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Estonia

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
4,509
Top destination, 2023
Finland
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
1,405
UK visas issued, 2025
192
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
NationalityEEISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<EEESTONIA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
EE0<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Estonia need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaFree movement (EU/EFTA citizens)Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaNo visa; electronic travel authorization (eTA) needed to flyIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 90 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Estonia move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. Finland1,401
  2. Germany633
  3. Sweden411
  4. Netherlands390
  5. Norway225
  6. Switzerland140
  7. United States140
  8. Belgium126
  9. Denmark125
  10. Portugal124
  11. Australia111
  12. Iceland104
  13. France99
  14. Austria96
  15. Japan77

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

5,84812k200020032006200920122015201820212023
5,84812k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,703
20012,250
20023,307
20033,061
20044,126
20054,524
20065,055
20075,809
20086,177
20096,593
20108,262
20119,438
201211,696
201311,539
20148,932
20157,737
20166,567
20175,632
20185,488
20195,014
20204,100
20215,140
20224,894
20234,509
Share going to the top destination
31.1%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Estonia who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Finland55,655
  2. Russia24,906
  3. Ukraine10,531
  4. Sweden9,461
  5. Norway5,273
  6. Australia3,498
  7. Belarus3,157
  8. Latvia2,622
  9. Italy1,524
  10. Denmark1,483
  11. Kazakhstan1,346
  12. Lithuania866

Living abroad by year

64k128k19901995200020052010201520202024
64k128k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990106,726
1995108,115
2000111,603
2005115,845
2010116,903
2015128,194
2020123,628
2024124,216
Living abroad, 2024
124,216
Change since 2000
+11.3%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
44.8%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Estonia by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. J1398
  2. B1/B2212
  3. NATO2165
  4. C1/D101
  5. F193
  6. A292
  7. P172
  8. E237
  9. G233
  10. J221

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

7801,559201720182019202020212022202320242025
7801,55920172019202120232025
Data table
20171,025
20181,548
20191,517
2020658
2021691
20221,253
20231,297
20241,559
20251,405
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. DV10
  2. F35
  3. IR15
  4. IR55
  5. CR13
  6. E12
  7. IR22
  8. CR22
Immigrant visas, FY2025
37
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
8
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Estonia who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Estonia with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

1052102015201620172018201920202021202220232024
105210201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015190
2016210
2017180
2018150
2019190
2020130
2021140
2022120
2023140
2024130
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens90
  2. Employment-based preferences40
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)140
  2. Spouses and children140
  3. Intracompany transferees (L-1)130
  4. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)120
  5. Specialty occupations (H-1B)70
  6. Other temporary workers30
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Estonia)
130
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Estonia)
130
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
27,790
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Estonia (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Estonia (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Work94
  2. Study68
  3. Family20
  4. Other5
  5. Visitor5

Visas issued by year

142283201220162019202120232025
142283201220162019202120232025
Data table
20122
20142
20161
20182
20191
202023
2021283
2022161
2023156
2024151
2025192
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
130
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Estonia, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
2025080500
202420125000
202320215050
20223065000
2021251510255
202030755010
2019401500200
20183521010200
201701455200
2016510510250
2015012010450
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Estonia, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

541082005–062007–082009–102011–122013–142015–162017–182019–202021–222023–242025–26
541082005–062009–102013–142017–182021–222025–26
Data table
2005–065
2006–076
2007–0823
2008–0916
2009–1014
2010–1130
2011–1257
2012–1354
2013–1474
2014–15106
2015–1666
2016–1772
2017–1848
2018–1958
2019–2035
2020–2137
2021–2233
2022–2346
2023–2464
2024–25108
2025–2688
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills61
  2. Labour Agreement21
  3. Medium-term3
  4. Specialist Skills2
  5. Short-term1
Granted, 2025–26
88
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.1%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Estonia living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

2505002012201420162018202220242025
2505002012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201296
2013106
2014120
2015500
2016497
2017154
2018137
2019164
2022154
2023160
2024189
2025221
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student55
  2. Permanent Resident44
  3. Spouse or Child of Japanese National40
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services21
  5. Designated Activities16
  6. Dependent11
  7. Long-Term Resident8
  8. Entertainer6
  9. Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident5
  10. Skilled Labor3
Residents, December 2025
221
In work-related statuses
39
Share in work-related statuses
17.6%
Students
55
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Estonia

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Estonia, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Italy1100.0%

Applications by year

78155200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192021202220232024
78155200920122015201820222024
Data table
2009155
201019
201116
201215
201311
201416
20154
201641
20175
20185
20196
20215
20221
20232
20241
Refusal rate, 2024
0.0%
Refusal rate, 2019
0.0%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Estonia in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark2025145476113024
Sweden20253464030339
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland20258081,514-706
Austria202514010238
Work-related, latest year
  1. Denmark47
  2. Sweden4
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Estonia

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Estonia, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Australia——1
Austria1——
Azerbaijan1——
Belarus1——
Brazil1——
Canada1——
China1——
Czechia1——
Finland1——
France1——
Georgia1——
Germany1——
Greece1——
Hungary1——
India1——
Ireland1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Kazakhstan1——
Latvia1——
Lithuania1——
Moldova1——
Netherlands1——
North Macedonia1——
Norway1——
Poland1——
Romania1——
Russia1—1
South Korea1——
Spain1——
Sweden1——
Türkiye1——
Ukraine1——
United Kingdom1——
Countries
34
Missions
35
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Estonia, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

2955902000200320062009201220152018202120242025
295590200020052010201520202025
Data table
20004
200111
200219
200351
2004167
2005255
2006392
2007381
2008416
2009340
2010357
2011439
2012461
2013565
2014544
2015457
2016486
2017505
2018570
2019542
2020507
2021590
2022470
2023487
2024496
2025536
Remittances received, 2025
US$536 million
Share of GDP, 2025
1.1%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Estonia, 2021
2.8%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Estonia

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Estonia → Finland
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more