Immigration limit of the year 2019
At the end of the year 2018, 1300 applications for residence permits for working and entrepreneurship in Estonia were submitted to the police. Together with todays’ (02. January 2019) applications there are more applications submitted than the prescribed number of immigration quota for the year 2019.
For the year 2019, the government determined the immigration limit of 1315. The immigration limit applies to the number of residence permits granted to foreigners for work, business and residence on the basis of an international agreement in Estonia.
The Police began to process applications for residence permits for work and business from the beginning of December 2018 already. In the first weeks of December, more than a thousand applications were submitted on these grounds for the residence permit. By the end of the year, 1300 people’s documents were submitted for a residence permit, and today the number of applications exceeded the immigration limit.
The immigration limit does not affect:
- Applicants for a residence permit for study;
- The citizens of the European Union and their family members;
- United States and Japanese citizens.
In addition, following applicants are not included in immigration limit:
- Who come to Estonia to work as a researcher, lecturer or information and communication technology specialist;
- Who are top specialists or come to work in a start-up project;
- Planning to establish a start-up project in Estonia (prior official evaluation is needed);
- Acting as a major investor.
Likewise, the fulfillment of the quota does not prevent to apply for a residence permit as a family member of Estonian resident.
For reference:
In 2018, the quota was exhausted in April, in 2017 – in July, and in 2016 – in December.