Applying for a visa to the Schengen area

20.12.2007

As of 21 December 2007, Estonia is a part of the Schengen visa area.

1. VISA TO ENTER ESTONIA

Nationals of the countries listed in the section "Who do not need a visa to visit Estonia" may visit Estonia without a visa.

Third country nationals holding a residence permit of another Schengen member state may visit Estonia without a visa.

Third country nationals who are family members of EU or EEA citizens may visit Estonia without a visa if they have a proper residence card or a residence permit of another Schengen member state.

Nationals of countries NOT LISTED in that section REQUIRE A VISA to enter Estonia.

NOTE: The possession of a visa is only one of the prerequisites for entry into the Estonian territory. The prerequisites for entry will be rechecked upon entering the Estonian territory. The mere fact that a visa has been granted does not mean that the person will be entitled to compensation if failing to comply with relevant regulations and thus refused entry.

Foreign nationals who need an entry visa are requested to apply it at the nearest Estonian mission. In countries where Estonia does not have a mission, another Schengen country may represent Estonia in visa matters (Hungary represents Estonia in Moldova).

If a visa applicant wishes to visit only Estonia, the Schengen visa has to be applied from an Estonian foreign representation. In case when there's no Estonian representation in an applicant's country of permanent residence the visa can be applied for from the nearest Estonian representation. If the nearest Estonian representation is in the Schengen area the visa can be applied for from the representation of the country that represents Estonia in the applicant's country of permanent residence or likewise in the applicant's country of permanent residence from the representation of the country through which the person plans to enter the Schengen area.

If a visa applicant wishes to visit several Schengen member states (incl. Estonia), the visa has to be applied for from the Schengen state's foreign representation that is the state of destination. In order to determine the state of destination the visa applicant must know which Schengen state they plan to spend most time in. (E.g. the visa applicant wishes to visit Sweden, Finland and Estonia. If they plan to spend most of the time in Estonia, then the visa must be applied from the Estonian foreign representation).

If a visa applicant wishes to visit several Schengen member states and is not sure of the state of destination or plans to spend the equal number of days in each state, the visa must be applied for from the representation of the country through which the person enters the Schengen area. (E.g. the visa applicant wishes to visit Sweden, Finland and Estonia spending 3 days in each of the countries. If they plan to enter the Schengen area through Sweden, then the visa must be applied from the foreign representation of Sweden).

The basis for procedures regarding arrival, stay, residence and working of aliens in Estonia is regulated by the Aliens Act (hereinafter AA), which is in accordance with the requirements from the common visa policy of the European Union (hereinafter the EU).

2. APPLICATION FOR A SCHENGEN VISA

The Schengen visa and the conditions of entry are only valid for the stays up to 90 days during a 6-month period. For longer stays a long-term visa or a residence permit is required. The requirements of applying for a Schengen visa and the fees charged for processing the visa application are the same in all Schengen member states.

The application and issuance of a visa in the Estonian foreign representations (AA § 10¹¹ and 10¹²)

Generally the visa applicant must turn to the foreign representation personally.

Visa application may also be submitted through a representative. A representative may be:

1. A legal representative of a minor or of a person whose active legal capacity is restricted by a court - a legal representative shall together with the visa application submit a document certifying the right of representation;
   A minor is person under 18 years of age. A person who is at least 15 years old may submit a visa application in person.
   
   
2. Couriers of state agencies, administrative or local government agencies or international organisations - the said persons are equipped with documents attesting to their offices and if necessary they are able to add specifications;
   
   
3. Other persons holding the respective authorisation document (an authorisation to submit a visa application and to perform the related operations) - to that group mostly belong the representatives of tourist agencies, who are also competent to explain the travel arrangement and the purposes of the travel.

At the request of a consular officer, an applicant for a visa is required to appear in the representation in person in order to provide explanations concerning facts which are relevant upon application for the visa or for additional identification.

Application for visa by post

Application for visa by post is possible only if in the country where the alien permanently stays (resides), there is no Estonian representation.

In the  case where the country of residence of the alien has Estonian representation the visa applicant must appear in person or through a representative.

For details, please contact the representation at which you plan to apply for the visa by post. (Estonia's Representations around the world)


Returning travel documents by post

Visa applicants may request to have their travel document returned to them by post if this is permitted by local regulations. This option may be exercised only by applicants who submit their travel document to the representation in person. For the travel document to be returned by post, the visa applicant is required to fill in a respective form at the representation, and agree to pay postage (supplying a self-addressed envelope, or by the use of a pre-paid courier service etc.).

