Estonia Citizenship for Indians

Anyone looking to relocate to Estonia should know the differences between a permanent residency status and citizenship.

Even though these terms are often confused to be one, they differ in nature and here is all you need to know:

With a permanent resident status, you can work and live in the country with ample access to healthcare, education and social security. The process is more straightforward but does not permit you to participate in voting and other citizen rights.

With citizenship status, you are allowed to live and work in different EU countries. You also get complete access to voting and other citizen privileges. An important criteria to apply for Estonian citizenship is mandatory residency status for a set period.

• The applicant must be 15 years of age or older.

• The applicant must pass the Estonian Language test with B1 level proficiency.

• The applicant must hold a PR status of 8 years and live in the country for at least 5 years out of 8 years (citizenship by naturalisation).

• The applicant must pass a citizenship examination to prove their knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Citizenship Act.

• The applicant must have sufficient legal income as a resident to support themselves during their residency.

• The applicant must surrender their old country's citizenship before applying.

• The applicant’s local address in Estonia should be registered in Estonia.

• The applicant proves their loyalty to the new resident country.

• The applicant must not have any past or ongoing criminal investigation in their name.

• The applicant has been married to an Estonian citizen for 5 years and has lived in Estonia for at least 2 years of the marriage (citizenship by marriage).

• The applicant is born to or adopted by one or both parents who are Estonian citizens (citizenship by birth or descent).

Please Note: These requirements are general and are subject to change based on the chosen way to apply for Citizenship in Estonia.

Estonia Citizenship by Naturalisation - The most straightforward way for Indians to apply for Estonian citizenship is via naturalisation using an application form. Here is all you need to know:

• You need to obtain a PR for at least 8 years and live in the country for at least 5 years with less than 365 cumulative absences.

• You must pass the language proficiency test.

• You must pass the citizenship test.

• You must prove your integration into the Estonian society during your residency.

Estonia Citizenship by Marriage - Another common way of obtaining Estonian citizenship is by marriage. Under the following circumstances, you can apply through this process:

• You are married to an Estonian citizen for at least 5 years and lived in the country for at least 2.

• You have had a temporary resident permit for 8 years as a spouse of an Estonian citizen before applying for citizenship.

Estonia Citizenship by Birth - The most simplified way of obtaining citizenship is by birth under the following conditions:

• One or both of your parents are or were Estonian citizens at the time of your birth.

• If your father was an Estonian citizen at the time of his death.

• If you are born in Estonia to parents who have been living in Estonia with a PR for at least 5 years.

• If Estonian citizens adopt you.

• If you were born to Estonian parents but they revoked your citizenship before you turned 18, you can reinstate it after turning 18 years old.

Estonian Citizenship by Investment - If you are looking to the Estonian economy, you can apply for citizenship by investment via the Estonian Golden Visa. The main conditions for this visa include:

• Businesses who wish to invest in any Estonian business activity require a minimum capital of at least €65,000 or approx ₹58,70,151/-

• Individuals willing to conduct business in Estonia as sole traders require a minimum capital of at least €16,000 or approx ₹14,44,960/-

• Investors who wish to invest directly into the Estonian Investment Fund or an Estonian company require a minimum capital of at least €1,000,000 or approx ₹9,03,10,016/-

Online Steps for Appointment

• The first step to applying for Estonian citizenship for Indians is to secure a PR status and maintain it for 8 years.

• Once you have that, you are eligible to apply for citizenship by naturalisation.

• To begin, you need to make an appointment booking on the Estonia Government website.

• To make the booking, go to the website, select “Book”, and then click on “Nationality” from the list of options.

• Once done, click on “Next” and then select the place closest to your current location.

• Now, click on “Next” to select the date and time based on the availability mentioned on the calendar.

• For the final step, enter your personal information as requested and click on the “Consent” box followed by “Confirm” to book the appointment.

** Offline Steps for Application Submission**

Once your appointment has been confirmed, you need to start preparing your documents for submission.

• The list of documents includes:

• A duly filled application form in the Estonian language

• Financial proof

• Proof of residence

• Proof of cancelled Indian citizenship

• Language proficiency certificates

• Citizenship test certificates

• 2-3 clear photographs of the applicant

• After compiling the documents, go for your pre-booked appointment to submit these documents and the application form at the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board office.

• You will also be required to make an application submission fee payment of €13 or approx ₹1,445/- in cash at the office.

• Now, collect the proof of application submission and wait for an update from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.

• If your application is approved, you will be required to take an oath as an Estonian citizen.

Useful Links -

• Estonian Police and Border Guard Board Helpline

• Estonian Police and Border Guard Board Citizenship Details

• Estonian Government Website for Booking Details

• Service Offices of Estonian Police and Border Guard Board

• A valid passport with at least 2 blank pages.

• Proof of residence in Estonia.

• Proof of employment in Estonia (for employment/work visa)

• Proof of education (for student visa - offer letter)

• Proof of income (bank statements, salary slips, etc.)

• Original identification documents from India (Aadhaar card, passport, etc.)

• Travel tickets to and from Estonia.

• A valid travel medical insurance document.

Visa-Free Travel - One of the most significant benefits of Estonian citizenship is the flexibility to travel to 147 different countries visa-free whenever required. The list of countries includes Armenia, Belgium, Morocco, New Zealand, Croatia, etc.

High-Quality Life - As a developed country, Estonia promotes different resources for human development, professional growth, technological advancements, and much more. This makes the country's life efficient and secure.

Digitised Nation - Estonia offers multiple e-services to increase the level of convenience offered to the citizens. The tech-savvy atmosphere not only ensures increased accessibility for all income earners but also promotes an inclusive culture throughout the country.

