Visa and Residence Permit Guide

Students holding TRP or long-term visa for study or research purposes issued by another EU member country
Third-country citizens can stay in Estonia with a visa or a residence permit for study or employment for research purposes issued by another European Union (EU) country (note: EU country, not Schengen country). Staying in Estonia for study is allowed for up to 360 days or until the visa or residence permit issued by the other EU country expires.
Please note that the residence permit/visa issued by another EU member state and to be used in Estonia must have “student”/ “researcher” written on the document in the language of the issuing country.
If the visa or residence permit issued by another EU country expires during one's stay in Estonia and one wishes to continue studying or working in Estonia, one should apply for a visa or residence permit in Estonia at the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. One must ensure that the period of stay in Estonia is sufficient to obtain a new D (long-stay) visa or TRP for studies. Please check the processing time of the D visa/TRP for studies below. Having submitted a D visa or TRP for studies application does not grant the right to stay in Estonia!
Students staying in Estonia with a visa or residence permit issued by another EU country are allowed to work during their studies on the same conditions as students staying in Estonia with a visa or residence permit issued by Estonia. This means, on the condition that working does not interfere with their studies.

Students holding TRP or long-term visa (for example family reasons) issued by another EU member country
You can enter Estonia with a valid TRP or long-term visa issued by another EU country. A TRP or long-term visa issued by another EU country enables you to travel in the Schengen countries for up to 90 days in a six-month period. If your studies in Estonia last longer than 90 days you need to apply for a D-type visa or TRP (degree-seeking students) after your arrival to Estonia. D-Visa/TRP can be applied at the Police and Border Guard Board. Information about the documentation needed for the D-Visa/TRP application can be found here. One must ensure that the period of stay in Estonia is sufficient to obtain a new D (long-stay) visa or TRP for studies (degree-seeking students). Please check the processing time of the D visa/TRP for studies below. Having submitted a D visa or TRP for studies application does not grant the right to stay in Estonia!

NB! The students entering Estonia with the residence permit/long-term visa of another EU member state must inform the Study Abroad Centre of their permit/visa by sending an email to: [email protected].

Citizens of the countries having visa-free entry to Estonia/Schengen area.

In addition to the citizens from EU, EEA, and Schengen area, there are countries, whose citizens have visa-free entry to Estonia. Please see the full list of countries here.

Even if you are a citizen of one of the countries in the above list, if you plan to study in Estonia for more than 90 days, the University of Tartu strongly recommends applying for a D-visa at the nearest Estonian embassy and entering Estonia either with a visa or a residence permit. Entering the Schengen zone to study for a period of longer than 90 days is not in accordance with the laws and regulations of visa-free travelling and it may cause problems when you reach the first Schengen area country. NB! The University of Tartu is not liable for any fines or fees that you may incur if you enter the Schengen area without a valid D-visa or residence permit.

The students, who enter Estonia using their visa-free access right, must ensure that the period of stay in Estonia is sufficient to obtain a D (long-stay) visa or TRP for studies. Please check the processing time of the D visa/TRP for studies below. Having submitted a D visa or TRP for studies application does not grant the right to stay in Estonia! If TRP processing takes longer than the period of stay granted with a visa waiver, one needs to apply for a D visa before getting TRP for studies.

Non-EU nationals, who stay in the Schengen area beyond 90 days (without a residence permit or D visa) are illegally present, which can result in a re-entry ban to the Schengen area. You must carefully calculate your days of stay as the overall period of stay in the Schengen area, not just Estonia, and must not exceed the overall total of 90 (ninety) days of stay within any 180-day period.

Please read FAQ about visa-free entry here.

A long-stay (D) visa may be issued for either single or multiple entries into Estonia. If you plan to travel during your visa period, you should apply for a multiple-entry visa. D visa allows travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any six-month period.

D visa may be applied for up to six months before your intended arrival in Estonia; however, there is generally no need to apply that early, as visas are typically issued within 30 days. If you hold a D visa or temporary residence permit (TRP) issued by another Schengen country, you cannot apply for an Estonian D visa more than two months before your current visa or TRP expires.