For further information, please contact the Estonian representation nearest to you.

Application for visa on the border

As a general rule, visas are not issued at a border checkpoint.

Exceptions, issue of a visa or refusal to issue a visa at a border checkpoint shall be decided by the Director General of Border Guard.

Issue of a visa or refusal to issue a visa shall be decided on the basis of data submitted in the visa application and on the basis of documents appended to the visa application, as well as on the basis of other circumstances known about the person.

2.1. Types of visas

Airport transit visa (type A) - is issued for entry into the international transit zone at an Estonian airport and for stay therein, and departure for next transit or arrival country to where the person has a legal permit for entry. This visa shall not grant the alien the right to enter or remain in Estonia.

The countries whose citizens need an airport transit visa are listed in the Annex 3 of the Common Consular Instructions.

Transit visa (type B) - is issued for single- or dual-entry transit journey through Estonia to the next transit or arrival country to where the person has a legal permit for entry. Transit visas may also be issued for multiple journeys when necessary for professional or employment assignments.

Short-term visa (type C) - is issued for single- or multiple-entry stays up to 90 days during a 6-month period in Schengen area.

Short-stay visa without invitation
A single-entry short-stay visa for up to five days may be issued to an alien for entry into Estonia and for stay in Estonia for the purpose of using a tourism service or entertainment service, in case his/her economic situation enables him/her to meet the obligations set out in AA (accommodation and transport costs). In that case the alien does not need a person inviting him/her named in §-s 10¹⁶ of AA.

Short-stay visa is a travel visa. It is important to have in view the person's travel purpose, which can only be the use of a tourism service or entertainment service. To visit an acquaintance or relative living in Estonia as well as to come to Estonia for business or other purposes, an invitation continues to be required.

Documents proving the purpose of tourism may be:

• booked/bought travel tickets (return tickets); 
• copy of the registration certificate of the vehicle; 
• authorisation on the use of the vehicle;
• travel program etc;
• accommodation bookings/confirmation thereof.

Under entertainment service one has to keep in view only entertainment services meant for public use. Documents to be presented can be:

• program of entertainment events;
• events tickets/bookings of tickets;
• data on those offering the entertainment service etc.

The accommodation booking or the confirmation of booking is here not necessarily required, since the person may stay overnight also at his/her relative's or acquaintance's place etc.

Visas that are valid only in the territory of Estonia are:

Long-term visa (type D) - may be issued to an alien, who wishes to stay in the territory of Estonia longer than three months and it may be issued for single entry without break or for multiple entries, the total duration of which does not exceed six months.

A long-term visa may be issued to journalists of foreign countries accredited in Estonia as well as to their family members, to Estonian honorary consuls in foreign countries as well as to their family members and to aliens who have registered their short-time employment.

As family members the following are considered: the spouses of the said persons, their minor children as well as adult children who because of their health condition or disability are not capable of coping independently. In the case of a family member it is important that they should arrive in Estonia either accompanying the said person or to the said person.

Working Holiday Scheme (Australia, New Zealand)
Under the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between Estonia and Australia and Estonia and New Zealand, visas are being issued, granting the right to work to 18-30 year old Australian and New Zealand citizens, who may stay in Estonia for up to a year. The work done within that period has to contribute to the main purpose of stay in the country, namely to recreation in Estonia; and those using the opportunity must not work for the same employer longer than three months.

Diplomatic visa and service visa (§ 10⁸ of AA) is a transit visa or short-term visa issued to a person in transit through Estonia on official business or to a person sent to Estonia and enjoying the diplomatic status of a foreign state or of an international organisation. Under AA, diplomatic or service visa may be issued as visas of categories B, C and D.

A short-term diplomatic visa is also issued to a person sent to Estonia on official business and who according to Estonia's international obligations or according to an international agreement has to be ensured diplomatic immunity and privileges in the territory of Estonia.

A long-term multiple-entry diplomatic visa or a service visa may be issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the staff of the diplomatic representations and consular offices of foreign counties as well as representations of international organisations accredited to Estonia, to the family members and private staff thereof. The period of validity of such visas and the period of stay depends on the length of the accreditation time and can accordingly be longer than 12 months.

