Information for Study in Estonia

How to apply for undergraduate and graduate studies in Estonia
Admission requirements for studies at university in Estonia 
 


Residence permits

In order to obtain the right of temporary residence, an EU citizen must contact the local government authority nearest to his/her place of residence and register his/her residence within three months from the date of entering Estonia. The right of temporary residence is granted for a period of five years. You must, within the period of one month from the acquisition of the right of temporary residence, personally contact a customer service point of the Citizenship and Migration Bureau to apply for an identity card which certifies your right of temporary residence.

A temporary residence permit for study is required if a third country student intends to stay in Estonia for more than three months (in some cases only one month). You should apply for the residence permit from the nearest Estonian Embassy or Consulate well before arriving in Estonia. Citizens of the the United States of America, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland or Japan can apply for a residence permit at a regional department of the Estonian Citizenship and Migration Bureau.

A residence permit for study may be issued for a period of up to one year but no longer than the estimated duration of the studies. If you continue your studies in the same educational institution, your residence permit may be extended by one year at a time but not for longer than six years all together. You may take up employment in Estonia without a work permit in order to participate in practical training pursuant to the curriculum. Otherwise, you may take employment in Estonia only on the basis of a work permit but only outside of school hours on the condition that such employment does not interfere with your studies.

If you've been accepted and wish to study in Estonia, the university must issue you a confirmation that you can commence studies. The confirmation will be given on an additional form which you can find from the home page of the Police and Border Guard Board and from any regional department of the Citizenship and Migration Bureau.

The charge for a residence permit is 750 EEK (48 EUR). Application fees may change periodically. It may take up to two months to obtain a residence permit.


DOCUMENTS

Upon the application for a temporary residence permit for study in an educational institution located in Estonia the following documents must be submitted:
 
  • a standard application form;
  • the additional form «Application for residence permit or extension of residence permit»;
  • the additional form «Data concerning close relatives, spouse, family members and dependants»;
  • the additional form "Confirmation of educational institution or students organisation that the student will start studies in certain educational institution" (confirmation is valid for up to two months from the date of its issue);
  • a standard curriculum vitae;
  • a document which certifies the legal income of the applicant or his/her family members, who ensure his/her subsistence, during the six months preceding the submission of the application, including the amount, regularity and sources of the income;
  • the identity document of an applicant;
  • a coloured photograph sized 40x50 mm;
  • an insurance contract;
  • a document certifying the payment of the state fee.

PROCEDURE

If a foreigner wishes to come to Estonia to study in an educational institution located in Estonia the educational institution must issue him/her a confirmation that he/she will commence studies in that institution. As a general rule an applicant should submit his/her application for a residence permit at a representation of the Republic of Estonia. Foreign student has to submit an application for a temporary residence permit and the transfer of the data of his/her residence permit into his/her travel document. The decision as to whether or not to issue a temporary residence permit shall be decided within a period of 3 months from the date of starting of the processing of the application. The CMB may extend the above-mentioned terms if the checking of the data and documents added to the application and the verification of whether the application is verified takes longer than foreseen for the processing of applications. The CMB shall not review the application if an applicant has not rectified, on time, any deficiencies found in the application or documents, or has not submitted all the necessary
documents.
Further information and application forms is available on the home page of the Citizenship and Migration Board -
http://www.mig.ee
e-mail: reklaam@eaba.ee 
http://www.eaba.ee
 

COMING TO ESTONIA

Updated information on visa requirements can be found on the web site of the Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs –
http://www.vm.ee/
see also http://estonia.eu/link.php?url=http://www.visitestonia.com/en