of accepting the application, and the card follows within 30 days; applying through a foreign mission adds document delivery time.

Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia

Where to applyAbroad or in-country

Apply in person at an Estonian foreign mission, or in Estonia at a Police and Border Guard Board service office by appointment.

Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia

Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

  • Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

What you'll need

Who can apply2

  • Applicant is a foreign national who does not already hold an Estonian residence permit on other grounds.
  • The spouse who invites the applicant is an Estonian citizen.

What you must show2

  • Applicant has income of at least double the subsistence level, confirmed by signing the application.
  • The state fee is EUR 115 (≈ $130) in Estonia or EUR 145 (≈ $160) at an Estonian foreign mission.

Documents4

  • Application, biographical data form, identity document and a digital photo.
  • Documents certifying legal income over the previous six months, and a criminal record certificate from each country of residence in the last three years.
  • Invitation form signed by the spouse in Estonia, and a marriage certificate if the marriage was concluded abroad.
  • Proof of payment of the state fee.

Steps2

  1. Apply at an Estonian foreign mission or, if already in Estonia, at a Police and Border Guard Board service office; fingerprints are given in person.
  2. The decision takes up to 90 days from acceptance and the permit card follows within 30 days of a positive decision.

After you arrive1

  • The spouse registers the place of residence in the Population Register after receiving the permit.

What happens at day 183

How Estonia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

Stay on this route

Up to 5 years at first, renewable

Tax residence
  • At least 183 days in 12 consecutive calendar monthsAlternative to having a permanent or primary place of residence in Estonia.
Foreign-source income

Flat 22% income tax on residents worldwide (including foreign-source) income; EUR 700 (≈ $780) per month basic exemption; non-residents taxed on Estonian-source income only.

All tax rules for Estonia Tax records checked

Official site
Full official text

Temporary residence permit for the foreign spouse of an Estonian citizen, issued for up to 5 years and renewable, at a reduced state fee. 1 2 3 4 5 6

What you must show and pay

  • Income of at least EUR 440 a month (≈ $490) · Income of at least double the subsistence level (EUR 220 (≈ $250) per month in 2026). 1 5
  • A fee of EUR 115 (≈ $130) · State fee for settling with a spouse who is an Estonian citizen, applied for in Estonia; EUR 145 (≈ $160) at a foreign mission. 4

Requirements

  • Applicant is a foreign national who does not already hold an Estonian residence permit on other grounds. 1
  • The spouse who invites the applicant is an Estonian citizen. 1
  • Applicant has income of at least double the subsistence level, confirmed by signing the application. 1 5
  • The state fee is EUR 115 (≈ $130) in Estonia or EUR 145 (≈ $160) at an Estonian foreign mission. 4
  • Application, biographical data form, identity document and a digital photo. 2
  • Documents certifying legal income over the previous six months, and a criminal record certificate from each country of residence in the last three years. 2
  • Invitation form signed by the spouse in Estonia, and a marriage certificate if the marriage was concluded abroad. 2
  • Proof of payment of the state fee. 2
  • Apply at an Estonian foreign mission or, if already in Estonia, at a Police and Border Guard Board service office; fingerprints are given in person. 2
  • The decision takes up to 90 days from acceptance and the permit card follows within 30 days of a positive decision. 3
  • The spouse registers the place of residence in the Population Register after receiving the permit. 1

Stay

  • Issued for up to 5 years and extendable for up to 10 years at a time; extension fee EUR 115 (≈ $130).
  • First stay: up to 60 months, decided case by case.
  • Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Family

Spouse, unmarried minor children and adult children unable to cope independently (health or disability) can apply for family-member residence permits, valid up to 5 years and not beyond the holder's permit.

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

  1. Residence permit for a family member: for a spouse · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  2. Applying for a residence permit · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  3. Processing a residence permit application · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  4. State fee amounts: residence permit and rights of residence · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  5. Subsistence benefit and subsistence level (toimetulekupiir) · Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  6. Residence permit for a family member: for an adult child · Police and Border Guard Board · checked 2026-10-11
  7. Temporary residence permit for permanent residence · Police and Border Guard Board · checked 2026-10-11

Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives

RouteMoney neededStayWork
Spouse of a citizenNeeds income of €440+ a month ≈ $4905 yr, renewable–
Spouse of a residentNeeds income of €440+ a month ≈ $4905 yr, renewable–
Spouse of a citizen Portugal–––
Spouse of a resident SpainNeeds income of €900+ a month ≈ $1,010–Yes
Spouse of a resident Georgia–1 yr, renewable–

Questions people ask

How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen?

Income of at least EUR 440 a month (≈ $490). Income of at least double the subsistence level (EUR 220 (≈ $250) per month in 2026). A fee of EUR 115 (≈ $130). State fee for settling with a spouse who is an Estonian citizen, applied for in Estonia; EUR 145 (≈ $160) at a foreign mission.

How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen?

Issued for up to 5 years and extendable for up to 10 years at a time; extension fee EUR 115 (≈ $130).

How long does the Spouse of a citizen take to process?

The Police and Border Guard Board decides within 90 days of accepting the application, and the card follows within 30 days; applying through a foreign mission adds document delivery time.

Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen?

Spouse, unmarried minor children and adult children unable to cope independently (health or disability) can apply for family-member residence permits, valid up to 5 years and not beyond the holder's permit.

Who can apply for the Spouse of a citizen?

Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Estonia?

Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Estonia, which the rules allow after 3 years of residence.

How are Spouse of a citizen holders taxed in Estonia?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Spouse of a citizen. The standard rules apply: Flat 22% income tax on residents worldwide (including foreign-source) income; EUR 700 (≈ $780) per month basic exemption; non-residents taxed on Estonian-source income only.

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Spouse and partner visas elsewhere

🇮🇹 Spouse of a resident🇬🇷 Spouse of a citizen🇫🇷 Spouse of a resident🇬🇧 Fiancé visa🇳🇱 Spouse of a citizen🇨🇾 Spouse of a resident

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

Ask the AI about this route AI

An AI assistant answers from the published records on this page and cites them. It can't assess your personal eligibility. Don't include personal details.

How this was checked

Checked on 2026-10-11 against 7 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

  1. Residence permit for a family member: for a spouse · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  2. Applying for a residence permit · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  3. Processing a residence permit application · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  4. State fee amounts: residence permit and rights of residence · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  5. Subsistence benefit and subsistence level (toimetulekupiir) · Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
  6. Residence permit for a family member: for an adult child · Police and Border Guard Board · checked 2026-10-11
  7. Temporary residence permit for permanent residence · Police and Border Guard Board · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.