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Student visa for Estonia
Money to show for the visa: €880 a month. Work while you study: No hours limit, provided work does not interfere with full-time study. Checked against the official pages on 24 September 2026.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- €880 a month
- Visa fee
- €120 D visa; €225 temporary residence permit for study
- Work while you study
- No hours limit, provided work does not interfere with full-time study
- Stay after you graduate
- 9 months
Four times the subsistence level set in the State Budget Act. This is the 2026 figure.
Police and Border Guard Board, Student Guide (July 2026), checked 2026-09-24
You can enter on a D visa and apply for the residence permit in Estonia, or apply for the permit directly.
Police and Border Guard Board, Student Guide (July 2026), checked 2026-09-24
You must keep full-time status (about 30 ECTS a semester) and finish within the nominal time.
Study in Estonia (Education and Youth Board), checked 2026-09-24
Stay on to look for work, then apply for a residence permit for employment.
Study in Estonia, checked 2026-09-24
Worth knowing: The EUR 880 a month proof of funds is far above the official EUR 300-500 living-cost estimate, and Tartu ended tuition waivers for new non-EU students.
The visa
You need a temporary residence permit for study. There are two routes:
- Apply for a D visa (€120) at an Estonian embassy, travel, and then apply for the residence permit in Estonia, or
- Apply for the residence permit directly at an embassy.
Fees. The Police and Border Guard Board's July 2026 Student Guide gives €120 for the D visa and €225 for the temporary residence permit at a service office.
Processing. D visa: up to 30 calendar days. Residence permit: a decision within 90 days of the application being accepted, and the card within a further 30 days. The permit route can therefore take four months. If you plan to apply in Estonia, the D visa is the faster way in.
The money. You must show €880 a month for 2026. The legal basis is four times the subsistence level, which is set each year in the State Budget Act, so the figure moves every January. The University of Tartu's own guidance, updated 22 September 2026, still mentions €800 a month in one place and €880 in another; the police figure governs.
Health insurance is required for the whole stay. You may choose any suitable provider, but requirements differ between the visa and the residence permit, so check which one your policy covers.
After the permit is granted, register your place of residence within one month.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
No student visa is needed: citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland may live and study in Estonia. For more than three months you normally register your residence after you arrive, and show that you are enrolled, insured and can support yourself.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of Estonia that covers your country, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: politsei.ee · studyinestonia.ee · politsei.ee · studyinestonia.ee · studyinestonia.ee · oigusaktid.taltech.ee. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
Government scholarships to study in Estonia
- Estonian National Scholarships closed for this round
Which of these are open to your nationality
By nationality
From Algeria
From Armenia
From Azerbaijan
From Bangladesh
From Brazil
From Cameroon
From Canada
From China
From Colombia
From Egypt
From Ethiopia
From Georgia
From Ghana
From India
From Indonesia
From Iran
From Iraq
From Japan
From Jordan
From Kazakhstan
From Kenya
From Lebanon
From Malaysia
From Mexico
From Morocco
From Nepal
From Nigeria
From Pakistan
From Philippines
From Russia
From Saudi Arabia
From Senegal
From South Africa
From South Korea
From Sri Lanka
From Syria
From Tanzania
From Tunisia
From Türkiye
From Uganda
From Ukraine
From United Arab Emirates
From United States
From Uzbekistan
From Vietnam
From ZimbabweQuestions students ask
How much money do I need to show for a Estonia student visa?
€880 a month. Four times the subsistence level set in the State Budget Act. This is the 2026 figure. (Police and Border Guard Board, Student Guide (July 2026), checked 2026-09-24).
How much is the student visa fee for Estonia?
€120 D visa; €225 temporary residence permit for study.
Can international students work in Estonia?
No hours limit, provided work does not interfere with full-time study.
Can I stay in Estonia after I graduate?
9 months.
Do EU citizens need a student visa for Estonia?
No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and study in Estonia without a student visa. For a stay of more than three months they normally register their residence after arriving.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.