Estonia · Student

Estonia Student permit

Income needed: €880+ a month ≈ $980

Temporary residence permit for study

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026Change log

Key facts

Student permit is a student route for Estonia. Applicants need income of €880+ a month ≈ $980. You can stay 5 yrs, renewable. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

Money needed: €880+ a month ≈ $980
Government fees: €225 ≈ $250 · €255 ≈ $280
Processing: Up to 90 days
First stay: 5 yrs

Cost, time and long term

To apply: government fees €480 ≈ $540 in total (2 fees); income to show €880+/mo ≈ $980; decision: up to 90 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

Government fees€225 ≈ $250 · €255 ≈ $280

EUR 225 (≈ $250)State fee for a temporary residence permit applied for in Estonia.
EUR 255 (≈ $280)State fee for a temporary residence permit applied for at a foreign representation.

Shown, not spent€880+/mo ≈ $980 · €880+/mo ≈ $980

EUR 880 a month (≈ $980)Four times the subsistence level set in the State Budget Act (4 x EUR 220 (≈ $250) per month in 2026), confirmed by signing the application.
EUR 880 a month (≈ $980)D-visa funds for studies (Ministry table); spouse EUR 2,100 (≈ $2,350) per month in the table for studies, EUR 704 (≈ $790) for doctoral studies.

RenewalRenewable

The permit is issued for the whole full-time programme, up to 5 years.

Police and Border Guard Board

Permanent residenceTime here doesn't count

Time spent in Estonia on a residence permit for study is not taken into account for a long-term residence permit.

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

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.

Time on this route doesn't count toward permanent residence
Needs a place at a school or university in Estonia
Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

What you'll need

Who can apply2

The applicant studies full time for more than one year and holds no other Estonian residence permit.
The school confirms the applicant is admitted to study there.

What you must show3

Income is at least four times the subsistence level: EUR 880 (≈ $980) per month in 2026.
D visa funds are EUR 880 (≈ $980) per month (doctoral EUR 880, (≈ $980) spouse EUR 704 (≈ $790)).
The state fee is EUR 225 (≈ $250) in Estonia or EUR 255 (≈ $280) at a foreign representation.

Documents1

A health insurance contract is in place with cover of at least EUR 6,000 (≈ $6,700) a year.

Steps1

The decision takes up to 90 days and the permit card follows within 30 days.

After you arrive2

The holder settles in Estonia and registers the place of residence in the Population Register.
Studies must start on time, be full time and not be interrupted.

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 12 Oct 2026

Official site

What you need to arrange

Health insurance
A health insurance contract is in place with cover of at least EUR 6,000 (≈ $6,700) a year
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

Temporary residence permit for full-time study at a recognised Estonian school (basic, upper secondary, vocational, bachelor, master, doctoral, preparatory courses), required when the study period exceeds one year. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What you must show and pay

Income of at least EUR 880 a month (≈ $980) · Four times the subsistence level set in the State Budget Act (4 x EUR 220 (≈ $250) per month in 2026), confirmed by signing the application. ^{1 4}
Savings of at least EUR 880 a month (≈ $980) · D-visa funds for studies (Ministry table); spouse EUR 2,100 (≈ $2,350) per month in the table for studies, EUR 704 (≈ $790) for doctoral studies. ²
A fee of EUR 225 (≈ $250) · State fee for a temporary residence permit applied for in Estonia. ³
A fee of EUR 255 (≈ $280) · State fee for a temporary residence permit applied for at a foreign representation. ³

Requirements

The applicant studies full time for more than one year and holds no other Estonian residence permit. ¹
The school confirms the applicant is admitted to study there. ¹
Income is at least four times the subsistence level: EUR 880 (≈ $980) per month in 2026. ^{1 4}
D visa funds are EUR 880 (≈ $980) per month (doctoral EUR 880, (≈ $980) spouse EUR 704 (≈ $790)). ²
The state fee is EUR 225 (≈ $250) in Estonia or EUR 255 (≈ $280) at a foreign representation. ³
A health insurance contract is in place with cover of at least EUR 6,000 (≈ $6,700) a year. ^{1 5}
The decision takes up to 90 days and the permit card follows within 30 days. ¹
The holder settles in Estonia and registers the place of residence in the Population Register. ¹
Studies must start on time, be full time and not be interrupted. ¹

Stay

Issued for the whole period of the full-time programme, up to 5 years.
First stay: up to 60 months, decided case by case.
Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

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

May work alongside studies provided it does not interfere with full-time study.

Family

A spouse can settle with a student permit holder only in exceptional cases.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

Residence permit for study · Police and Border Guard Board · 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
State fee amounts: residence permit and rights of residence · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
Subsistence benefit and subsistence level (toimetulekupiir) · Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
Aliens Act (Välismaalaste seadus), consolidated text in force from 1 October 2026 · Riigi Teataja · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-06-30
Temporary residence permit for permanent residence · Police and Border Guard Board · checked 2026-10-11
Applying for a residence permit · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11

Student permit and its alternatives

Route	Money needed	Stay	Work
Student permit	Needs income of €880+ a month ≈ $980	5 yr, renewable	Yes
Student permit Portugal	Needs income of €920+ a month ≈ $1,030	3 yr, renewable	Yes
Internship permit Spain	–	1 yr, renewable	–
D3 study visa Georgia	–	1 yr, renewable	No
Student visa Italy	Needs savings of €10k+ a year ≈ $11k	–	Yes

Questions people ask

How much money do I need for the Student permit?

Income of at least EUR 880 a month (≈ $980). Four times the subsistence level set in the State Budget Act (4 x EUR 220 (≈ $250) per month in 2026), confirmed by signing the application. Savings of at least EUR 880 a month (≈ $980). D-visa funds for studies (Ministry table); spouse EUR 2,100 (≈ $2,350) per month in the table for studies, EUR 704 (≈ $790) for doctoral studies. A fee of EUR 225 (≈ $250). State fee for a temporary residence permit applied for in Estonia. A fee of EUR 255 (≈ $280). State fee for a temporary residence permit applied for at a foreign representation.

How long can I stay on the Student permit?

Issued for the whole period of the full-time programme, up to 5 years.

How long does the Student permit 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 work on the Student permit?

Yes. May work alongside studies provided it does not interfere with full-time study.

Can I bring my family on the Student permit?

A spouse can settle with a student permit holder only in exceptional cases.

Who can apply for the Student permit?

Does the Student permit lead to permanent residence in Estonia?

Time on the Student permit doesn't count toward permanent residence in Estonia.

How are Student permit holders taxed in Estonia?

No special regime in our records is tied to the Student permit. 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

Working Holiday · Japan Working Holiday · Canada Working Holiday · AU & NZ Digital nomad D visa Company shareholder permit Sole proprietor permit Start-up founder permit Startup Visa D

Study visas elsewhere

🇩🇪 Student permit 🇫🇷 Student permit 🇬🇧 Student visa 🇳🇱 Student permit 🇦🇱 Student permit 🇲🇪 Student permit

≈ 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 2026-10-12 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.

Residence permit for study · Police and Border Guard Board · 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
State fee amounts: residence permit and rights of residence · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
Subsistence benefit and subsistence level (toimetulekupiir) · Ministry of Social Affairs of Estonia · checked 2026-10-11
Aliens Act (Välismaalaste seadus), consolidated text in force from 1 October 2026 · Riigi Teataja · checked 2026-10-11
Temporary residence permit for permanent residence · Police and Border Guard Board · checked 2026-10-11
Applying for a residence permit · Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia · 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.