You must apply for a D visa in person at an Estonian representation handling visa applications. If there is no Estonian representation in your country of residence, you may apply through the VFS Global office in your country (if possible) or at any Estonian representation that handles visa applications. Please contact the relevant Estonian representation before travelling there to submit your visa application.

You can apply at the Police and Border Guard Board service office in Estonia only if you entered Estonia with a C visa or under a visa-free regime. The application process is the same regardless of the place of application. Students applying for a D visa in Estonia must book an appointment with the Police and Border Guard Board.

Please note that only a limited number of Estonian embassies worldwide process long-stay (D-type) visa applications. If you apply for a D visa, you must be prepared to visit an Estonian embassy or a VFS Global office in person, either in your home country or abroad.

If you need to travel abroad or to another city for your visa appointment, please take into account the additional time and financial resources required and plan accordingly to avoid delays in your arrival in Estonia. Neither the University of Tartu nor the Estonian embassies can issue a visa invitation for entry into the country where the nearest Estonian embassy is located; arranging such travel is your responsibility. Therefore, before applying to or paying any fees to the University of Tartu, please ensure that you are able to access an Estonian embassy if required for your visa application.

Countries with Estonian embassies handling D-type visa applications include Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, Georgia, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Türkiye, Ukraine, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Ireland.

Estonian D Visa Applications via VFS Global

You may also submit an Estonian Long-stay (D-type) visa application through VFS Global visa application centers in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Israel, Japan, Mexico, and the United States.

Please note that VFS Global only collects application documents and forwards them to the Estonian Embassy for processing. This may result in longer processing times, so please plan accordingly.

1. Valid travel document issued within the previous 10 years, containing at least two blank pages for visas, and valid for at least three months beyond the visa’s expiration date.

2. Fully completed and signed application form. Follow the instructions provided on the website. The same pre-filled D visa application form is used when submitting D visa documentation in Estonia at the Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB), not only when applying through an Estonian embassy abroad.

   Note: In the application form, under the Host Company/Organization Information section, you are required to provide the surname, name, address, phone number, and email address of the contact person. Please enter the following information: Eda Tursk / Ülikooli 18, 50090, Tartu, Estonia / [email protected]. See the general contact information for UT.

3. One color photograph (35 × 45 mm), meeting ICAO requirements and taken within the last six months.

4. Travel medical insurance covering any costs related to the applicant’s medical treatment due to illness or injury during the validity of the visa. As a rule, the insurance must be valid for the entire requested visa period. If the applicant will be covered by Estonian health insurance (Tervisekassa) after arrival in Estonia, the travel medical insurance must cover only the period until the Estonian health insurance becomes valid.

   Students may choose any international insurance provider that offers suitable coverage. KindlustusEst is an insurance broker that can help find suitable insurance coverage. You can compare prices from different insurance providers on the website and sign the contract online. No additional fees are charged to students. Regardless of which insurance provider you use, you should be prepared to cover medical costs upfront. If you need to pay for medical services, keep all receipts and supporting documents, and apply for reimbursement from your insurance provider in accordance with its procedures. If the costs are covered under your insurance policy, the provider will issue a refund.

5. Proof of sufficient financial means, including evidence of the applicant’s income for the three months immediately preceding submission of the application, indicating the amount, regularity, and sources of income.

   You must be prepared to present proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of your visa-covered stay in Estonia (e.g., an original bank statement showing transactions from the last months, duly stamped and signed by the bank). You are not required to demonstrate sufficient funds for the entire duration of your studies; however, you must show that you or your parents have had a legal and regular income over the past three months and that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses during the visa period.

   Note: Even if you will receive a stipend or salary from the University of Tartu, you must still be prepared to prove sufficient funding for the visa period (approximately €880 per month) when submitting your visa application documents. For more information on sufficient financial means, please consult the relevant embassy.

