Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and was declared a republic. Estonia receives little rain yet it is also known as a wet state; this is due to the hundreds of lakes dotted everywhere, and the melting snow water that they receive.
In recent years Estonia has gained popularity as a working destination with many opportunities for skilled and not so skilled workforce. Politically, Estonia is among a few countries that offer the right to vote to all its residents, citizen or not. Hence, if you are planning to relocate to Estonia, whether to explore the magnificent landscape, for the love for skiing, or just to gain experience living in extreme weather conditions, there is a very straightforward procedure you need to follow.
The D-Visa
In case you are a non-EU citizen, you will need to apply for the D-Visas. A D-Visa is a kind of residence permit and can be augmented with a short-term work permit. The applicant is required to register for the work permit with the Estonian Police and Border Guard. The registration step can be handled by the employer in case the applicant already has one.
The requirements for a D-Visa are as under:
- A valid passport (issued not later than 10 years and has at least 3 months expiry remaining)
- Application form filled in full and signed
- Complete insurance coverage applicable in Estonia or the EU region which shall be spread over the entire duration of one’s stay
- Statement for purpose of visit and stay
- Employment contract/job offer etc.a
- Appropriate means of subsistence
- Proof of accommodation and travel details
Employment in Estonia
As with the rest of the world technological advancement, especially in the field of Information Technology has reshaped the way people perform and understand business. Estonia is no different; with more than 3000 IT firms the Estonian IT scene is undergoing a booming period. This has created lots of opportunities for digital freelancers, vloggers, IT online support, data managers, etc. If you fall in any of the fields that are directly or indirectly related to IT, then you have an 80% higher chance of getting recruited or even establishing a startup venture.
The other area where manpower is required is tourism and hospitality. Hotels, motels, room-sharing, and many other methods of cheap staying options are always in demand. During the skiing season (December to February), rental equipment, transportation, and other related businesses experience a surge.
Education system
Estonia has been a learning seat for the region since the 13th century. Today the education system has adopted modern learning techniques and methods, with state-of-the-art research facilities and world-class tutelage. Parallel to degree-based learning at a higher level runs vocational or skilled-based learning which enables the pursuant to equip himself with the vocations in demand at the moment in a short span of time.
Encouraging features of the Estonian education system include the option to study in English, accessibility of high schooling to all, and inexpensiveness. The other valuable feature is that 25% of the students are foreigners belonging to 125 different nationalities. This provides a unique opportunity for the students to learn in a transcultural environment and gain access to international language, culture, and understanding of the world.
Culture of Estonia
For thousands of years, Estonia has kept its medieval culture alive in one form or the other. As in the ancient times, when the Estonian streets bustled with foreign traders and merchants, today too, a sizeable community of expatriates can be seen indulged in various businesses, trades, occupations, and jobs. Their attire and appearance may have changed, but the spirit of trade is very much still alive.
A hefty chest of folklores, poems, and dance moves are reflected in the country’s festivals; The Tallinn Song Festival, held once every five years is the epitome of Estonian culture and language. Museums, architecture, handicrafts, apparel, and day-to-day mannerism are all evidence of the vibrant culture Estonians represent.
