How to Get a Schengen Visa for Estonia: Documents and Process

Written by the AXA Schengen Team
Date: 06/20/2025

Ready to wander through the medieval streets of Tallinn’s Old Town, to sunbathe on the sandy beaches of Pärnu, to go birdwatching or bear spotting in Matsalu and Alutaguse National Parks? Ah Mother Nature is calling indeed! But while She might be wild and free of borders, you are not. Chances are, to be allowed to discover the beautiful settings of Estonia, you will need a visa.

While this prospect might seem too overwhelming, don’t unpack your night vision goggles just yet!
The AXA team is once again here to help you through the_sometimes harrowing_visa application process. Keep your cool, stay focused and follow our step-by-step guide!

Here’s all you need to know to get a Schengen visa for Estonia.

• Who needs a visa to visit Estonia?
• Where must you apply for your visa for Estonia?
• What type of visa do you need to visit Estonia?
• What are the different steps of the visa for Estonia application process?
• What documents must be enclosed with your visa for Estonia application?
• When should you apply for your visa for Estonia?
• How much does a Schengen visa for Estonia cost?
• Why is AXA Insurance the best choice for all wise travellers?

Do you need a visa to visit Estonia?

Estonia is part of the Schengen area and as such, is submitted to common obligations and criteria when it comes to granting certain visas, but more on that later.

Depending on your nationality, how long you intend to stay in the Schengen area and the purpose of your trip, you may (or may not) need a visa to visit Estonia.

Let’s find out!

Who doesn’t need a visa to travel to Estonia?

• Citizens of Schengen States or the European Union as well as family members living with them,

• Third-country nationals, holders of a valid residence permit granted by a Schengen country,

• Nationals of third-countries which have signed a visa waiver agreement with the European Union.

Beware! These third-country visitors must still comply with several requirements:

• They must travel with proper ID documentation i.e. a passport issued less than 10 years prior to their trip and valid more than 3 months after their scheduled date of departure from the Schengen area.
• Their stay must not exceed 90 days over a 180-day period.
• They must apply online for an electronic travel authorisation (ETIAS) to enter the Schengen area (starting in the fourth quarter of 2026)

Who needs a visa to visit Estonia?

All other travellers need a visa to be allowed in Estonia.

Citizens of over a hundred third countries (including China, Russia and African nations) must apply for a visa if they wish to enter the Schengen area.

Where must you apply for your Schengen visa for Estonia?

Different situations can occur:

1- In countries where Estonia has diplomatic representation (embassies, consulates):

You will need to submit your visa application file at the consular services attached to your place of residence. They will examine your file and decide to grant or deny your visa request.

2- In countries where Estonia doesn’t have diplomatic representation:

• In compliance with the EU Visa Code, another Schengen country may have been entrusted with the responsibility of handling the entire processing of visa for Estonia applications, from receiving the files to decision-making.
• Estonia may also have commissioned a specialised private company, such as the visa centre VFS Global, to inform applicants, collect their applications and handle administrative tasks.

If you live in Australia, Belarus, Canada, China, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Russia, Turkey or Ukraine, you will need to submit your visa for Estonia application file at a VFS Global centre.

Good to know!

1. Visa centres transfer visa application files to the competent Estonian consular services as they are the only ones authorized to examine the request and decide to grant or deny a visa.

2. If there is no Estonian diplomatic post in your country and that Estonia isn’t represented by another Schengen Member State, you can submit your visa application file in another Estonian diplomatic representation issuing visas in another country.

What type of visa do you need to travel to Estonia?

It all depends on how long you intend on staying as well as the purpose of your trip.

What type of visa is required for a stay of less than 90 days?

If you are staying in Estonia for less than 3 months (90 days) and are travelling for the most common purposes:

• tourism,

• business,

• visiting friends and family,

• short internships and training courses,

• attending professional, cultural or sports events.

​​→ ​You need to apply for a Type C short-stay visa, also called uniform visa or Schengen visa.

Keep in mind!

• As a Schengen Member State, Estonia applies the European Union’s common policy when it comes to short- stay visas.
  Issuing criteria and the rights granted by the Schengen visa are identical regardless of the Schengen country where the application is submitted or where the visa is issued. Hence the name uniform visa.

• A Schengen visa allows its holder to stay and travel in all the countries part of the Schengen area for maximum 90 days over a 180-day period.

• It doesn’t grant the right to work in Estonia or in any other Schengen Member State. In that case, you will need to apply for a work permit.

What type of visa is required for a stay of more than 90 days?

If you plan on staying in Estonia longer than 3 months (90 days) for whatever purpose,

​​→ You will need to apply for a ​Type D visa, also called a national, long-stay visa.

Please note:

• Third country nationals exempt of short- stay visa requirements must apply for a type D visa if they intend on staying longer than 90 days in Estonia.

• Visa application procedures depend on the purpose of your stay (such as studies, work, family reunification or personal reasons) and are specific to Estonia, since Type D visas are national visas with eligibility criteria and requirements that differ from those of other Schengen countries.

• You can find out more about the long- stay visa for Estonia application process on the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

What kind of visa do you need if you’re only transiting through an Estonian airport?

You have to make a stop in an Estonian airport while travelling from and to a country located outside of the Schengen area?

​​→ Depending on your nationality, you might need to apply for a ​type A or Airport Transit Visa (also called ATV) to be allowed to stay in the international transit area of the airport while waiting for your connecting flight.

What Are the Main Steps in the Estonia Visa Application Process?

1. Find out what type of visa you need and where you should apply.

2. Check that your passport is valid to obtain your visa:

• Issued less than 10 years ago.

