If you wish to carry out a research activity in Estonia you have the possibility to do it under short-term employment or apply for a residence permit for employment as a researcher.
To apply for the residence permit as a researcher, the following conditions must be fulfilled:
- you must have appropriate professional preparation or experience for the research activities and
- the institution which is inviting you to Estonia must be recognised by the Ministry of Education and Research and its activities must have been positively evaluated or
- the educational institution has to have a valid institutional accreditation or
- the principal activity of the institution entered in the state register of state and local government authorities is research and development and
- you have to have a signed hosting agreement or work contract with the research and development institution for carrying out research and development work.
To apply a short term employment for research work:
- be registered for short-term employment; and
- have appropriate professional training or experience;
- the institution must comply with the requirements established by legislation;
- have legal ground to arrive Estonia (e.g. obtain a long-term (D) visa if necessary).
Where and how to apply | Residence permit You can apply for a residence permit for employment as a researcher at an Estonian embassy or consulate or if you are legally staying in Estonia or if you have legal ground to arrive to Estonia, directly from the Police and Border Guard services. Hosting agreement The research and development institution must conclude a hosting agreement or employment contract with you. This agreement must include:
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Further requirements | You must register your place of residence in the Population Register within a month of your arrival. |
Duration of validity of permits | A residence permit for employment as a researcher is granted for a maximum period of five years, renewable for a ten-year period |
Appeals | Appeals can be brought to administrative courts or a challenge may be filed against a decision within ten days from the date of notification of the decision. A decision on the challenge may be contested in an administrative court within the same term. |
Further information |
Change of activities | During the period of validity of a residence permit, the research and development institution and researcher must inform the Police and Border Guard Board about the termination of the hosting agreement or employment contract. As a holder of a residence permit for scientific work, you are allowed to change position with the same employer or may be employed by several employers following the conditions determined in the residence permit for employment. |
Long-term residence | After five years of continuous residence on the basis of a temporary residence permit, you may apply for a long-term residence permit at the Police and Border Guard services. You must submit your application no later than two months before expiry of your valid temporary residence permit and fulfil the following conditions:
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If you have a permit/visa for research in an EU country, you may conduct research and teach in Estonia if you fulfil certain requirements. If the duration of your stay in Estonia is shorter than 180 days in a 360-day period, you are subject to short-term mobility rules. If the duration of your stay in Estonia is longer than 180 days, you are subject to the rules governing long-term mobility.
Short-term mobility | If you have a valid residence permit/visa in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/801, you may carry out research activities in Estonia during the period of validity of your visa/residence permit. Your employer needs to notify the Police and Border Guard by registering short-term employment as a researcher. You may start your research activity at the same moment as the notification is sent/presented to the Police and Border Guard. The researcher’s family members may accompany the researcher during the researcher mobility on the basis of the visa/residence permit issued by the first Member State or if they apply for a visa/residence permit from Estonian embassies or at the Police and Border Guard services |
Long-term mobility | If you have a valid residence permit/visa according to Directive (EU) 2016/801, you may carry out research activities in Estonia during the validity period of your visa/residence permit. In case of long-term mobility your employer needs to notify the Police and Border Guard by registering short-term employment as a researcher. You may start your research activity at the same moment as the notification is sent/presented to the Police and Border Guard. The researcher’s family members may accompany the researcher during the researcher mobility on the basis of the visa/residence permit issued by the first Member State or if they apply for a visa/residence permit from Estonian embassies or the Police and Border Guard services. |