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Applying for the Residence Permit in Estonia

The following information is for the students who are going to apply for a residence permit in Estonia, and for those who extend their residence permit later on.

It is important to remember that students must start applying within the two first weeks of a semester. If you leave it to later, you might not receive the permit within 90 days and must leave Estonia immediately!!!

Required documents for a temporary residence permit for study:

  1. official invitation for the residence permit which will be given at the beginning of a semester at the workshop on residence permits. NB! The letter of admission is not valid as an invitation!
  2. all application forms available at www.politsei.ee/en/teenused/residence-permit
  3. applicant’s written motivation why he/she wishes to study in Estonia (main reasons  for coming to Estonia; there in no special format of a motivation letter);
  4. document which certifies the legal income of the applicant or his/her family members, who ensure his/her subsistence, during the six months preceding the submission of the application, including the amount, regularity and sources of the income (including a proof of any stipend/grant the student gets for studies at UT; bank statement etc);
  5. health insurance contract guaranteeing that any costs related to medical treatment as a result of illness or injury during the period of validity of the residence permit applied;
  6. letter of guarantee confirming that in case the existing insurance is not valid in Estonia, student is obligated to purchase a valid health insurance contract from Estonia.
  7. document certifying the payment of the state fee;
  8. identity document of an applicant;
  9. coloured photograph sized 40x50 mm (it is possible to take a photo free of charge in Tartu Migration Bureau);

Upon application for the residence permit for studying, non-EU citizens must pay the state fee of 63,91 EUR when applying in Estonia. A residence card issued for studies in Estonia is not valid as a travel document, but you need to have it along while travelling outside Estonia.

After receiving residence permit, all students must register themselves as citizens of Tartu. That can be done in the Population Register Office in Tartu, Küüni St. 5, phone 736 1140 (for opening hours, see page no 26).

Once you have received your Estonian residence permit card, send your Estonian ID code (isikukood) to your Coordinator at the ISS.

Extension of the residence permit
The above mentioned requirements apply also to extension of the residence permit. If you need to extend your residence permit you have to apply at least 2 months before the expiry of an existing residence permit. To get the confirmation letter from the university required for the extension, send an email to your coordinator at the ISS in advance, indicating your current address and the date of expiry of your current residence card. Normally you can pick up the confirmation letter from the ISS the next working day.

If you are planning to Estonia for some time (for holidays, for student exchange), make sure your Estonian residence card does not expire while you are abroad. You can apply for the extension of your Estonian resident permit well in advance so that you could receive your new (extended) residence permit card before you leave Estonia.