• Valid more than 3 months after the scheduled date of the end of your trip in the Schengen area

• Must include 2 blank pages

Good to know: if you don’t own a passport, check what other travel documents are accepted by the European Union with your Schengen visa application.

3. Fill out your visa for Estonia application form online.

4. Book your appointment to submit your file.

5. Subscribe to certified and compulsory travel insurance.

Beware! According to article 15 of the EU visa Code, all applicants must subscribe to travel insurance which covers medical expenses as well as repatriation in case of accidents or illness during their stay in the Schengen area.

6. Gather the required supporting documents.

7. Attend your appointment in person to submit your application file which must include:

• The letter confirming your appointment,

• The printed application form duly completed, dated and signed,

• Your passport,

• The required supporting documents (originals and copies),

• The accepted means of payment to settle the visa fees and service fees when applicable.

The day of your appointment, you will meet with a visa agent who will:

• check that your file is complete and that your supporting documents comply with visa requirements.

• record your biometric data (fingerprints and photo). Children under age 12 are exempt but must still attend the appointment.

• collect the visa and service fees.

• keep your passport.

8. Track the progress of the examination of your visa application following the instructions given to you.

Once your application has been examined, you will be informed by text/email/phone and asked to come recover your passport.

​​→ If ​your visa is granted, a visa sticker will feature on your passport.

​​→ If ​your visa is denied, a document will be enclosed, explaining the reasons why and how you can appeal the decision.

What documents must be enclosed with your visa for Estonia application?

Documents mandatory for all visa applicants

• The application form completed, dated and signed.

• A valid passport.

• An ICAO ID picture meeting international standards.

• A travel insurance certificate.

More specific supporting documents

These documents specify and/or justify:

• The purpose of your stay.

• Your accommodation arrangements during your stay in Estonia.

• Your ability to cover your financial needs during your stay.

• Proof of your intent on leaving the Schengen area at the end of your trip.

Good to know!

• You will receive a precise list of the supporting documents which must be enclosed with your application after you’ve completed your file online.
• The Estonian government provides standard lists for certain countries.
• During the examination of your visa application file, Estonian consular services can ask for additional documents or request a meeting with the applicant.

When should you apply for your visa for Estonia?

You can submit your visa application 6 months at the earliest and 15 days at the latest prior to your scheduled date of departure.

Processing time is usually 15 calendar days. However, in some situations, it can be longer, reaching 45 days maximum.

Situations that can delay processing time:

• Too many requests which can occur during the busier times of the year (school holidays, bank holidays in Europe, end of the year celebrations…)

• If the Estonian authorities wish to extend their verifications or ask for additional documents.

• For some third-country applicants, Estonian authorities must consult the other Schengen States before deciding to grant a visa to make sure no Member is opposed to their decision, thus prolonging the process along the way.

AXA tips to travellers:

-Take into account the possible difficulties to find an available date for the appointment to submit your visa application. This can push back the examination of your request by several weeks.

-We recommend submitting your file as early as possible: 6 to 8 weeks prior to the scheduled departure date.

How much does a Schengen visa for Estonia cost?

The price of a Schengen visa (or visa fee) for Estonia, depends on the age of the applicant, their situation and nationality:

• Travellers aged 12 and over: full fee

• Children between ages 6 to 12: reduced fee

• Children younger than 6: free of charge

Specific reduced fees for:

- Citizens of countries benefitting from visa facilitation measures (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine).

- Citizens of Cabo Verde.

PRO TIP: For more information, read our article detailing the costs entailed by a Schengen visa application.

Good to know:

• Depending on the purpose of their trip (school trips, research, humanitarian work, etc.), some travellers can also enjoy a reduced visa fee or even visa fee exemption.
• To find out if that applies to your situation visit the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ webpage.
• Visa fees, collected by the Estonian government, cover the expenses entailed by the processing of your visa application.
• If you submit your application at a VFS Global Centre, you will have to pay additional service fees to this company.
• Visa and service fees are non-refundable even if the visa application is denied.

Why is AXA the best choice for all cautious travellers?

AXA Schengen travel insurance is certified by the consular services of all Schengen countries and is thus systematically accepted with visa applications.

It also offers many other advantages:

• Quick and easy online subscription. Your travel insurance certificate is immediately available once you’ve subscribed. All that’s left for you to do is enclose it with the other compulsory documents of your visa for Estonia application file.
• Excellent value for money and decreasing rate based on the length of your stay.
• Refundable if your visa application is denied.
• A zero-deductible policy.
• No age limit.
• Free 24/7 medical consultation and assistance.

Don’t leave without us!

To find out which AXA option is the best suited to your needs and budget, discover and compare our

different Schengen travel insurance plans.

Get your commitment-free, online quote now!

You might find these articles interesting:

• How can I quickly obtain visa insurance for Estonia?
• Index- Understanding Europe from A to Z.
• AXA tips to travel safely in Europe

FAQ

What is the tourist/work visa in Estonia?

The tourist/work visa is a specific long-stay visa which allows young adults aged 18 to 30 (or 35 depending on their nationality) to come to Estonia to study and visit the country while granting them the right to work to finance their stay, in compliance with agreements made with their country of origin. Currently, only citizens from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan can apply.

What financial means must you have to be granted a visa for Estonia?

For a type C Schengen visa (stays shorter than 90 days), Estonia demands that applicants prove financial means of €70/per day. For other types of visas, you can find more information on the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website.

What can I do if my visa for Estonia request is denied?

In case of refusal, a document stating the reasons for this decision as well as how you can appeal it will be enclosed with your passport. If your first request for re-examination fails, you can lodge a formal appeal with the consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bear in mind this appeal will cost €80.