Student Visa for Estonia: D Visa, Residence Permit, Money and Insurance
Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.
Degree students from outside the EU usually come to Estonia in two steps: a long-stay D visa to enter, then a temporary residence permit for study from the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA, Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet). This guide covers the rules as they stood in October 2026. Amounts change every year, so check PPA before you pay.
Who needs what
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no visa or permit. According to Study in Estonia, you register your place of residence with the local government within three months of arrival, which gives you a temporary right of residence, and then apply for an Estonian ID card within one month.
- Everyone else needs a residence permit for study if the studies last more than a year, which is the case for any degree. PPA issues it for the whole programme, for up to five years.
- Russian citizens: under a government sanctions regulation in force since July 2022, Russian citizens cannot obtain a visa or temporary residence permit to study in Estonia. Check the current rules with PPA before you apply.
Start once you have the university's acceptance documents. The university also sends PPA an invitation for you.
Route 1: D visa first, permit in Estonia
This is the route PPA's student guide describes.
- Book an appointment at an Estonian embassy or consulate that handles visas and apply for a long-term (D) visa in person. Processing can take up to 30 calendar days.
- Travel to Estonia and start your studies.
- Book an appointment at a PPA service office, choosing the procedure "Applying for or extending a residence permit". Appointments open up to three months ahead and fill quickly.
- Submit the application in person; your photo and fingerprints are taken at the office.
- PPA decides within 90 days, and the residence permit card follows within another 30 days.
For the D visa you bring the forms, a photo, your passport, the acceptance letter, a ticket reservation, three months of bank statements (or a sponsor's or scholarship letter) and insurance for the whole stay.
Route 2: permit from abroad
You can also apply for the residence permit in person at an Estonian embassy before you travel.
Documents for the residence permit
- the application form, data on close relatives, biographical data and the additional form
- your passport and a digital photo
- documents on legal income for the previous six months
- a criminal record certificate from every country where you lived for at least three consecutive months in the past three years, issued within six months
- proof of payment of the state fee
Foreign documents must be legalised or apostilled and translated into Estonian or English. See apostille and legalisation of documents.
Money to show
By signing the application you confirm that you have enough legal income. PPA sets it at four times the subsistence level, which is €880 a month in 2026. The requirement lasts for the whole permit: if it stops being met, the permit can be revoked. Tuition is extra, and some universities ask non-EU students to pay part of it before enrolment. See how much it costs to study in Estonia.
Health insurance
You need insurance for the whole period. For the visa, a policy covering medical treatment for illness or injury is enough; the residence permit has stricter requirements (§ 120 of the Aliens Act). Students with a study permit are not covered by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund unless they work in Estonia. More in health insurance for students in Europe.
The fees
| Application | In Estonia | At an embassy |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term (D) visa | €120 | €120 |
| Temporary residence permit | €225 | €255 |
| Extension of the permit | €225 | – |
Working while you study
With a residence permit for study you may work alongside your studies with no fixed hours limit, provided the work does not interfere with your studies and you stay full-time. More in working while studying in Europe.
Keeping the permit
The permit is tied to a specific institution and programme. PPA's guide says it ends 30 days after you fall behind with or interrupt your studies. Within one month of receiving the permit, register your place of residence in the population register.
After graduation
When a study permit expires, PPA allows you to stay in Estonia for up to 270 days, for example to look for work and apply for a residence permit for employment.
Where to look next
- How to get into a university in Estonia
- How much it costs to study in Estonia
- Document recognition for Estonia
- Student housing in Estonia
- Student visas in Europe: an overview
Official sources
- PPA: Residence permit for study: Police and Border Guard Board
- PPA: Student guide (July 2026): D visa, residence permit and €880 a month
- PPA: State fee amounts
- Study in Estonia: Visa and residence permit: Education and Youth Board (Harno)
Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.