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Estonia Visa for Indian Citizens: A Complete Guide

Last Update: 05-12-2024

Estonia Visa for Indian

⚡ Quick Summary

Do Indians need a visa to visit Estonia?

Yes, Indians need a Schengen visa to visit Estonia.

Processing time

15 days

Fees

Visa fee - ₹ 7,145  (€ 80) VFS fee - ₹ 1,984

Validity

180 Days

Stay duration

90 Days

How to apply?

Apply through VFS Global visa application centres in India

Documents Required

  1. Visa Application Form
  2. Passport
  3. Photograph
  4. Travel Health Insurance
  5. Cover Letter
  6. Travel Itinerary
  7. Round-trip Flight Reservation
  8. Proof of Sufficient Funds - Bank Statements, etc.
  9. See the detailed list below

Table of Contents


  1. Introduction
  2. Types of Estonia Visas for Indian Citizens
  3. Estonia Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens
  4. Photo Specifications for Estonia Visa for Indians
  5. How to Apply for Estonia Visas as Indians?
  6. Estonia Visa Application Centres (VFS Global) in India
  7. Estonia Embassy and Consulate Locations in India
  8. Estonia Visa Fees for Indian Citizens
  9. Estonia Visa Processing Time for Indian Citizens
  10. How to Track the Application Status of Estonia Visa for Indian Citizens?
  11. Validity and Extension of Estonia Visa for Indian Citizens
  12. Conclusion
  13. FAQs

Introduction

Does the thought of experiencing Estonia's rich culture and history excite you? Do you dream of exploring the charming streets of Tallinn or wandering through the scenic landscapes of Lahemaa National Park in Estonia? But are you feeling overwhelmed by the visa application process?


Navigating through the Estonia visa application process might seem challenging at first. That's why we've crafted this detailed guide on Estonia visas for Indians to simplify every step of the way. 


From understanding the different visa types to gathering essential documents, from the application process to visa fees – we have it all covered.


Let’s dive in! 

Do Indians Need a Visa for Estonia?

Yes, Indian citizens require a Schengen visa to travel to Estonia. Since Estonia is a member of the Schengen Area, the Schengen visa allows Indian passport holders to enter Estonia for tourism, business, or other short-term stays. This visa permits a stay of up to 90 days in a 180-day timeframe in the Schengen Region.

Updated Schengen Visa Policy for Indians in 2024

  • In 2024, the European Union implemented a revised Schengen visa policy for Indian citizens. According to the latest regulations
  • Indian nationals who have utilised two Schengen visas within the previous three years qualify for a two-year multiple-entry Schengen visa.
  • Upon expiration of the two-year visa, individuals with valid passports will be eligible for a five-year Schengen visa.

Types of Estonia Visas for Indian Citizens

Broadly, there are two kinds of Estonia visas for Indians-

  • Short-term Schengen Visa (Type C): A Schengen visa is an entry permit for Indians and other non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day timeframe to Estonia and the other 28 countries in the Schengen area. It allows for a maximum stay of up to 90 days in a 180-day timeframe and is primarily used for tourism or short-term business trips. Indians can apply for a Schengen visa for Estonia only through VFS Global - Estonia’s official visa-handling partner in India.

  • Long-term National Visa (Type D): A long-stay (D-visa) is applied in cases such as study and work (short-term employment). The purpose of applying for a long-stay D-visa must be justified. For instance, applicants wishing to visit family members should not be applying for a D visa. They should rather be applying for a Schengen visa, which is essentially a short-stay visitor’s visa. Long-term ‘D’ visas may be issued for a stay of up to 365 days within twelve consecutive months. A long-stay visa can be applied for only in person at the Estonian Embassy in New Delhi. 

Estonia Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

Below is the list of all documents required for applying for an Estonian visa for Indians

Visa Application Form

  • Completed online, printed, and signed by the applicant.