6. Completed form concerning close relatives and family members.

7. Completed form concerning biographical data.

8. Additional application form 1 (citizens of NATO member states are exempted).

9. Documents indicating the purpose of the journey. New students must present their official UT admission letter. Students already enrolled at the University of Tartu (with active student status) who are applying for a D-type visa in Estonia must request a certificate of studies from their Dean’s Office and present it at the visa interview.

10. Document evidencing your place of stay in Estonia. If you apply for a University of Tartu dormitory and have not yet received housing confirmation, you should inform the embassy accordingly. If you do not have secured accommodation in UT dormitories by the time of your visa interview, you must book temporary accommodation elsewhere. If you plan to arrange more permanent housing after arriving in Estonia, a hostel or hotel booking confirmation proving your place of stay at the beginning of your studies must be available for your visa interview.

11. Travel ticket booking confirmation to Estonia or proof of alternative means of transport.

12. At the time of application submission, biometric data (10 fingerprints) is collected.

13. Visa fee (EUR 120). See the payment instructions.

Note: Please ensure that, when completing the application, the duration of your intended stay (in days) covers your entire study period. Please note that the total period of stay under a long-term (D) visa must not exceed 548 days within any 730 consecutive days. In any case, once you contact the relevant Estonian embassy, you must follow their guidance and requirements regarding the documents needed for the D visa application.

Starting from 28 April 2025, foreign documents (such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or educational documents) submitted as part of a long-stay (D) visa application must be legalized or apostilled and translated into either Estonian or English. For detailed information on which documents require apostille or legalization, please contact the Estonian representation where you intend to submit your visa application.

See also the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

A C-visa can be applied for in person only at the Estonian representations handling visa applications or at the representation of the EU member state representing Estonia in issuing Schengen visas. Please see here. We highly recommend that all students who are considering applying for a C-visa in a country where Estonia is represented by the embassy of some other EU member state first make sure this is possible. To the best of our knowledge, foreign embassies/representations do not issue C-visas for the purpose of studying unless the study period at UT is less than 3 months. Please be aware that neither the University of Tartu nor any of the Estonian embassies can issue you a visa invitation for entering the country where the closest Estonian embassy is located. This must be handled by the applicant. Students entering Estonia with a C-visa and staying in Estonia for longer than 3 months are required to start applying for either a D-visa or residence permit, depending on the purpose and duration of their stay, immediately after arriving to Estonia.

List of documents to be submitted for C-visa application

1. valid travel document which is issued within previous 10 years, contains at least two blank pages for visa and is valid at least 3 months after the expiration date of the visa;

2. application form (provided by the embassy or from the following webpage: Ministry of Foreign Affairs);

3. one photo (size 35x45 mm);

4. an insurance policy valid for Estonia or for the Schengen area with coverage of at least 30 000 EUR for the entire duration of stay;

5. documents indicating the purpose of journey: UT admission letter;

6. any information which supports the applicant's intention to leave the Schengen area before the expiry of the visa (admission letter);

7. documents proving the sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to the country of origin or residence: i.e. your scholarship proof or bank statement. In the case that UT pays you a stipend then a proof of receiving a fixed income, while studying in Estonia, is enclosed in the admission package;

8. a visa fee 90 €

More information here:

If you should have any problems concerning your rights as a C-visa holder, please contact the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Police and Border Guard Board immediately.

The following documents must be submitted when applying for the TRP in Estonia or at Estonian representation abroad. Below (at the end of the documents' list) there is some additional information for the UT students extending their TRP. Students processing their TRP documentation in Estonia, please reserve an appointment time at the Police and Border Guard Board, either online or by phone! More information is here. When booking online, please choose option number 4.

1. General application form and additional forms that can be found here.

2. A document which certifies your legal income or that of your family members who support you financially. The document must show the amount, regularity and sources of the income during the six months before the submission of the residence permit application. Please note that the legal income per person must be 800 euros per month (corrected 20.07.2023, previously was 400 euros).
The easiest way to prove legal income is with a bank statement. The students can use either their own or parents' bank statement. The latter should not be used if the parents' do not support you during the studies in Estonia. If you receive or will be receiving a scholarship during your studies in Estonia, the proof of scholarship can be used to prove legal income. If UT pays scholarship, the relevant information on particular scholarship is provided in your admission letter.
You do not have to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds for the entire study period, but rather provide evidence that you or your parents have earned legal regular income within the last six months.
As stated on the PBGB website, by signing the application form, you confirm that you have sufficient legal income and do not need to submit proof of having legal income. Since the PBGB may ask for the relevant proof at their own discretion, we suggest having it ready and submitting it together with the TRP application/TRP extension application.

