Important residence permit information for applicants

There is no student-visa as such for studies in Estonia. Non EU students require a residence permit for study, if they are going to stay in Estonia for more than three months (in some cases only one month). The citizens who can apply for the residence permit in Estonia

Estonian residence permits for studies CAN BE APPLIED ONLY from ESTONIAN EMBASSY.
Please find the list of Estonian representations around the world

All applicants from the countries where there is no Estonian embassy nearby should take into consideration the following aspects:

• All admitted students will recieve an offical invitation for the residence permit which is required for applying for the residence permit. NB! The admission letter sent by UT is not valid as an invitation!
• Student must apply and pick up the residence permit, from the Estonian embassy, in person. That means one must be prepared to visit the embassy twice!
• The University of Tartu or any of the Estonian embassies cannot issue a visa invitation (in case you need it!) to enter another country where the Estonian embassy, closest to an applicant, is located. Applying for a required visa is the student's responsibility only!
• Application process for getting the residence permit (from the moment of applying) might take up to 3 months!
• If the Estonian embassy is too far from your home country, it might be possible to enter Estonia also with a Schengen visa (in case you have one!) and apply for the residence permit in Estonia. The University of Tartu cannot issue invitations for Schengen visas. Getting this visa is student's responsibility.