Money in Estonia: Banks, ATMs, cards & currency exchange
Although Estonia is a small country, it punches well above its weight, and attracts tourists and expats from all over the globe. Maybe you’re headed to work...
If you’re a digital nomad from the UK, or an aspiring one, you may have considered where is the best place to work or start a business overseas.
You might not have considered Estonia, but this beautiful country is starting to become popular with digital nomads. It offers everything from beautiful natural scenery to fast, reliable and widespread internet access. This makes it the ideal place to work remotely.
But before you rush to the nearest airport to catch a flight, you’ll need to get your visa sorted. In this guide, we’ll run through everything you should know about the digital nomad visa for Estonia. This includes the eligibility requirements, the documents you’ll need, the fees and how long you can stay.
We’ll also show you a cost-effective way to manage your money across borders. With the Wise account from the money services provider Wise, you can send, spend and convert money in 40+ currencies at great mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees. It’s not a bank account but offers some similar features, and your money is safeguarded.
Looking to take your savings with you? Wise can also help you with large transfers.
➡️ Learn more about the Wise account
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Estonia is one of many countries which offers a digital nomad visa.
With this visa, eligible non-EU citizens can legally live and work in Estonia for up to 1 year.¹
You can only work for a company or clients located overseas though - you can’t work for an Estonian employer or run a business in Estonia itself.
You can bring close family members with you, including your spouse/partner and dependent children - but they will need to apply separately for their own visas.
To meet the Estonia digital nomad visa requirements, you’ll need to have a minimum monthly income of at least €4,500 EUR (approx. £3,968 GBP).¹ You also need health insurance covering the duration of your stay.
The Estonia digital nomad visa costs €100 EUR (approx. £88 GBP) in application fees.¹ If you’re applying with family members, there may be additional fees to pay.
You’ll also need to pay a service fee of around £10.35 GBP to the Visa Application Centre.²
Aside from the upfront application fees, there may be other costs to factor in. For example, the cost of getting travel/health insurance, or having documents translated.
You’ll need the following documents to apply for a digital nomad visa for Estonia:³
If you’re bringing family members with you, you’ll also need relevant supporting documents for them too.
All UK-issued documents will need to be apostilled/legalised - find out more about how to do this here.
To apply for the digital nomad visa for Estonia from the UK, you’ll need to apply through VFS Global. This is the official partner of the Embassy of Estonia in the United Kingdom.
Here’s how to do it:⁴
While you’re waiting for your visa to be issued, you can get on with other important pre-move preparations.
For example, finding somewhere to live and contacting banks in Estonia to start the process of opening a bank account. Or look into the Wise account to solve your money management needs across borders.
The digital nomad visa for Estonia lets you stay in the country for up to 1 year.¹ It can’t be renewed, but you can apply again at a later date.
| 📚 Read more: Can you keep your UK bank account when moving abroad? |
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While you’re living and working in Estonia as a digital nomad, you’ll want to know whether you have to pay taxes on your income.
There’s no specific Estonia digital nomad visa tax, just income tax rules that apply to anyone considered a tax resident of the country.
If you stay in Estonia for more than 183 days, you may be deemed to be a tax resident. This means that your worldwide income can be subject to income tax.¹
It’s likely that this will happen if you take advantage of the full 1 year stay the visa offers.
There’s also the issue of what income taxes are due in the UK, and the need to avoid paying tax twice on the same income.
Tax between countries can be really complicated, so it’s best to get professional advice to make sure you understand your obligations.
That’s everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in Estonia. Make sure you check for any updates to the application process or the requirements ahead of applying.
Before moving to Estonia, you’re likely to have lots of costs to cover. Some of these, such as real estate costs, visa application fees and rental deposits, will need to cross borders and can get expensive because of the transfer fees and exchange rate markups.
Open a Wise account and you can send money between the UK and 140+ countries in 40+ currencies for low, transparent fees and the mid-market exchange rate. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.
| Here’s an overview of the main benefits of using Wise: |
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**Capital at risk. In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets — this is the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. Wise Assets UK Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you're not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.
You can’t extend the Estonia digital nomad visa. However, you can apply again after your visa has expired and you’ve left the country.
It’s just worth bearing in mind that the maximum stay for foreigners on long-stay visas can’t be longer than 548 days within 730 consecutive days. This might mean you have to wait a little before re-applying.¹
No, there isn’t a direct route to citizenship with the Estonian digital nomad visa. It’s intended as a temporary visa and is not for people planning to settle in the country or become a citizen.
If you want to move to Estonia permanently and explore routes to citizenship, you’ll need to be eligible for a different, long-term visa, such as a skilled work or residence pathway.
The processing time for visa applications is around 15 working days,⁴ but be aware that you may not be able to get an appointment right away. There may also be delays if more information/documents or further interviews are required.
Sources used:
Sources last checked on date: 19-Nov-2025
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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