Estonia is one of the most advanced countries in the world. With an innovative economy and easy visa issuance, the country keeps attracting foreigners from around the world. Famed for its numerous business opportunities in the tech world, it is a hub for technology, and it welcomes all creative and innovative ideas. Looking to create a digitalized country with high efficiency, and security, the government passed the e-Estonia initiative, which involved the issuance of digital identities, and the digitalization of its healthcare and political system. One of the major benefits of living in Estonia is the free access to the internet through free WIFI. With a small population of over one million people, it is the least populated country in Europe.
If you are considering retiring to this beautiful country for the rest of your golden years, then you must know a few things about Estonia.
Retirement
The official age for retirement in Estonia is 63 years and 6 months for all employees. After retiring at this age, they become eligible to receive the state pension. There is no retirement visa for non-EU nationals. Therefore, you will have to apply for a tourist visa and then apply for a temporary residence permit.
Cost of living
Considering the country is well advanced with a booming economy and high standards of living, it is expected that the cost of living should be a bit higher than other bordering countries in the Baltic region, except for Sweden. If you were from Europe, the country wouldn’t seem that expensive to you. However, if you are relocating from the US or Canada, then the cost of living is relatively inexpensive depending on where you choose to live and how you spend. Rents are cheaper outside the city areas. The costs of groceries are generally cheaper, whereas the cost of utilities differs with climatic changes.
Healthcare system
The Estonian healthcare system offers both public and private health care to its residents. While public healthcare is funded by taxes and accessible to all citizens, foreigners mostly use private healthcare. As an ex-pat, it is best to buy private medical insurance before relocating to the country. This helps to broaden your healthcare services as a resident. Not every resident is granted access to public health care, so with your private insurance, you can pay for limited services. With the current digitalization in the country, medical care has never been this easy. Doctors can access patients’ medical records in e-Health records; citizens can receive prescriptions through the e-prescription system and call for an ambulance in the case of an emergency with the e-Ambulance. These innovations have made the country’s healthcare system one of the best and most reliable.
Safety
With low crimes reported in the city and only a few cases of petty cases such as pickpocketing, one can say that it is one of the safest places in the world to live. Regardless of the low crime rate, there is still a need to be cautious in crowded areas during tourist seasons. The country boasts of a relatively low accident rate compared to other countries in Europe. However, while living in the country, you must adhere to all safety rules and always drive carefully on the roads. Since there is never a case of kidnap and little or no mugging, you will experience no problems during your stay in the country provided you stick to the rules carefully and avoid conflicts as much as possible.
Living as a retiree
Over the years, Estonia has become one of the favorite places for ex-pats looking to retire abroad. The environment is calm and convenient for anyone looking to escape the busy lifestyle of bigger cities. The high standard of living, excellent medical care, high technology, and easy lifestyle are a few of the things that attract retirees to the small country. If you are looking for a quiet place away from home to spend your golden years, then here are some places in Estonia you can consider:
- Kuressaare
- Haapsalu
- Nomme
- Tartu
Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia is the largest city in the country and home to the highest population of ex-pats. Buying a property or renting a house in the city is expensive but compared to most European countries, it’s affordable. You can choose to rent or buy a house in Tallinn if you can afford the cost of living.
If you are serious about retiring to Estonia, then you should research more on how to go about it or book a consultation with online immigration partners. Numerous companies online offer such services to first-timers such as yourself.
