Long-stay D Visa
Estonia
Last updated: December 23, 2025
5 years (renewable)
$140
2-3 months
Medium
About this Visa
This visa lets you live in Estonia with a family member who already lives there legally. It's for spouses, children, parents, and grandparents who want to reunite. You apply at an Estonian embassy, get approved, enter Estonia, then apply for a residence permit that lets you stay long-term. The main benefit is staying together as a family. Once approved, you can work, go to school, and use Estonian healthcare just like other legal residents.
Key Benefits
- Work without getting special permission
- Bring your spouse and children legally
- Access free/cheap healthcare through Estonia's system
- Send children to school like Estonian kids
- Get family benefits (child allowance, parental leave)
- Travel freely within Estonia
- Move toward permanent residence after 5 years
- Move toward citizenship after 8 years
Eligibility & Requirements
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be married to someone in Estonia or in registered civil partnership
- If under 18: automatically eligible as child of resident parent
- If over 18: must be disabled or sick and need parent's care
- If parent or grandparent: must have adult child in Estonia with sufficient income to support you
- No serious criminal record
- Passport valid for at least 3 months after visa expires
- Must apply from your home country
- Sponsor must live legally in Estonia (citizen, long-term resident, or temporary resident)
- Sponsor must have real housing registered in Estonia's population system
- Sponsor must have steady legal income that covers your needs
Financial Requirement
Your sponsor (the family member in Estonia) must have enough income: For a spouse, enough to support 2 people; For 1 child, about €200/month ($235/month); For each extra child, about €240/month ($283/month); For parents/grandparents, double the above amounts. Your sponsor must show 6 months of recent income (pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements).
Documents
- Valid passportMust be valid for at least 3 months after visa expires
- Birth certificateNotarized copy required
- Marriage certificateIf applicable, notarized copy required
- Proof of relationshipPhotos, messages, joint bank statements showing you know your sponsor
- Medical insuranceMust cover at least $30,000
- Sponsor's invitation letterFormal letter from family member in Estonia
- Sponsor's residence permit copyProof of sponsor's legal status in Estonia
- Sponsor's housing proofRegistration in Estonia's population system
- Sponsor's income proofLast 6 months of pay stubs, tax returns, or bank statements
- Passport photoPassport size photo taken within 6 months
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Visa requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Please verify all information with official government sources and consult a qualified immigration attorney before making decisions.