English
Polski
中文
Eesti
Suomi
Latvia
Lithuania
Sweden
Norway
Czech Republic
Switzerland
Malta
Cyprus
Canada
A residence permit for your own business
Citizens of countries outside the EU and EEA need a residence permit to live in an EU member state. One of the ways to get one is to run a business there. Estonia, where MAXCORP runs its EU operations, has a dedicated temporary residence permit for business, issued by the Police and Border Guard Board.
The permit is issued for up to 5 years and can be extended for up to 10 years at a time, as long as the conditions are still met. You register your residence in Estonia, and you can use public services there as a resident.
Four routes, four sets of conditions
- Company shareholder: you hold shares in an Estonian company and have invested at least €65,000 in it.
- Sole proprietor: you run your business as a sole proprietor in Estonia and have invested at least €16,000 in it.
- Start-up entrepreneur: your start-up has a positive evaluation from the expert committee, unless it is exempt.
- Large investor: you have made a direct investment of at least €1,000,000 in Estonia.
On the shareholder route, for example, you also show sufficient legal income, valid health insurance and a business plan, and register your residence in Estonia. The Police and Border Guard Board lists the exact conditions and documents for each route.
Processing time
The Police and Border Guard Board gives its answer within 90 days of the application, and the residence permit card is issued within 30 days after that.
Before you can apply, the business itself has to exist: the company is formed, the investment is made and the business activity has started. Plan the company set-up and the permit together, so the documents the Board asks for are ready when you apply.
Travelling in the Schengen area
A residence permit issued by a Schengen country lets you travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Living or working in another member state needs that country’s own permission.
Residence permit or e-Residency?
They are often confused. e-Residency is a digital ID for running an Estonian company online from abroad; it gives no right to live in or enter Estonia or the EU. A residence permit is what lets you live there. Many founders start with a company and e-Residency, and apply for a residence permit once they want to move. Read more about Estonian e‑Residency.
How we help
MAXCORP sets up the Estonian company the permit is based on, with its address, bank account support and accounting, and help you prepare the business side of the application. Tell us your plans, and we check which route fits and what the timeline looks like for you.