Valid Passport

  • Issued within the last 10 years
  • Should be valid for at least 3 months after the intended return
  • Must have at least 2 blank pages
  • Previous passports (if any) or FIR as proof of lost passport
  • Passport copy of 1st page (bio data) and last page of the passport

Colour Photograph

  • White background.
  • Dimensions:  35mm x 45mm.  
  • Should be taken in the last 6 months.

Travel Health Insurance

  • Minimum coverage of € 30,000.
  • Must remain valid during the entire stay in Schengen territory 
  • Should cover the costs of emergency medical treatment in case of and even repatriation in case of death.

Proof of Accommodation

  • Hotel booking reservation, or
  • Proof of rental home, or
  • Campus residence reservation.
  • If you intend to stay with family/friends, provide proof of private accommodation from the host or proof of sponsorship
  • If you’re travelling to other Schengen states, proof of accommodation in each of them.

Flight Reservation

Roundtrip flight reservation

Itinerary

Complete and detailed travel itinerary

Certificate from Travel Agency

Confirming the booking of an organised trip or any other appropriate document indicating the travel plans

Proof of Financial Adequacy

Proof that you have a minimum of € 70 per day of stay in Estonia.

Bank Statement

  • Last 3 months’ bank 
  • Stamped and signed by the bank
  • Original in A4 format

Income Tax Return Acknowledgement

  • ITR-V of last 2 years
  • Original in A4 format

Other Documents

If the Applicant is Employed

  • Last 3 months' pay slips
  • Last 3 months’ salary bank account statements (stamped. and signed by the bank)
  • Original in A4 format

If the Applicant is Self-Employed

  • Certificate of Registration of the business, or
  • Partnership deed, or
  • Proof of proprietorship.
  •  Last 3 months’ business and personal bank statements (signed and stamped by the bank).
  • All documents in original and in A4 format

If the Visit is Sponsored

  • Proof of sponsorship or private accommodation 
  • Personal bank statements for the last 3 months (stamped, and signed by the bank)
  • Proof of work or ownership of business and ITR acknowledgement for the last 2 years)
  • All documents in original and in A4 format

If the Applicant is Retired

  • Pension statement for last 3 months (stamped & signed)
  • Proof of regular income generated by ownership of property or business
  • All documents in original and in A4 format

If the Applicant is a Student

  • Copy of the college/school ID card 
  • Introduction letter of the School/College/University.

If the Applicant is a Minor

  • Copy of passport of both parents/legal guardians 
  • If the minor is travelling without any parent/legal guardian - notarized consent of both parents or legal guardians
  • If a minor is travelling with one parent - notarized consent of the non-travelling parent or legal guardian

Additional documents if the applicant is applying for a Business Visa:

Invitation Letter From Inviting Company in Estonia

  • Should have full details of the inviter: full name, address, e-mail and telephone number. 
  • Original or copy, signed and stamped, mentioning the invitee details, the dates and purpose of the trip with the detailed schedule of the business meetings or training or conferences (day-to-day schedule).

Cover Letter from Employer on Company Letterhead

  • confirming the applicant’s identity, position and duration of the service. 
  • NOC regarding the planned trip to Estonia/Schengen States.
  • The dates and purpose of the trip. 
  • Should be signed and stamped by HR or the directorate

Additional documents if the applicant is visiting friends and family

Invitation Letter

  • Invitation from the family member/friend, including their address and contact details, and intended period of stay.
  • Evidence of legal residence of family/friends visited in Estonia: copy of passport/national ID card, or residence permit.

Photo Specifications for Estonia Visa for Indians

Photo requirements for the Estonia visa for Indians should meet the following criteria:


  • The photo should be taken within the last 6 months.
  • The background should be white or off-white.
  • It should be printed on normal photographic paper (camera print).
  • The Face should be in focus and should take up to 70-80% of the photograph
  • The expression should be neutral - no smiling allowed.
  • Headwear - Only allowed if worn for religious reasons.
  • Sunglasses are not permitted. 
  • Photo dimensions: 3.5 X 4.5 cm.

How to Apply for Estonia Visas as Indians?

