International students and issues with residence permits/visas at the time of studying abroad
1. EU students, i.e. citizens of EU countries or persons with permanent right of residence in an EU country
If you go to study abroad in the framework of student exchange, the procedure you should follow depends on the destination country:
a) if you go to study in an EU country, ask your receiving university regarding the registering of your right of residence as soon as you have started your studies. If the receiving university has sent you guidelines, follow these;
b) if you go to study in a non-EU country, ask for visa and/or residence permit information from the representation of the corresponding country in Estonia or in your home country. Take care to do that early enough before the beginning of studies. If the receiving university has sent you guidelines, follow these.
2. Non-EU students, i.e. persons having residence permit for study in Estonia
Right after you have received the letter of admission from the receiving university, contact the representation of the corresponding country in Estonia or in your home country to get information regarding visa and/or residence permit. You should also consult the receiving university and if the receiving university sends you guidelines, follow these.
2.1. Students whose Estonian residence permit remains valid throughout the period of studying abroad
If you go to study abroad for a longer period than 183 days in one year, you have to register your staying away from Estonia with the Police and Border Guard Board. Staying away can be registered only onwards.
If you have registered your staying away from Estonia, then the time of your staying away from Estonia shall be calculated into your permanent residence time in Estonia.
Upon registration of the staying away from Estonia or upon submission of an application for considering the staying away to be justified you must certify the reason and circumstances for your staying away. To prove that they are staying away from Estonia for study, the students of the University of Tartu can use the letter of admission of the university abroad.
2.2. Students whose Estonian residence permit ends before the beginning of studies abroad or during studies abroad
All UT students who go to study abroad in the framework of student exchange must have a valid Estonian temporary residence permit for study during their studies abroad, regardless of the period of studies abroad or whether they go to study to an EU or a non-EU country!
Thus, first you have to apply for the extension of your Estonian residence permit in Estonia (extension cannot be done outside Estonia) and at the same time you should contact the representation of the corresponding country in Estonia or in your home country to get information regarding visa and/or residence permit (see clause 2).
NB! If you go to study abroad for a longer period than 183 days in one year, you have to register your staying away from Estonia with the Police and Border Guard Board. Staying away can be registered only onwards.
If you have registered your staying away from Estonia, then the time of your staying away from Estonia shall be calculated into your permanent residence time in Estonia.
Upon registration of the staying away from Estonia or upon submission of an application for considering the staying away to be justified you must certify the reason and circumstances for your staying away. To prove that they are staying away from Estonia for study, the students of the University of Tartu can use the letter of admission of the university abroad.