Labour relations and social security
(validity period up to five years) or longterm. Temporary residence permit may be issued to a foreigner: - married to a person with permanent residence in Estonia; - for settling down with a close relative permanently residing in Estonia; - for working; - for studies at an Estonian educational institution; - for business; - whose permanent legal income ensures his/her subsistence in Estonia; - whose application for residence permit is based on an international agreement. Temporary residence permit for employment A residence permit for employment grants a foreigner the right to stay in Estonia for the purpose of employment according to the conditions determined by the residence permit. The number of foreigners who can settle in Estonia is limited. The annual immigration quota is the quota for foreigners immigrating to Estonia which can not exceed 0.1 per cent of the permanent population of Estonia annually. The immigration quota does not apply to the following: • foreigners who are ethnic Estonians; • citizens of the European Union, the United States of America, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Japan; • foreigners who apply for a residence permit for employment as a scientist. A residence permit for employment is generally issued for a foreigner with the consent of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund, public competition and fulfilling the salary criterion. A foreigner can be granted a residence permit for employment if an open competition has been carried out to staff the post and if, within three weeks, it has not been possible to recruit anybody through the state employment mediation service.
PwC
Guide to doing business and investing in Estonia
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