Worked remotely from Estonia for a few weeks, it was excellent. Would have stayed a lot longer if circumstances had allowed it. I was in a small town in the east (Tartu). Overall I found it very clean, safe, and well organized. Train system was amazing, food was great, and not super expensive. Culture was a lot more friendly than I anticipated. Definitely recommend, easily one of my favorite countries.
That said, their Digital Nomad visa application was entirely digital, and didn't have clear options for someone who didn't need a visa to enter the country/enter without invitation. As a Canadian passport holder, somehow this made it more difficult to fill out and understand. I ended up with a lot of null fields when I filled it out. Would have had to stop at the local police office to finalize it, given the issues I had.
I moved to Estonia 6 years ago and living here ever since. I also helped many friends and expats to move here or get an e-residency, AMA.
As for the experience, downs:
- Cold+wind.. Not as cold as Reykjavik or as windy as Helsinki, but when these get together in Estonia, it's the worst.
- I definetely miss socializing, especially when compared to countries like Spain or UK. Less interaction makes a less pleasant day and even less pleasant hospital experience.
- As Estonian's doesn't socialize or talk much, it's much harder to learn the language by practicing-living here
- Many brands or services not here. Estonia is usually one of the last countries in EU to receive some brands or services. Ie Apple products, official Apple store, HBO+.
- Also not many options for global companies to work
- Travel options are limited. Flights are longer, more expensive and less frequent.
- Maybe few other things that I cannot remember atm
Everything else is either good, great or amazing, but mainly:
- Digital mindset and almost non-existent bureaucracy. Both gov and private e-services very fast, transparent, digital, accessible. So far, I've done many I've applied for a bank account, multiple university applications and admissions, residency permit and driving licenses renewals, employment and rental contracts etc.
- Nature and silence, even in the middle of the city.
- Trust in the government, police and legal system
Expensive (25% inflation), people aren't nice here - it's not about foreigners, it's the Estonian society. People just don't really like to hang together, or make friends. If you're a bit different, you'll get "the stare".
The country is divided between Russians and Estonians, and foreigners. Estonian politics revolve around picking on Russians. It's sometimes a bit comical: Estonian schools don't have enough teachers for Estonian speakers, because of lack of planning and funding, and now they want to ban russophone schools. Russophones are forced to "learn the language" (one of the most complex in the world) while being soft-excluded from the society. Anyway, Estonians don't really enjoy speaking with less-than-fluent Estonian speakers and will switch to english or try to make humiliating corrections, so picking the language is quite hard here.
People won't hold the door if you have a kid in the arms, doctors won't be nice to you, there's absolutely no culture of service. You have systematically to send emails, calls, in-person visits to get things done, or get paid. It's not me being nice, every local will tell you the same thing we he stops pumping the "Estonia is nordic" meme (it's not, it's a post soviet society with 0 public services).
Advice: don't go to Estonia. It's no wonder one fifth of the population already left.
There is nothing about banning Russian language schools. It's about shifting state funding from Russian language to Estonian language. Privately funded Russian schools can keep operating. It's also not out of the blue, this has been talked about for over 30 years now. The latest developments are also still just more talk, no actual action has happened.
As for the culture of coldness, that is true. That also means though that if someone is nice to you, it's genuine. I personally much prefer this truthfulness to the USA style of fake niceness.
The State currently fund the vast majority of schools, among which many are russian-speaking. Forcing those schools to switch to Estonian, without having enough teachers to do it, is going to create a lot of problems. The solution found was to degrade the teacher's level, by authorizing anyone with a university diploma to teach.
Yup. The remote worker visa application was simple enough (I'm self employed). I live in a nice apartment in Tartu for 800 euros, 40 for internet, 30-100 for utilities, 70ish for health insurance. I've got a gym, store and pizza place within a few blocks. Most people speak some English. Estonians definitely look grumpy (no offense), but generally lighten up when they realize they're dealing with a clueless American.
My main complaint is that the remote worker visa gives you the right to stay in Estonia...and nothing else. You don't get an Estonian ID which is necessary for all sorts of things like setting up internet, getting a local phone number, or getting books from the library, and you can't get a bank account to pay your rent. LHV, Coop and SEB all claimed I could open an account with just my passport and lease agreement, but denied my application (after paying several hundred in application fees). The e-resident card is basically useless.
The tax situation is unclear. You become a tax resident when you stay over 183 days. But all US citizens are tax residents of the USA, so the USA-Estonian tax treaty kicks in with its tie breaker rules. Because I have a house in the USA, it means I would be treated only as a tax resident of the USA, so I would only pay taxes there...I think? But I can't imagine why Estonia would offer this visa program if they weren't getting something out of it.
Thanks. I wouldn't have guessed you'd have a tough time with basic things like setting up internet or getting books from the library. Seems concerning.
Yep, moved to Tallinn from England for work 6 months ago. Being a software engineer classes you as a “top specialist” so getting a visa and residence permit was very straightforward.
It really is a beautiful country. And today is the first day of snow :)
I'm from Estonia, live in Estonia, if you have any questions, can answer. Maybe a different view than from someone who has move here from a foreign country ofc.
That's a hard question. What are some things that you like and dislike about living in your country? That's hard to answer in a general sense even if you lived all over the world. Move 1,10,100 km and the answers keep changing. I like we have rain to grow things and jobs are near by. I am sad because I can't go to the beach or mountains for dinner. I am sad I can't build 8 foot concrete walls around my yard and happy I don't have to. I am both happy and sad I can speak the local language. I am happy the police are more friend then foe.