Indians need to submit their Schengen type ‘C’ visa application to VFS Global - the official visa partner of the Estonian government. VFS Global then transfers the application to the Estonian Embassy which finally decides the fate of your application. 


It becomes confusing sometimes to determine where to apply for your Schengen visa. Here are some pointers that can help -

  • When travelling to more than one Schengen country, remember to submit your application with the Embassy of the country where you will be staying the longest. 
  • In case of equally long stays, apply with the Schengen country where you arrive first. If you plan on travelling to a country outside of the Schengen Region (for example Saudi Arabia or South Korea), apply for the other visa first, before applying for the Schengen visa.

Below is the step-by-step guide to applying for your short-term Schengen type ‘C’ Estonian visa through VFS Global-

Step 1: Identify Your Visa Type

The first step is to determine the right visa for your trip. For tourism apply for a Estonia tourist visa, for business trips, apply for a business visa, etc. These are all categorised under Schengen type ‘C’ visa. Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria, and know your Estonia visa requirements for Indian citizens, the fee required for your visa, etc. Make sure your documents are in English. 


Step 2: Fill out Your Visa Application Form

Collect all the required documents for your visa application form. Fill out the Visa Application Form for Estonia online. Print the form. Sign it. You will need to take the form and all the documents to the VFS Centre.


Step 3: Book An Appointment With VFS Global

Schedule an appointment at the Estonia VFS Visa Application Centre to submit your visa application form and the required documents. You need to apply in person (including babies and children). If travelling in a group, book an individual appointment for each group member. 


Step 4: Pay Your Visa Fees

Pay your Estonian visa fee online. A Schengen visa costs around € 80 for people above 12 years of age. VFS has additional charges for their services. If you download the form to print and bring to the Visa Application Centre, payment will be made at the time of your appointment.


Step 5: Pay a Visit to the VFS Visa Application Centre

Submit your printed application form and documents at the VFS Global office. Also, pay the fee (if not paid online) and submit your biometrics.


Step 6: Collect Your Documents

Once the visa authorities have decided on your Estonian visa application, you can collect your documents back from them. You can either collect the documents in person or avail of their courier services at an additional price. 


You will need the Original ICR & Copy of Govt ID Proof for collecting your documents in person.


Your immediate family members (i.e. parents, siblings, spouse, or children) or representatives of a company can also collect the documents on your behalf. 


Third parties need to carry the following documents-


  • Photocopy of Govt. ID card of all applicants
  • Original ICR
  • Authorization Letter from the applicant. In the case of a company representative, the letter needs to be on the letterhead of the company and the representative should also carry their official ID card.

In case an applicant loses their ICR, they need to come in person for the collection of their passport from the counter.


It can take approximately 15 days to get a decision on your Estonian visa application. In case, your application is rejected, you can appeal against the decision or reapply your visa application.

Estonia Visa Application Centres (VFS Global) in India

Here is the complete list of VFS Visa Application Centres for Estonia in India

LocationLocation

Agartala

Jaipur

Agra

Jamnagar

Ahmedabad

Kapurthala

Aizawl

Karnal

Allahabad

Kohima

Ambala

Kolkata

Amritsar

Lucknow

Aurangabad

Ludhiana

Bangalore

Mangalore

Bhopal

Manipur

Bhubaneswar

Mumbai

Chandigarh

Nagpur

Chennai

Nasik

Cochin

New Delhi

Coimbatore

Patiala

Daman

Patna

Dehradun

Pune

Gandhinagar

Raipur

Gangtok

Ranchi

Goa

Rudrapur

Gurdaspur

Shillong

Guwahati

Shimla

Hyderabad

Surat

Imphal

Trivandrum

Indore

Vijayawada

Itanagar

Vishakhapatnam

The working days and hours of these visa centres may differ. Some of these may charge an extra service fee as well. Click on the links to check the details about each of these.

