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Based on the order of the government, from 17 March 2020 Estonia is temporarily suspending the admission of applications for Schengen visas and long-stay visas to Estonia at Estonia’s representations and visa centres due to the spread of the coronavirus. This also applies to Schengen visa applications processed by Estonia on behalf of another member state.

During the emergency situation, previously issued and valid visas cannot be used to enter Estonia.

By exception, valid visas can be used and visa applications can be submitted on humanitarian grounds (illness or funeral of a close relative), for transporting goods or raw materials, for providing medical or other services essential for the resolution of the emergency, as well as by individuals whose parent, child or spouse is an Estonian citizen or holds an Estonian residence permit or right of residence.

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1. Applying for a visa

Diplomatic missions and consular posts of Estonia are following when processing visa applications the regulation establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code). Visa Code establishes the procedures and conditions for issuing visas for transit and stays in the territory of the Member States not exceeding three months in any six-month period.

At the time of submission of the application, 10 fingerprints of the applicant will be collected. Therefore, you must submit your visa application to the Estonian representations abroad or other Member State representing Estonia in issuing Schengen visas in person. However, where fingerprints have been collected as part of an earlier application less than 59 months before the date of the new application, you do not have to provide your fingerprints.

The following applicants shall be exempt from the requirement to give fingerprints:

• children under the age of 12;
• persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible;
• heads of state or government and members of national government with accompanying spouses, and the members of their official delegation when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose:
• sovereigns and other senior members of a royal family, when they are invited by Member States’ governments or by international organisations for an official purpose:

At the request of a consular officer, you are required to appear at the Embassy or Consulate in person in order to provide explanations concerning facts which are relevant in application for the visa.

Estonian Honorary Consuls provide only general information on visa requirements, they may not collect or examine visa applications.

A visa application should in principle be lodged at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit (as this is the normal processing time) and cannot be lodged earlier than six months before the start of the intended visit.

Third countries whose nationals or specific categories of such third country nationals who are subject to prior consultation. (PDF)

1.1. Types of Schengen visa

Airport transit visa (type A) – is issued for passing through the international transit areas of airports situated on the territory of the Member States.
Common list of third countries whose nationals are required to be in possession of an airport transit visa when passing through the international transit area of airports situated on the territory of the Member States

Short-term visa (type C) – is issued for transit through or an intended stay in the territory of the Schengen States of a duration of no more than 90 days within the period of 180 days. Principles of calculating the period of stay on the Schengen territory

If you wish to visit only Estonia, the Schengen visa has to be applied for at the Estonian representation or at the representation of the member state representing Estonia in issuing Schengen visas.

If the visit includes more than one Schengen member state, or if several separate visits are to be carried out within a period of two months, the application must be lodged at the representation of the main destination. The main destination is understood to be the destination where you intend to spend the longest time or where the main purpose of the intended journey is carried out.

If you wish to visit several Schengen member states and you are not sure of the state of main destination or plan to spend the equal number of days in each state, the visa must be applied for at the representation of the state through which the visa applicant intends to enter the Schengen area.

1.2. Documents to be submitted upon application for visa

The following shall be submitted upon application for visa:

 

• a valid travel document which is issued within previous 10 years, contains at least two blank pages for visas and is valid at least 3 months after the expiration date of the visa;
• a filled in and signed application form. In case several persons (minors or a spouse) are covered by the same travel document, individual application forms must be filled in and signed by the persons concerned, in case of minors signed by the parental authority or the legal guardian. A minor at least 15 years old may lodge and sign a visa application personally;
• photo (size 35x45mm) (PDF);
• insurance policy valid in Schengen countries with a coverage of at least 30.000 EUR for the entire duration of stay in Schengen area;
• supporting documents (for more information please visit FAQ):

 

• documents indicating the purpose of journey;
• documents in relation to accommodation or proof of sufficient means to cover your accommodation;
• documents indicating that you possess sufficient means of subsistence both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to your country of origin or residence (108€ for each day in Estonia);
• information which enables to assess your intention to leave Schengen area before the expiry of the visa.

This list of supporting documents is non-exhaustive and provides examples of possible supporting documents.

According to the EU Visa Code visa applicants are required to present documents indicating among other things the purpose of their journey. In order to ensure a harmonised application of the common visa policy, the EU Visa Code requires the need to complete and harmonise the lists of supporting documents to be assessed within local Schengen cooperation in each jurisdiction in order to take account of local circumstances.

Following local Schengen cooperation in countries where Estonia is processing visa applications has drawn up a harmonised list of supporting documents:

Australia (PDF), Canada (574.7 KB, PDF), Egypt (PDF), Israel, Ireland (PDF), India (PDF), Turkey, Kazakhstan (PDF), China (213.91 KB, PDF), USA (PDF), United Kingdom (PDF), Russian Federation (PDF), Belarus, Georgia and Ukraine (PDF)

For more detailed information please turn to the closest Estonian representation which is handling visa applications or representation of other Schengen State in your country of residence process short stay Schengen visas on behalf of Estonia.

 

• visa fee

1.3. State fee for processing the visa application

 

Please pay the visa fee on the day of the appointment with Japanese Yen in cash, the exact sum depends on the currency rate on the day.

The following persons are exempted from paying the visa fee:

• Children under 6 years.
• A family member of an Estonian or an EU/ EEA citizen of a third country whose nationals are required to hold a visa for the Schengen area
• Persons who intend to attend meetings of the United Nations or its organizations, the Council of Europe, the European Union or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to be held in Estonia.
• School children, students, post-graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose only of study or educational training.
• Researchers coming from third countries travelling in the Community for conducting scientific research with a view to facilitating proceedings carried out by Member States for issuing uniform short -stay visas.
• Persons invited by Parliament or the Estonian Government.
• Anyone who, by virtue of an international convention, is entitled to a visa free of charge.
  Representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations.
• Holders of diplomatic and service passports
• According to Visa Facilitation Agreements

ADMISSIBILITY OF THE VISA APPLICATION

A visa application is admissible when the following conditions are met:

 

• the application is lodged at least 15 calendar days before the intended visit but not earlier than six months before the start of the intended visit;
• the applicant has submitted an application form;
• the applicant has presented a valid travel document which is issued within previous 10 years, contains at least two blank pages for visas and is valid at least 3 months after the expiration date of the visa;
• the applicant has submitted a photograph;
• the applicant´s biometric data have been collected;
• the visa fee has been collected.

 1.4. Appeal the decision on refusal, annulment or revocation of a visa

 

Foreign citizen has the right to appeal the decision on refusal, annulment or revocation of a visa.

The refused visa applicant or a visa holder whose visa has been annulled or revoked can turn to the relevant representation by submitting a written application (PDF) within 30 days. If the decision remains unchanged, it is possible to sumbit a second appeal to the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within 30 days from receipt of notification. The appeal can be filed personally, by post or through a representative.

The fee charged for processing the appeal is 20 EUR.

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

– SEB Pank EE891010220034796011
SWIFT: EEUHEE2X

– SwedbankEE932200221023778606
SWIFT: HABAEE2X

– Luminor Bank AS EE701700017001577198
SWIFT: NDEAEE2X

Reference number of the MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 2900073630

If it is not possible to enter the reference number on the payment order of a foreign country, the reference number must be entered in the clarification field.

Clarification of the payment: Review of the appeal

PLEASE NOTE THAT REFERENCE NUMBER AND CLARIFICATION OF THE PAYMENT ARE COMPULSORY FIELDS ON THE PAYMENT ORDER.

Please note, the fee will be taken for the review of an appeal.

 2. EU citizens family member

EU CITIZENS FAMILY MEMBER – Directive 2004/38/EU

This directive shall apply to all Union citizens who move or reside in a Member State other than that of which they are national, and to their family members who accompany or join them.

The following persons are EU citizens family members, as defined by the Directive:

(a) the spouse;

(b) the partner with whom the Union citizen has contracted a registered partnership, on the basis of the legislation of a Member State,  if the legislation of the host Member State treats registered partnerships as equivalent to marriage and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the relevant legislation of the host Member State;

(c) the direct descendants who are under the age of 21 or are dependants and those of the spouse or partner as defined in point (b);

(d) the dependent direct relatives in the ascending line and those of the spouse or partner as defined in point (b)

The above family members enjoy the rights granted by the Directive when they join or accompany an EU citizen. EU citizens family member apply for entry visa to Schengen under simplified conditions and they do not have to pay any charge for a visa application.

Requirements:

• passport or other travel document, including copy, valid for at least three months after departing from the Schengen-area
• A completed application form
• One photograph of passport style and size [35 x 45 mm] for all applicants, including minors.
• Documentation proving that you belong to one of the categories mentioned
  above (marriage certificate, certificate of registration of partnership, birth certificate or other official documentation). The document needs to be legalized or certified with an apostille certificate, if an international agreement does not foresee otherwise.
• If necessary, consul is enabled to ask a copy of passport of the relative who is EU citizen

 3. Visa facilitation agreements

So far, the EU has concluded visa facilitation agreements with the following non-EU countries: Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, North Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Russia, Ukraine. The texts of the agreements can be found here.

 4. Entry requirements

Mere possession of a visa does not confer an automatic right of entry. Border guards may ask from the holders of visa to present proof that they fulfil the entry conditions (return tickets, hotel reservation or the information of the invitee, travel insurance, proof of sufficient means of subsistence.

5. Complaints

Schengen visa applicants may submit complaints about the conduct of the consulate staff, the external service provider or the visa application process.

A complaint can be submitted to the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by e-mail: [email protected].

Important notice: It is not possible to lodge appeal against refusal, annulment or revocation of a visa to this e-mail.