3. Copy of an insurance contract guaranteeing that any costs related to medical treatment as a result of illness or injury during the period of validity of the TRP applied for will be met. NB! Sign the copy of the insurance contract and the conditions of your insurance (summary of coverage). Insurance can be purchased for a year, yet a student needs to make sure that he/she has continuous health insurance coverage throughout the validity period of the TRP.
As stated on the PBGB website, by signing the application form (including TRP extension application form) you confirm having required health insurance. Since everyone must have health insurance, we suggest having it ready and submitting together with the TRP application.

Degree-seeking PhD students do not need to purchase medical insurance for their studies in Estonia, as they are covered with the Estonian national health insurance (Haigekassa) soon after they have their employment contract signed. Still, for travelling to Estonia, please have appropriate insurance coverage.

4. A document certifying the payment of the state fee

5. An identity document.

6. A colour photograph sized 40x50 mm (it is possible to take a photo free of charge at the Tartu Migration Bureau while submitting your documents).

7. Admission's letter provided by UT.

The full list of the documents to be submitted for TRP application is also listed on the Police and Border Guard Board/PBGB website. Please note that one of the documents listed on the PBGB website is titled an invitation by educational institution. This will be provided by UT directly to the PBGB, thus you are not required to ask UT to provide you that document while you are applying for a TRP. There are also guidelines for accurate submission of an TRP application, please see here

I. Bachelor’s and Master’s students

Students in bachelor’s and master’s programmes are not covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund unless they are employed in Estonia. Therefore, they must obtain private health insurance from an approved insurance provider. Estonia has strict requirements for health insurance for residence permits, and only a limited number of insurance companies meet them (see below). Please note that standard travel insurance is not sufficient for a residence permit.

TRP is issued for the nominal duration of studies (e.g., 3 years for bachelor’s programmes and 2 years for master’s programmes). Students must ensure they have valid health insurance coverage for the entire study period. It is possible to purchase insurance for shorter periods (e.g., one year), provided it is renewed on time to maintain continuous coverage.

International students in Estonia commonly use one of the following insurance providers that meet TRP requirements:

• Ergo Insurance
• Elama Kindlustus AS
• AON

KindlustusEst, an insurance broker, can assist in finding suitable insurance options. Students can compare prices from different providers via their websites and conclude contracts online. No additional fees are charged for this service.

Regardless of the insurance provider, students should be prepared to initially cover medical expenses themselves. If medical services must be paid for upfront, all receipts and cost documents should be retained. Reimbursement can then be requested from the insurance provider in accordance with their procedures. Eligible costs will be refunded in accordance with the policy terms.

II. Doctoral Researchers

Doctoral Researchers, admitted from the 2022/2023 academic year onwards, are covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa). PhD students admitted earlier are covered by Tervisekassa once they have obtained a TRP, provided they are not on academic leave and have not extended their nominal study period.

III. Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa)

It is also possible to enter into an insurance contract with the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. Please check the applicable conditions on their official website.

1. After receiving the residence card, all students must register themselves as citizens of Tartu.

   Registration of residence means that the data about a person’s place of residence is entered into the Population Register.
   You can register your address of residence at Tartu Welcome Centre (Ülikooli 17, office hours are Mon-Fri 9:00-16:00, Thu 9:00-18:00) or Tartu City Government’s Population Registry Service (Küüni 5). Please see more information here.

2. PhD students: your haigekassa account (national health insurance) can be activated only after your residence is registered.

