Estonia · Business / Startup
Estonia Startup Visa D
First stay: 1 yr
Startup Visa (D visa for start-up founders)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Startup Visa D is a business / startup route for Estonia. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Government fees
- €120 ≈ $130
- First stay
- 1 yr
Cost, time and long term
Government fees€120 ≈ $130
- EUR 120 (≈ $130)Visa fee (EUR 60 (≈ $67) for children aged 6 to 11; children under 6 exempt).
Shown, not spent€880+/mo ≈ $980
- EUR 880 a month (≈ $980)D-visa sufficient funds for start-up business; spouse EUR 704 (≈ $790) per month.
RenewalRenewable
The visa is for up to 365 days and can be extended for up to 183 days; the founder then applies for a temporary residence permit for business.
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 apply1
- The Startup Committee gives a positive evaluation of the start-up.
What you must show1
- Funds of EUR 880 (≈ $980) per month of stay are required; a spouse needs EUR 704 (≈ $790) per month.
Documents3
- Travel health insurance of at least EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) is submitted.
- Accommodation confirmation is submitted.
- A travel booking is submitted.
Steps2
- The Startup Committee decision comes within 10 working days.
- A positive evaluation gives a verification letter with a unique code.
What happens at day 183
How Estonia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
1 year 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
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Travel health insurance of at least EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) is submitted
- Accommodation
Accommodation confirmation is submitted
- Money to show
This route asks for savings of €880+ a month ≈ $980.
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Long-stay D visa for founders of a technology-based, scalable start-up that has a positive Startup Committee evaluation; precedes the business residence permit. 1 2 3
What you must show and pay
- Savings of at least EUR 880 a month (≈ $980) · D-visa sufficient funds for start-up business; spouse EUR 704 (≈ $790) per month. 2
- A fee of EUR 120 (≈ $130) · Visa fee (EUR 60 (≈ $67) for children aged 6 to 11; children under 6 exempt). 2
Requirements
- The Startup Committee gives a positive evaluation of the start-up. 1 3
- Funds of EUR 880 (≈ $980) per month of stay are required; a spouse needs EUR 704 (≈ $790) per month. 2
- Travel health insurance of at least EUR 30,000 (≈ $33,500) is submitted. 1
- Accommodation confirmation is submitted. 1
- A travel booking is submitted. 1
- The Startup Committee decision comes within 10 working days. 1 3
- A positive evaluation gives a verification letter with a unique code. 1 3
Stay
- Visa for up to 365 days; can be extended for up to 183 days (Startup Estonia). Founder then applies for a temporary residence permit for business.
- Initial permitted stay: 12 months.
- Visa validity: 12 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
- Startup D visa up to 365 days: Up to 365 days; extension up to 183 days.
Nationality
Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. 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.
Work
Build and run the start-up company.
Family
Spouse, children and dependent adult children may get a visa when the founder does, also on extension.
Official sources
- Startup Visa: foreign founder · Startup Estonia (Estonian Business and Innovation Agency) · checked 2026-10-11
- Application for a long-stay (D) visa: funds table, fee, youth work visas · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit for business: start-up entrepreneurs · Police and Border Guard Board · checked 2026-10-11
Startup Visa D and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Visa D | – | 1 yr, renewable | – |
| Company shareholder permit | Needs an investment of €65k+ ≈ $73k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Sole proprietor permit | Needs an investment of €16k+ ≈ $18k | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Start-up founder permit | Needs income of €880+ a month ≈ $980 | 5 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Startup Visa D?
Savings of at least EUR 880 a month (≈ $980). D-visa sufficient funds for start-up business; spouse EUR 704 (≈ $790) per month. A fee of EUR 120 (≈ $130). Visa fee (EUR 60 (≈ $67) for children aged 6 to 11; children under 6 exempt).
How long can I stay on the Startup Visa D?
Visa for up to 365 days; can be extended for up to 183 days (Startup Estonia).
Can I work on the Startup Visa D?
Build and run the start-up company.
Can I bring my family on the Startup Visa D?
Spouse, children and dependent adult children may get a visa when the founder does, also on extension.
Who can apply for the Startup Visa D?
Third-country nationals; EU/EEA citizens do not need the permit. 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.
How are Startup Visa D holders taxed in Estonia?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Startup Visa D. 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.
More in Estonia
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ 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 3 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.
- Startup Visa: foreign founder · Startup Estonia (Estonian Business and Innovation Agency) · checked 2026-10-11
- Application for a long-stay (D) visa: funds table, fee, youth work visas · Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
- Residence permit for business: start-up entrepreneurs · 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.