Estonia business visa
Estonia runs one of Europe's most digital business cultures, but the border does not. For an Indian passport holder, a meeting in Tallinn, a contract negotiation, a conference, a trade fair or training with an Estonian partner all begin the same way: with a Schengen short-stay visa (Type C, the uniform visa) stamped in before you fly. There is no visa on arrival and no e-visa for Indian nationals. Once issued, the Type C lets you stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period and move freely across all 29 Schengen countries.
The rule on where to apply is simple. Estonia handles your file when it is your main Schengen destination — the only country you visit, where you spend the longest, or where the real purpose of the trip happens — or your first point of entry when your time is split evenly across several states. The form itself is completed online at eelviisataotlus.vm.ee, then printed, signed and lodged in person, with biometrics, at a VFS Global Estonia visa centre. A complete application is usually decided within 15 days; if a case needs a closer look, that can stretch to 45 calendar days.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holders travelling to Estonia for business — meetings, negotiations, conferences, trade fairs or training with an Estonian company or partner
- ✓Applicants for whom Estonia is the main Schengen destination (only country visited, longest stay, or where the main purpose is carried out), or the first point of entry when time is split equally between several Schengen states
- ✓Holders of an invitation letter from the Estonian business partner giving the inviter's full contact details and a day-to-day schedule of the meetings or training
- ✓Applicants with an employer introduction letter on company letterhead confirming position, length of service, trip purpose and dates, and a no-objection statement
- ✓Applicants who can show funds of at least EUR 100 per day of stay in Estonia and travel health insurance with a minimum of EUR 30,000 cover valid across the Schengen area
- ✓Non-Indian passport holders who have permanently lived and worked in India for over a year (others must apply through their home country's mission)
Visa options for Estonia
Schengen short-stay visa (Type C)
The uniform visa used for business stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It is valid for travel across all 29 Schengen countries and is decided by Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board.
Single-entry Type C
Permits one entry into the Schengen area; once you leave the zone the visa is used up, even if unused days remain within the 90/180 allowance.
Multiple-entry Type C (MEV)
Allows several trips within the visa's validity, subject to the 90-days-in-180 limit. Issued to frequent, bona fide business travellers with a sound prior travel history.
Documents typically required
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months beyond your planned departure from the Schengen area, with at least two blank pages, plus all old passports (or an FIR / proof of cancellation if lost)
- ✓Schengen visa application form completed online at eelviisataotlus.vm.ee, printed and signed twice by the applicant (a minor's form is signed twice by the legal guardian)
- ✓One recent passport photograph (35x45 mm, colour, white background, not older than 6 months, with no software corrections)
- ✓Cover letter stating your name, passport number and travel dates matching the ticket, with your day-by-day travel plan
- ✓Invitation letter from the Estonian business partner giving the inviter's full name, address, email and telephone, signed and stamped, with the invitee's details, trip dates and a day-to-day schedule of the business meetings or training
- ✓Employer introduction letter on company letterhead, signed and stamped by HR or the directorate, stating your position, length of service, the purpose and dates of the trip and a no-objection statement for the travel
- ✓Proof of financial status (originals, A4, stamped and signed by the bank): last 3 months' personal bank statements and personal ITR-V for the last 2 assessment years; if employed, last 3 months' salary slips and salary-account statements; if self-employed or a company owner, business registration / partnership deed with personal and business statements
- ✓Evidence of funds of at least EUR 100 per day of stay in Estonia
- ✓Travel health insurance valid across the Schengen area with a minimum of EUR 30,000 cover for the entire stay
- ✓Proof of accommodation for the whole duration of the stay in the Schengen area
- ✓Flight tickets
- ✓Photocopies of the passport bio-data page and last page
- ✓Biometrics (fingerprints and a digital photograph) given in person at the VFS Global centre
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
Indian passport holders apply through a VFS Global Estonia visa centre; the Embassy of Estonia in New Delhi accepts direct applications only from non-Indian passport holders who have lived and worked in India for over a year. The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults (EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11, free under 6), plus a VFS service fee of EUR 22, both payable in Indian rupees. Complete the form online at eelviisataotlus.vm.ee first, then book the VFS appointment. Apply up to six months before travel and no later than 15 days before the trip. Stays longer than 90 days require a separate national (long-stay D) visa, not this short-stay visa.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No. The decision rests solely with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board and the Embassy of Estonia — no consultant can guarantee an outcome. What we do is give you a frank, honest reading of your case and build the strongest application it can carry. Over the last 2-3 years our applications have a 97% success rate.
Should I apply through Estonia or another Schengen country?
Choose Estonia when it is your main Schengen destination — the only country you visit, where you spend the longest, or where the main purpose of the trip takes place — or your first point of entry if your time is split equally across several states. When another Schengen state is your main destination, that state's mission must handle your application instead.
How long does the Estonia business visa take?
A complete application is normally decided within 15 days of being lodged. Cases that need further scrutiny can run to a maximum of 45 calendar days. You may apply up to six months before travel, and no later than 15 days before the trip.
Where do I submit the application and give biometrics?
Fill in the form online at eelviisataotlus.vm.ee, print and sign it, then lodge it in person — with your fingerprints and a digital photo — at a VFS Global Estonia visa centre in India.