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To study in Estonia, you must meet the Estonia student visa requirements and apply for the visa. The requirements would include both eligibility criteria and documentation requirements. The success of your visa application greatly depends on whether you meet the set requirements. An Estonian student visa is a D visa or a national visa. You can obtain this visa for a maximum period of 1 year. This blog covers the Estonia student visa requirements in detail.
This Blog Includes:
- Estonia Student Visa Requirements (Eligibility)
- Estonia Student Visa Requirements (Documentation)
- Overview of An Estonia Student Visa
- How to Apply for an Estonia Student Visa?
- Estonia Student Visa Processing Time
- Application Fees for Estonia Student Visa
- Can I Travel with my Family to Estonia with a Student Visa?
- How Much Bank Balance is Required for an Estonian Student Visa?
- Can I study in Estonia without IELTS?
- Is IELTS Required for an Estonian student visa?
- Are Students Allowed to Work in Estonia?
- Is it easy to get an Estonia study visa?
- FAQs
Estonia Student Visa Requirements (Eligibility)
To study in Estonia long-term, you need to apply for a D visa. A D visa is a national visa that you need for higher studies. For example, a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. You must meet the basic eligibility requirements to apply for a D visa. These are as follows:
- You must have applied to study a long-term program at an Estonian university. Moreover, you must have received an offer letter from the university.
- You must ensure that you meet the academic standards and you have documents of your previous studies.
- You must also clear any additional examinations required for admission. For example, clearing the English language proficiency test like IELTS or TOEFL. Standardized tests like GRE or GMAT must be cleared (if applicable).
- Additionally, you must ensure that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses for the course duration. This includes your tuition fees and living expenses. You can apply for a scholarship or educational loan to cover your expenses.
- You must also obtain travel insurance that covers medical expenses for your duration of stay
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Estonia Student Visa Requirements (Documentation)
Every visa application requires you to submit certain documents. These documents verify your profile to obtain a visa. The essential documents that you need to submit to obtain an Estonia student visa are as follows:
- You must submit a filled-in visa application form. (Visit this website to download the form:https://eelviisataotlus.vm.ee/)
- You must have a valid passport. This passport must have been issued within the last 10 years and must have 2 blank pages in it for visa purposes.
- Your passport must be valid 3 months beyond your intended duration of stay
- Submit a recent passport photograph. The photograph must be taken on a white background and 80% of your face cover the photo
- Additionally, you must have obtained travel insurance valid in the Schengen area. This travel insurance must cover your medical expenses. That is, it must provide emergency assistance and repatriation when required.
- Present your air tickets to Estonia before the course begins
- You must also submit documents that prove your admission to the university. For example, an offer letter from the Tallinn University
- Provide financial documents. For example, bank statements of last 6 months, and ITR of the last 3 years
- You must also submit the Sponsor’s legalized authorization letter along with the proof of legal income. (if applicable) For example, pay slips
- Present your previous academic records. For example, diplomas from the country of origin
- If you are undertaking a research activity then you must submit a hosting agreement with a research centre/university in Estonia or a working contact. Otherwise, you can submit a Research Scholarship Or Term of Responsibility as proof that you will pay the expenses
To get the Estonia student visa documentation checklist download this PDF
Overview of An Estonia Student Visa
Estonia is one of the countries in the Schengen area. Therefore, Estonia issues two visas. One is a common short-stay Schengen visa (for studies up to 90 days in 180 days). This is the visit visa that you can use for other purposes as well. For example, visiting family and friends in Estonia, and exploring the country.
On the other hand, the D visa or the Schengen long-stay visa is the national visa. This visa is given to those who are particularly interested in pursuing higher studies in Estonia. This is the visa you need to apply for university studies.
A temporary residence permit is a permit to stay in the country for a temporary period. You can only apply for this permit after you have been in the country on a long-stay visa. You need to apply for an Estonian student visa first. Therefore, you need to meet the Estonia student visa requirements.
How to Apply for an Estonia Student Visa?
You can apply for an Estonia D visa by following the steps below:
- First, visit the official website of the New Delhi Embassy of Estonia. You can only apply for a D visa from the Estonia New Delhi Embassy.
- After visiting the official website, go to the ‘general information- long-stay visa application’ section.