3. The TRP is issued as a residence card with a chip. The residence card issued for studies in Estonia is not valid as a travel document, but you need to have it along with your passport while travelling outside Estonia. You can use your TRP to digitally sign documents and access a broad range of e-services (banking, bill payment, etc.) using a card reader, which can be purchased at most electronics stores.

International degree students must fulfil their study programme at full capacity when applying for the TRP for the first time (i.e., they must be matriculated for full-time studies) and maintain a full-time workload throughout their studies at UT.

If an international student fails to fulfil the requirements of full-time studies, the TRP is revoked. The University of Tartu is obligated to inform the Police and Border Guard Board if an international student transfers from full-time to part-time studies within two weeks' time from the day the decision to transfer was taken.

The difference between full-time and part-time studies is described here.

To hold TRP for study, one must be enrolled as a full-time student. That does not mean taking a fixed number of courses each semester, but cumulatively full-time workload must be maintained across an academic year.

Academic leave
If an international student takes an academic leave for reasons that prevent him or her from studying, pursuant to the Universities Act, the university is obligated to inform the Police and Border Guard Board thereof and the TRP is revoked. TRP can be maintained during the academic leave, if a student is actually studying, meaning is registered to the courses for the value of 22,5 ECTS per semester.

NB! After the revocation of TRP, you must return the TRP card to the Police and Border Guard Board!

After the end of the academic leave, the person may again apply for TRP. If an international student is employed during an academic leave, he or she must apply for a residence permit for employment in a timely manner in order to continue working.

UT rules on academic leave are described here: http://www.ut.ee/en/studies/study-regulations/academic-leave.

Working during studies

International students who have the TRP for study may work in Estonia without a separate permit, as long as their work does not interfere with their studies. No evidence for working while studying needs to be submitted to the Police and Border Guard Board. If an employed international student takes an academic leave, he or she must apply for a residence permit for employment.

Extension of TRP of studies beyond the nominal study period time is possible only in some very specific study-related circumstances that hinder graduating within the nominal period of study. The students completing an intensive Estonian language programme (60 ECTS) in the first year can apply for TRP extension. Study abroad leading to extension of studies or to academic leave is not the reason to get TRP extension. Please note that after the expiry of the TRP, students have a legal basis to stay in Estonia for additional 270 days (9 months) for finishing studies or for any other arrangements. See further info below. The students not able to graduate within the additional 9 months, need to apply for a new D- type visa.

UT needs to send a TRP invitation to the PBGB. So, once you start with the extension process (only in very special circumstances), please fill in a form here. UT will send the TRP invitation directly to PBGB, not to a student. The students extending their TRP need to provide additional explanation why the TRP extension is needed.
The extension of TRP can also be done electronically provided that you use digital signing and follow the technical requirements listed here
Students processing their TRP documentation in Estonia, please reserve an appointment time at the Police and Border Guard Board, either online or by phone! More information is here. When booking online, please choose option number 4.

1. General application form and data on close relatives

2. A document which certifies your legal income or that of your family members who support you financially. The document must show the amount, regularity and sources of the income during the six months before the submission of the residence permit application. Please note that the legal income per person must be at least 300 euros per month. Check the PBGB website on legal income to find out which type of income is suitable.
As stated on the PBGB website, by signing the application form (including the TRP extension application form) you confirm that you have sufficient legal income and do not need to submit proof of having legal income. Since the PBGB may ask for the relevant proof at their own discretion, we suggest having it ready and submitting it together with the TRP application/TRP extension application.

3. Copy of an insurance contract guaranteeing that any costs related to medical treatment as a result of illness or injury during the period of validity of the TRP applied for will be met.

Degree-seeking PhD students who receive doctoral allowance do not need to purchase medical insurance for their studies in Estonia, as they are covered with the Estonian national health insurance (Haigekassa) during their nominal period of studies (4 years). During the extended study period, meaning beyond the four years, national health insurance is no longer available.

4. A document certifying the payment of the state fee

5. An identity document. Make sure the document is valid for at least 3 months after your intended period of stay.

6. A colour photograph sized 40x50 mm (it is possible to take a photo free of charge at the Tartu Migration Bureau while submitting your documents).

