Estonian Residence Permit for a Company Board Member

An Estonian company does not make its foreign owner or director a resident, and e-residency is not a residence permit. A foreigner can be the board member without living in Estonia — see can a foreigner be a director of an Estonian company. A non-EU national who wants to live in Estonia and manage the company here needs a temporary residence permit for enterprise, or a long-stay visa for a shorter stay. This guide explains the route, what the Police and Border Guard Board looks at, and how we prepare the application.

The guide is general information, not legal advice. The permit is decided by the Police and Border Guard Board (Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet, PPA); nobody can guarantee a permit.

The temporary residence permit for enterprise

Under the Aliens Act, a foreigner who participates in the management of an Estonian company as a shareholder or board member may receive a temporary residence permit for enterprise. The core conditions are:

the company carries on real business activity in Estonia that is of economic importance, described in a credible business plan in Estonian or English (§ 192(5)–(6));
the applicant holds a share in a company entered in the Estonian commercial register and has sufficient money for the business (Aliens Act § 192(1)); as a rule, at least 65,000 euros has been invested in the share capital of the Estonian company and used to acquire fixed assets registered in Estonia (§ 192(2)) — not required for a start-up company or, in certain cases, for a company under 12 months old that received state or licensed-fund investment (§ 192(2¹)); after one year, sales revenue of at least 200,000 euros a year, or social tax paid on five times the average annual gross wage, can replace the investment condition (§ 192(7));
the applicant has a legal income, a place of residence in Estonia and health insurance;
there are no grounds for refusal (security risks, false information, earlier violations).

The PPA reviews the application and may ask for more documents; nobody can promise a decision date. Family members may apply for a permit to settle with the permit holder.

What makes an application succeed

a business plan with a real market, customers, costs and the role of the applicant in Estonia — not a generic template;
evidence for every figure: bank statements for the investment, contracts, a lease for the office;
consistency between the business plan, the company's register data, its annual reports and its tax declarations.

How we help

residence permit application for a management board member — €990 / person: we review the documents against the Aliens Act, help with the business plan and prepare the application file;
application for a family member — €650 / person;
help with visa application forms — €390, for a long-stay (D) visa or a short visit;
the e-Residency Advantage Plan — €250: a written plan of up to 10 pages, tailored to your company, by email.

State fees for the permit and the visa are paid by the applicant to the state and are not included. Documents in other languages usually need a sworn translation.

What you receive

a complete permit application file that meets the Aliens Act requirements, ready for submission;
answers to the PPA's questions during the procedure.

No VAT is added to the prices. All communication takes place by email.

Ready to start? Residence permit application for a board member or a family member, or visa form assistance. Order.

Official sources

The laws this article names, each linked to its official text, as read on 9 October 2026. For the Estonian acts we read the English translation in Riigi Teataja (opens in a new tab); the legally binding text is the Estonian one.

Aliens Act (opens in a new tab) — Riigi Teataja (opens in a new tab), English translation

To see which of our services your company needs, open the Business Navigator.

Frequently asked questions

Does e-residency or owning an Estonian company give a right to live in Estonia?

No. E-residency is a digital identity, not a residence permit, and owning a company gives no right of residence. A non-EU national needs a temporary residence permit for enterprise or a visa.

What does the Police and Border Guard Board look at in a permit for enterprise?

Real business activity of economic importance in Estonia, the capital investment the Aliens Act requires, a credible business plan with evidence, the applicant's legal income, residence and health insurance, and the absence of grounds for refusal. The decision is the Board's.

Residence permit for a board member in Estonia