- Select the option ‘apply in Embassy’ to be redirected to the visa appointment page
- Book your visa application appointment, and visit the embassy on the scheduled day. In-person attendance is important. Carry the relevant documents along with you.
- On this day, you are required to submit the biometric information.
- After you have met the estonia student visa requirements, the application processing will start The processing for the D visa is up to 15 days.
- After 15 working days, you will be informed of the status of your visa application.
Estonia Student Visa Processing Time
The Estonian student visa processing can only take place at the Estonian Embassy in New Delhi. The VFS Global cannot even process your visa application. Once, you have met the Estonia student visa requirements, and have applied for the visa your application will be at the processing stage. The time taken for the same is provided in the table below:
| Particulars | Processing Time (working days) |
| Schengen short-stay visa | 15-45 days |
| D visa or Estonia student visa | Maximum 15 days |
| Temporary resident permit for Estonia | Maximum 15 days |
Application Fees for Estonia Student Visa
The application fees for the Estonia student visa are as follows. The Estonia student visa fees are not for EU/EEA citizens.
| Particulars | Application Fees |
| Children 6-11 years | EUR 40. |
| Applicants below the age of 6 | Free |
| All applicants (except those between 6 and 11 years) | EUR 100 |
Can I Travel with my Family to Estonia with a Student Visa?
No. You cannot travel with your family on an Estonian student visa. However, your family members are allowed to apply for a visit visa. Estonia requires proper justification for getting a student visa. Therefore, you are only allowed to settle with a family member who is in Estonia after you have received a temporary residence permit. Apart from meeting the Estonia student visa requirements, you might have to meet additional requirements to obtain an Estonia student visa.
How Much Bank Balance is Required for an Estonian Student Visa?
One of the main estonia student visa requirements is to have finances to cover your expenses. According to subsection 3 of § 131 of the Social Welfare Act, the minimum amount needed is 4 times the subsistence level established. Every month you are required to have to amount. If you are a minor you do not have to meet the minimum balance requirements.
| Particulars | Minimum Amount Needed |
| Per Day Amount Required as per the Embassy of Estonia New Delhi | EUR 70 |
| Travel Insurance for the entire course duration | EUR 30,000 |
Can I study in Estonia without IELTS?
As per the Estonia student visa requirements, you need to clear an English langauge proficiency test. The classes are taken in the English language. Therefore, your proficiency level in the language is tested for admission purposes. However, IELTS is not the only examination you can take. You can clear the TOEFL or PTE examination for admission purposes.
Is IELTS Required for an Estonian student visa?
As mentioned above, IELTS is the not only examination you can take. You can clear any other recognised English language test. For example, TOEFL. However, clearing an English language proficiency test is mandatory for admission. If you don’t clear an English proficiency test, you won’t be given admission to an Estonian university. Without admission, you won’t get the offer letter, and without the offer letter, you won’t get the student visa. Therefore, clearing the IELTS exam is important.
Are Students Allowed to Work in Estonia?
Yes. As a non-EU student, you are allowed to work in Estonia. The only condition is that you do not let your work interfere with your studies. You do not need to apply for a separate permit to work in Estonia as a full-time student. Moreover, after completing your studies you are given 9 months to seek employment. During this time, you can apply for a temporary residence permit for work.
Is it easy to get an Estonia study visa?
The difficulty level to obtain an Estonian student visa is moderate. In the year 2022, the country rejected 56% of 1,986 applications. This means that only 44% of the applicants were accepted.
The statistics do not mean that your study visa application will be rejected. As long as you meet the Estonia student visa requirements, submit the relevant documents on time, do not engage in fraud, and intend to return to India your visa application will be accepted.
Learn more about the Estonia student visa
FAQs
As an international student, if you have stayed in the country for 5 years on a temporary residence permit, you will get a PR. However, the time spent studying is only counted as 50%. This would mean that the 4 years time you have studied in the country is recorded as 2 years. You need to stay in the country for 3 more years to get a PR.
Yes. Estonia is an excellent country to study abroad for Indians. You can access high-quality education and be a part of the vibrant culture of the country. The country has several English medium UG and PG courses in innovation and technology.
Electrical mechanics and fitters, Heavy truck and lorry drivers, Livestock farm labourers, and Mechanical machinery assemblers are some of the professions with labour shortage in the country.
We hope you now understand the Estonia student visa requirements in detail. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!
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