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Business Setup and Support in Estonia Obtaining E-residency in Estonia

Taras Miroshnychenko

Head of International Corporate Law and Fintech Practice

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miroshnychenko@prikhodko.com.ua

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Expert in fintech, crypto, and international corporate law with over 20 years of experience. Specializes in crypto licensing (VASP/CASP), iGaming business support, and international structuring, asset protection, and OSINT analytics for risk assessment and due diligence.

Obtaining E-residency in Estonia

E-residency of Estonia has become a real revolution in the world of digital identity and international entrepreneurship.

This unique program, launched by the Estonian government in 2014, provides digital identities to individuals from all over the world, allowing them to conduct business in the European Union entirely online.

It is important to understand that E-residency does not grant the right to reside in Estonia, citizenship, or tax resident status.

Instead, it offers something much more valuable for modern entrepreneurs – a digital identity with a qualified electronic signature, access to Estonian e-services, and the ability to register and manage a company online.

The main advantage of E-residency is access to the single European market through the registration of an Estonian company. This opens up huge opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their business without the need for a physical presence in the country.

The digital signature that E-residents receive has full legal force within the EU, allowing them to sign contracts and documents electronically.

Particularly attractive is Estonian tax system with its unique approach to corporate taxation. Companies pay corporate tax only on distributed profits, while undistributed profits remain untaxed. This creates favorable conditions for reinvestment and business development.

Procedure for obtaining E-residency

Required documents

To apply for E-residency, you need to prepare:

Main documents:

Scanned copy of passport (high quality)
Passport-style digital photo (not older than 6 months, in .jpg/.jpeg format, 1-5 MB in size)
Credit card (Visa or Mastercard) to pay the state fee

Additional information:

Motivation letter (explanation of reasons for applying)
Resume (CV) in English
Information about previous business activities (if any)
Contact details and residential address

It will also be useful: Company Registration in Estonia

Step-by-step application procedure

Step 1: Submit an online application
Go to the official website eresident.politsei.ee and fill out the application form. The process takes approximately 30 minutes.
Step 2: Create an account
Create an account using your email. You will receive a “magic link” for activation, which is valid for 2 months.
Step 3: Upload documents
Upload all required documents in the appropriate formats and sizes.
Step 4: Payment of state fee
Pay a state fee of €150 (from January 1, 2025). Previously, the fee was €100-€120 depending on the place of receipt.
Step 5: Choose a pickup location
Choose a convenient place to receive your E-residency kit from over 50 locations around the world.

After obtaining E-residency, wide opportunities for doing business open up. The most popular form of company is OÜ – a private limited liability company, which can be registered with a minimum authorized capital.

The registration process takes only 1-3 business days and is carried out entirely online through the e-Business Register.

An important aspect is access to banking services

E-residents can open business accounts in Estonian and European banks, as well as use modern fintech platforms. This ensures integration with international payment systems and simplifies financial transactions.

Estonia’s digital infrastructure impresses with its reliability and security

The use of 384-bit ECC encryption guarantees maximum data protection, and the transparency of the system provides public access to verified information about Estonian companies.

E-residency also provides access to over 100 Estonian electronic services, including the e-Tax tax filing system. This allows you to fully automate administrative processes and focus on developing your core business activities.

The program is constantly evolving and improving. By 2027, mobile E-residency is planned to be implemented, which will allow for biometric data collection via mobile devices and faster card updates. This will further simplify procedures and increase user convenience.

Estonia’s e-residency remains one of the most innovative solutions for global entrepreneurs. The combination of a fully digital business management process, access to the EU market, a transparent tax system and a secure technological infrastructure makes this program extremely attractive for those seeking to develop international business in today’s digital world.

The company “Prikhodko and Partners” provides professional assistance in obtaining E-residency in Estonia.

Our experienced consultants will conduct a full analysis of your situation, help you prepare all necessary documents in accordance with the requirements of Estonian authorities, write a convincing motivation letter, and provide recommendations on the optimal place to receive the card.

We accompany clients at all stages of the process – from the initial consultation to the successful receipt of a digital identity, which significantly increases the likelihood of application approval and minimizes the risks of rejection.

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1 question

Have you already applied for the E-residency program?

Yes

2 question

Do you need advice on obtaining E-residency?

Yes

3 question

Are you planning to open a business in Estonia?

Yes

Is there really no corporate income tax in Estonia?

Estonia applies a deferred taxation system. This means that while profits remain in the company’s accounts or are reinvested in its development, the corporate income tax rate is exactly 0%. Tax is paid only when funds are distributed in favour of the founders.

What is the current tax rate on dividends? (Does the 14% preferential rate still apply?)

The preferential 14% tax rate on dividends was completely abolished from 1 January 2025. Currently, all distributed profits (dividends) are taxed at a single rate of 22% (calculated using the 22/78 formula on the amount of the distribution).

Can I open an account with a traditional Estonian bank remotely?

No. Traditional Estonian banks require proof of a close economic connection with the country (substance) — the presence of a genuinely leased office in Tallinn and employed resident staff. For remote businesses operating through e-Residency, the optimal and reliable solution is to use licensed payment institutions (EMIs) that provide full IBAN accounts.

Is a company required to pay a salary to its director?

Estonian law does not require a company to pay a mandatory salary to its director. If you are a tax resident of another country and do not live in Estonia, you may also be exempt from paying Estonian social tax (33%) provided that social insurance coverage in your country of actual residence is confirmed.

What are the conditions for obtaining a residence permit through business?

A successfully operating business is a lawful basis for obtaining a residence permit. The legislation requires an investment of at least EUR 65,000 in the company’s share capital for shareholders, or at least EUR 16,000 if the business is registered as a sole proprietorship.

Successful cases on the topic: