Estonia

Estonia stands out in the Baltics as a progressive, digitally advanced nation, making it an attractive destination for high net worth business investors seeking a second home. Renowned for its e-residency program, which allows global entrepreneurs to establish and manage an EU-based company online, Estonia presents a seamless business environment. This digital leadership extends to its infrastructure, making it an ideal location for tech-savvy investors.

Estonia Golden Visa

Estonia does not currently offer a golden visa or citizenship by investment programme similar to those offered by some other countries. Such golden visa programmes often allow individuals to obtain citizenship or residency rights through substantial investment, typically in real estate, national development funds, or local businesses.

Estonian Residency Permit

Investors with a holding in a company, who operate as sole proprietors or those who have invested at least €65,000 in Estonian business, can apply for an Estonian Residency Permit. For self-employed applicants, this investment amount required is €16,000.

It is also possible to apply for the purposes of starting a new company, though this must be evaluated by committee.

Finally, major investors who have made a direct investment of €1,000,000 in an Estonian company, or into an investment fund, can apply for the permit.

Estonia Passport Strength and Ranking

Were Estonia to offer a Citizenship by Investment programme, one of the attractions for applicants would be its passport. Estonia has a strong passport, offering visa-free access to around 196 countries worldwide. In terms of access for business people, it offers visa-free access to 80.3% of the world’s wealth (as measured by GDP) and 91.7% of the global travel popularity. It ranks 32^nd overall in La Vida’s comprehensive Global Passport Ranking.