2.2. Documents to be submitted upon application for visa

The following shall be submitted upon application for visa:

1. a valid travel document which must contain at least two blank pages for visas and be valid at least 3 months after the expiration date of the visa;
   
   
2. a filled in and signed application;
   
   
3. photo (size 35x45 mm, requirements to a photo);
   
   
4. a valid health insurance certificate, which would grant the covering of treatment costs arising from an illness or injury at the period of validity of the visa being applied for, unless otherwise specified by law or an international agreement. The minimum rate for limit of indemnity in the health insurance agreement is 30,000 EUR (469,400 EEK) for the whole period of stay in the Schengen area;
   
   
5. documents proving the purpose of the travel and the reason for it;
   
   
6. documents certifying the existence of sufficient monetary means during the stay in Estonia;
   
   
7. documents certifying the covering of the accommodation costs and the costs of stay in Estonia;
   
   
8. document certifying the payment of state fee or document certifying the exemption from paying state fee;

The documents required under points 5 to 7 are:

1. visa invitation;
2. diplomatic note or a letter from an international organisation;
3. summons;
4. documents or the copies of documents certifying the use of tourist service;
5. documents or the copies of documents certifying the use of an entertainment service;
6. document stating the right to enter to the next transit state;
7. documents certifying the right to operate in trucking;
8. documents certifying the right to work in Estonia;
9. airplane or other tickets;
10. other documents.

Additional documents to be presented upon application for a long-term visa:

1. Journalists are in addition required to present their accreditation decision and the confirmation of the employer, as well as a guarantee letter on covering the mission expenses in Estonia.
   
   
2. A spouse and a minor child applying for a long-term visa shall in addition present a document proving relationship or marital status.
   
   
3. An adult child applying for a long-term visa shall in addition present a document proving relationship as well as a document proving the state of health or disability.

Signing the visa application

A visa application shall be signed personally by the visa applicant.

• The application of a minor less than 15 years of age or of a person whose active legal capacity is restricted by a court shall be signed by the legal representative.
• A minor of at least 15 years of age may submit and sign a visa application personally.

With their signature the visa applicant confirms the correctness and integrity of data submitted in the visa application.

2.3. State fee for processing the visa application

State fee is levied on the processing of visa applications.

Bank accounts of the MINISTRY OF FINANCE for collecting state fee are the following:

SEB Eesti Ühispank a/c 10220034796011
BIC: EEUHEE2X
IBAN: EE891010220034796011

Hansabank a/c 221023778606
BIC: HABAEE2X
IBAN: EE932200221023778606

Reference number of the MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS:
Review of visa applications - 2900073630

3. Conditions for issue of visas

A visa is issued on conditions and according to the procedure established in legal acts.

An alien, whom the state grants the permit to enter into its territory and stay in the state for a short period, must provide evidence of the purpose of their stay in the state and the capability of bearing the respective costs as well as their intention to leave.

Under § 30 of the Consular Act, a consular officer shall process the submitted visa applications, being also responsible for the lawfulness of the issue of visas. The consular officer decides the issue of a visa or the refusal to issue a visa on the basis of data submitted in the visa application as well as documents appended to the visa application, also on the basis of other circumstances known about the person.

The decision of the consular officer to issue a visa or to refuse to issue a visa cannot be contested pursuant to administrative procedure or administrative court procedure.

The consular officer shall decide on the issue of a visa or the refusal to issue a visa within 30 days counting as of the date of taking the application into process.

3.1. Refusal to issue visa

In line with international practice, the refusal to issue a visa need not be substantiated, since the decision to issue a visa is one of the instruments of ensuring national security and an alien has no subjective right to enter into the country.

The control of the entry of aliens into Estonia, the ensuring of the aliens having illegally stayed to leave Estonia and the prevention as well as the stemming of illegal immigration is performed to safeguard national security. For that reason, the Administrative Procedure Act is not applied to visa processing. (§ 1 (1) of AA).

Information from the State Registry of Prohibitions of Entry may be obtained at www.siseministeerium.ee/17115.

4. The EU agreements on the facilitation of the issuance of visas

The exemptions from the uniform procedure of the application for a visa are set in the agreements on facilitation of issuance of visas. As of today the EU has agreed on the facilitation of the issuance of visas with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia and Ukraine.