Affordable Cost of Living - In comparison to other European countries, Estonia offers its citizens great affordability, reduces day-to-day expenses and promises a comfortable lifestyle for all.

Robust Education System - Estonia is known for its well-developed education system, allowing everyone equal access to high-quality education. The main reason for this is the Estonian Government’s commitment to improve the country’s literacy rate for better economic growth.

Work Rights around the EU - With Estonian citizenship, you can live, travel, study, and work in any of the EU countries without any additional permits or restrictions.

The processing time for applications for Estonian citizenship for Indians is around 24 weeks. This timeline can be delayed due to various reasons like the number of applications received, the workload of the officers in charge, documentation or form gaps, etc.

You need to be patient and let the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board send an update regarding your application.

The Estonian citizenship application fee is €13 or approx ₹1,445/-

As all the applications for Estonian citizenship go through the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, the only way to check your application status is by contacting the authorised office by email or call.

• Write an email to migrationadvice@politsei.ee, clearly mentioning your application reference number.

• Call on 612-3500 from Monday to Friday between 09:00 - 15:00 and request an update on your application status.

Insufficient Personal Funds - One crucial criterion for Estonian citizenship application is the submission of proof of income. Lack of personal funds or income can demonstrate poorly on the applicant’s ability to obtain citizenship, resulting in delays and rejections.

Missing or Wrong Documentation - Rushing the application process and submitting incorrect or incomplete documents with the application form is another common mistake. All the documents are mandatory for the application, and thus, failure to do so can result in application rejections.

Ignoring Language and Integration Requirements - The Estonian Government is very particular about confirming every applicant’s language proficiency and willingness to commit to their culture and society.

Thus, non-submission of sufficient proof certificates can result in unexpected delays or instant application rejection.

Incomplete Application Form - The application form is the first step for obtaining Estonian citizenship. Therefore, it is crucial to spend sufficient time filing the application form and ensuring complete transparency to avoid rejections.

Learn Estonian - The Estonian language proficiency test is a mandatory document required for citizenship applications. Therefore, instead of quick learning right before the test, spend extra time and effort towards improving your language skills.

This is not only helpful in passing the exam but also highlights your willingness to commit to Estonia.

Understand the Culture - Different countries have different cultural norms and limitations. Thus, to improve your chances for timely citizenship approval, you should study the culture of Estonia and its way of life to showcase your interest in becoming a part of their community.

Take the Tests in Advance - The citizenship and language tests are compulsory to check your knowledge and ability to integrate with the Estonian community.

Therefore, taking these tests in advance can help you understand your capabilities and allow you ample opportunities to study and perform better each time.

Manage Funds - You are required to maintain a stable income to apply for Estonian citizenship. Therefore, you need to work towards ensuring that a reliable income source is available at the time of application submission for a favourable result.

• Other than the Estonian language, a big part of the population speaks Russian, English, German and Finnish on a regular basis.

• Estonia is home to over 2300 different islands, out of which some of them are yet to be explored.

• Estonia is one of the least religious countries in the world.

• The country is very big on sustainability and environmental conservation, and thus, 50% of the country is home to forest lands.

• One of the most popular sports in Estonia is wife-carrying wherein a man needs to pick his wife on his head and cover a track consisting of land and water routes.

• Estonia was the first country to introduce online voting in 2005.

• Tallinn in Estonia offers free public transportation to all the locals.

• Some of the most noteworthy start-ups were launched in Estonia, including Skype, Gelato, Pipedrive, Bolt, etc.

• Out of all the different state services, 99% of them can be availed online using e-Residency.

• The euro was introduced as their local currency in 2011. Before that, their local currency was called Kroon (kr).

Do’s

• Estonians are very reserved and particular about personal space. Therefore, you must respect their way of life without criticising them to avoid disrespecting them.

• Maintain your noise levels, especially in public places and residential areas, as this can result in arguments and other serious consequences.

• Even though English is a common language in Estonia, learning the Estonian language can help avoid misunderstandings and bridge language barriers with the locals.

• The tax system is very strict in Estonia, so ensure complete compliance with their taxation rules and regulations to avoid penalties.

• Tip your servers, as it is considered to be a respectful gesture in the country.

Don’ts

• Do not litter public spaces, as Estonians take pride in promoting cleanliness.

• Follow all the laws and regulations imposed by the Government of Estonia to avoid legal troubles and other consequences.

• When out shopping, avoid engaging in excessive bargaining, as that is not common in Estonia.

• Avoid unnecessary physical contact or closeness with locals when using public transport, as it is considered insensitive.

One of the mandatory documents to enter Estonia is a travel medical insurance plan. Without it, you cannot apply for any visa category.

With travel insurance, you can benefit from valuable financial assistance in case of unforeseen circumstances when travelling to Estonia. Tata AIG offers different types of travel insurance policies to cater to the specific coverage needs of individual travellers.

Our travel insurance Estonia plan covers personal and third-party liabilities, illnesses and accidents in Estonia, theft and hijack cases, flight delays and cancellations, and much more.

We acknowledge the need for maximum convenience and thus allow you to buy travel insurance online directly from our website in a few quick steps. You can also compare different plans to find the best as per your needs.

We also offer 24/7 multilingual customer support to ensure your trip is successful.

Understanding the different Estonia citizenship requirements and choosing the right process to apply for the same can help fulfil your goal of relocation to the country.

Additionally, with the prerequisites for the application process, you will be able to learn a lot about the Estonian culture and language, making the integration process easier for you when you move to Estonia.

Always research well and be careful with your application process for best results.