Demography, Estonia, Markets and Companies

The immigration quota must not exceed 0.1 % of the permanent population of Estonia in each individual year.

Of the quota for 2020, 28 spots have been reserved for creative workers, 18 for athletes, coaches, referees and sports officials, and 10 for foreigners arriving in Estonia under an international agreement.

The remaining 1,258 spots are available to foreigners arriving in Estonia for employment in other fields.

The immigration quota mainly regulates employment and business related migration from third countries. Included in the immigration quota are temporary residence permits issued for employment, entrepreneurship and on the basis of an international agreement.

Not included in the immigration quota are citizens of member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, the United States and Japan. The quota also does not include foreigners moving to Estonia to live with a spouse or close relative, or to study, work as a lecturer or do research in the country. Also not included in immigration quota are people who are issued residence permits for permanent residence in Estonia, major investors, startup entrepreneurs and information and communications technology (ICT) employees and top specialists.

The immigration quota does not concern people applying for international protection or people in need of protection and resettled in Estonia under the EU migration plan.

Where initially the Interior Ministry came up with a plan to set the quota for employment related immigration for 2020 at approximately 650 people and limit the areas of employment where the quota can be applied to manufacturing, information and communications, transport and storage, education and healthcare, while requiring the minister's personal approval in each individual case beyond that, the proposal was withdrawn following opposition by several parties.