The full list of the documents to be submitted for TRP application is also listed on the Police and Border Guard Board/PBGB website. There are also guidelines for accurate submission of a TRP application, please see here.

If needed, please discuss with the PBGB whether the extended TRP can be picked up in any other Estonian embassy aboard, if this suits better with your travelling plans.

Once the TRP for study has expired on a regular basis, not revoked by the relevant authorities, students have a legal basis for staying in Estonia for 270 days (270-day extension came into force 23.05.2018) following the expiry date of the period of validity of the TRP. The extension is granted for all the students regardless of their purpose and duration of studies. During the extension students can be employed, thus they have the same rights as TRP holders. Please keep an eye on your TRP validity period, as there is no reminder to inform you on its expiry.

Travelling during the extension period

To be able to travel during the 270-day extension period, you need to apply for a special visa sticker (similar to a multiple entry visa) to indicate the existence of the extension period. During the validity of the visa sticker, you can enter other Schengen member states for stays of no more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

NB! It is not possible to apply for a visa sticker earlier than 10 working days before the expiry date of your TRP. It is possible to apply for the sticker also after the expiry of the TRP until the end of the 270-day extension period.

For the application, you must personally go to the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB) service office.

You need to submit the following documents:

• a free-form application containing the applicant's first name(s), surname(s), personal identification number, contact details, date of submission of the application and signature;
• document photo in digital format;
• travel document (passport);
• a document confirming the payment of the state fee (30€). On the spot it is possible to pay the state fee only in cash. Please find more information about the state fee payment here.

It is not mandatory to book an appointment, but in order to avoid a long queue, it is recommended to book an appointment beforehand (select service nr 8). The submitted application is reviewed by the PBGB within three working days.

A foreigner applying for a residence permit for study: settling with a foreigner residing in Estonia on these bases is possible in exceptional cases, on which you may seek more information from a migration adviser. How to contact migration adviser can be found here.

Register the place of residence

For stays of more than three months, you must register the place of residence. To obtain the right of temporary residence, EU citizens must register themselves as citizens of Tartu within three months from the date of entering Estonia. That can be done at the Population Register Office or at Tartu Welcome Centre. Please find more information here.

Once you have registered yourself as a citizen of Tartu, you receive the Estonian ID-code (isikukood). UT adds your ID-code to your profile in SIS, no need to send it to us, we shall get it from the Tartu Welcome Centre. ID-code gives the possibility to register with a family doctor and to use a variety of other e-services.

Applying for an Estonian ID-card

You can apply for an Estonian ID-card from the Police and Border Guard Board (Riia 132) which certifies your right of residence in Estonia. ID-card is not compulsory but allows you to use various e-services.

Applying for an ID card for an adult

Health insurance for EU citizens

The students of bachelor's and master's level: If you have valid health insurance in your home country during your studies in Estonia, you can apply for the EU health insurance card (EHIC) or substitute certificate of an EU health insurance card (form E128). You should apply for that from the social service authorities in your home country before arriving in Estonia. EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property. The required medical care is not free – the expenses (visit, hospital charges, etc.) must be paid for according to the tariffs set in Estonia. For receiving the compensation, if applicable, an application must be submitted to respective national contact point in the country where the person is insured. More information about what is covered with EHIC in Estonia can be found here ( > Healthcare Abroad > Medical Treatment Abroad > Estonia).To be eligible for an EHIC, you must be insured by or covered by a state social security system in any member state of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

NB! EU and EEA students studying in Estonia for a degree are not covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund, unless they are employed in Estonia or have the right of permanent residence, so they can obtain the EHIC only if they are covered by the social security system of their home country. If you cannot get the EHIC for the reasons described above, please check if any of the private health insurances listed below meets your expectations/needs. You should not be without any health insurance!

Estonian Health Insurance Fund: One can purchase an insurance contract with the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. Please check the conditions here.

The PhD students have Estonian Health Insurance Fund (Haigekassa) coverage, unless they have not registered their right of residence in Estonia, are on academic leave or have extended their period of study.