Relocate your business to Estonia
Europe
Thinking about business immigration to Estonia? Below are the residency routes for founders, investors and startups, and the set-up services a foreign-owned business needs: company registration, a bank account, tax, payroll, trademark and licences. Set-up comes first, because a company does not grant residency on its own. See also business immigration explained and relocating your business abroad.
2014
year e-Residency launched, a world first
About 50%
of the country is forest
2003
year Skype was built by Estonian engineers
- Capital
- Tallinn
- Population
- About 1.4 million
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- Estonian
Best things about doing business in Estonia
- A fully digital government, including e-Residency
- Fast online company registration
- A strong start-up and tech community
Fun facts
- Estonia was the first country to offer e-Residency to people anywhere in the world.
- Skype was created by developers working in Estonia.
Figures are rounded and approximate.
Business Setup Services
Company, bank, payroll, brand and licencesNot a residency routeWe handle company incorporation, bank account and payroll set-up, trademark filing and the licences and permits your business needs. Tell us what you need.
Cards without a "last verified" date have not been independently checked yet. Confirm the details with the official source before you act.
Warning: These do not grant residency on their own. A separate visa is required.
About Estonia: Registering an Estonian company, including through e-Residency, does not give you the right to live in Estonia. Residence needs a separate permit, such as the Startup Visa.
Company Registration
Set up your legal entity so you can operate, hire and pay tax.
e-Residency + Private Limited Company (OÜ) Registration
Last verified October 2026 · Official source: e-resident.gov.ee
Business Bank Account
Opening an account with a bank in Estonia
Open a business bank account for your new company. ORBIZLY prepares the application, and the bank decides.
Official source: fi.ee
Employer and Payroll Registration
Registering as an employer in Estonia
Register as an employer so you can hire and run payroll. Handled by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board and the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
Official source: emta.ee
Trademark Filing
Trademark Filing (Estonian Patent Office)
Last verified October 2026 · Official source: epa.ee
IP and Patent Filing
IP and Patent Filing (Estonian Patent Office)
Protect your invention with a patent. Filed with the Estonian Patent Office.
Official source: epa.ee
Licences
Permits that let your products and business operate legally: import permits, tax and goods/services registration, sector-specific permits, export licences, drug and health, food safety, lab test reports and product trials.
EORI Number and Import Permits
Register as an importer and get permits for regulated goods. Handled by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.
Official source: emta.ee
Tax and Goods/Services Registration
Register for tax and for goods and services tax. Handled by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (VAT registration).
Official source: emta.ee
Sector-Specific Permits
Permits for regulated industries. Overseen by the sector regulator responsible for your activity.
Official source: eesti.ee
Export Licence
Get permission to export controlled goods. Handled by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board and, for strategic goods, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Official source: emta.ee
Drug and Health Product Licence
Approval to sell medicines, devices and health products. Handled by the State Agency of Medicines.
Official source: ravimiamet.ee
Food Safety Licence and Registration
Register your food business and get approval to import or sell food. Handled by the Agriculture and Food Board.
Official source: pta.agri.ee
Lab Test Reports and Product Certification
Get your product tested and certified for the market. Overseen through laboratories accredited by EAK.
Official source: eak.ee
Product Trial and Sample Approval
Approval to trial a new product before launch. Handled by the State Agency of Medicines.
Official source: ravimiamet.ee
Residency & Visa Pathways
Programs that grant residenceThese grant a right to live and work in the country. Talk to an expert before you apply.
Startup Visa
Live in Estonia on roughly €800/month proof of funds — no minimum investment required. Requires Startup Committee endorsement.
Last verified September 2026 · Official source: startupestonia.ee/startup-visa/startup/
No longer available
e-Residency · Not an immigration program, since Always
e-Residency is a digital business identity. It does not grant the right to live or work in Estonia.
Questions about moving a business to Estonia
What business immigration options are there for Estonia?
ORBIZLY lists startup visas (Startup Visa). Each is shown on this page with its status, the official source and when it was last verified. Rules change, so confirm the details with the official source before you apply.
Can I relocate my business to Estonia?
It depends on your business and the route you choose, and it is really two separate things: setting up or moving the business, and getting the right to live there. Company registration, a bank account, tax and licences are the set-up side. A visa or residence permit is the residency side. Registering an Estonian company, including through e-Residency, does not give you the right to live in Estonia. Residence needs a separate permit, such as the Startup Visa. Start with the free eligibility check to see which routes fit your business.
Does registering a company in Estonia give me residency?
Registering an Estonian company, including through e-Residency, does not give you the right to live in Estonia. Residence needs a separate permit, such as the Startup Visa.
What do I need to set up a business in Estonia?
The usual order is: plan, register the company, open the tax and bank accounts, register as an employer, protect your brand, then get any licences and permits. For Estonia, ORBIZLY lists drug and health licences, import permits, export licence, food safety, ip and patent filing, lab test reports, company registration, business bank account, product trials, employer and payroll registration, sector-specific permits, tax and goods/services registration, and trademark filing. Government fees are paid to the authorities and are separate from ORBIZLY's fees.
How do I start moving my business to Estonia?
Take the free eligibility check, which takes about three minutes, or book a free 15-minute discovery call. ORBIZLY then shows which routes look like a fit and what to do first. ORBIZLY gives directional guidance and is not a law firm or immigration adviser.
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Brands built in Estonia
Well-known companies from Estonia, including unicorns and businesses that grew a global presence.
Skype
Video calling, built by Estonian engineers
Bolt
UnicornRide-hailing and delivery in dozens of countries
Pipedrive
UnicornSales software used worldwide
Veriff
UnicornOnline identity verification
Wise
International money transfers, co-founded by Estonians
Examples only. Logos belong to their owners and are shown to identify the companies. A unicorn is a private start-up valued above US$1 billion at some point.
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