Estonia Embassy and Consulate Locations in India

LocationContact DetailsOperating Region

Embassy of Estonia in New Delhi

C15, Malcha Marg, Chanakyapuri Tel: (+91) 11 4948 8659 Email: consul.delhi@mfa.ee

The whole of India except for the below-mentioned regions

Honorary Consul of Estonia in Mumbai

Unit No. 404/405, ‘A’ Wing, 4th Floor, Plot No. 36C 36 Turner Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Tel: +91 22 26517711 Email: consulmumbai.estonia@gmail.com

Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa

Honorary Consul in Bengaluru

No.6, M.G.Road, Mittal Towers Block ‘B’- 809, 560001, Bengaluru Tel: +91 8025580081 Email: pravin@pkgexports.com

Karnataka

Honorary Consul in Chennai

15, 4th St, Vidhya Thirtha Nagar Abiramapuram, 600018 Chennai Tel: +91 44 2498 5050 Email: gvelu@trivitron.com

Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh

Estonia Visa Fees for Indian Citizens

Here is the fee applicable for short-term Estonia visas for Indians (i.e., Schengen visa type ‘C’ for tourism, attending business conferences, visiting friends & family, etc.)-

FeeAmount

Visa fee for 12+ year olds

₹ 7,145 (€ 80)

Visa fee for 6 - 12 year olds

₹ 3,575 (€ 40)

Visa fee for below 6 year olds

0 (no visa fee)

VFS service charge (applicable to all age groups)

  ₹1,984

Important points to note for Estonia visa fees for Indians

  • Additional charges will apply if you decide to avail of services such as video conferencing, SMS & courier service, premium lounge at the VFS visa centre, etc.
  • The fees are non-refundable.
  • The Estonia visa fees for Indians are also subject to change without notice based on factors such as foreign exchange fluctuations, policy updates, etc.
  • Effective June 11, 2024, the Estonia visa fees for Indians who are above 12 years old will rise to € 90 or ~₹8,200. For children between 6 to 12 years, this fee will increase to € 45.

Estonia Visa Processing Time for Indian Citizens

The Estonian Embassy takes at least 15 calendar days to process your visas after the applications reach them. It can take 2-3 days for your application to reach the Embassy from the visa. The Estonia visa processing time may extend up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, like when further scrutiny of the application is needed or when there’s a sudden influx of applications with the Embassy.


All applications must be submitted at least 15 days before the intended travel date. You can submit your Schengen visa applications as early as 6 months before your intended travel date. 

How to Track the Application Status of Estonia Visa for Indian Citizens?

To track your Estonia visa application, 


  • Access VFS Global’s Estonia visa tracking page. Input the details asked for - reference number, and date of birth. Enter Captcha and hit ‘Submit.’ The screen will look as shown in the screenshot below. 

Tracking the application status of Estonia Visa for Indians

  • You may also connect with VFS Global on their helpline number - 022 6786 6024 or e-mail them at Info.estoniain@vfshelpline.com, after the Estonia visa processing time has passed, i.e., after 15 days of submitting your visa application.

Validity and Extension of Estonia Visa for Indian Citizens

A short-term Schengen visa for Estonia allows for a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day timeframe.


Schengen visa extensions are possible in exceptional circumstances, such as force majeure situations or unexpected events. Applicants must submit extension requests before their visa expires, providing valid reasons and supporting documentation.


Long-term ‘D’ visas may be issued for a stay of up to 365 days within twelve consecutive months. It allows you to stay in other Schengen Member States for up to 90 days within the period of 180 days. 


In the case of two consecutive long-stay visas, the whole period of stay shall not be longer than 548 days within 730 consecutive days.

Conclusion

Getting an Estonia visa as an Indian is a lengthy process, typically requiring essential documents, including a completed application form, passport, photos, proof of travel arrangements, accommodation, financial means, and insurance. The processing time varies but generally takes around 15 days. Fees are applicable and may vary based on visa type and processing speed. It's essential to apply well in advance of your travel date to allow for processing and potential delays. 


It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the Estonia visa requirements for Indian citizens and the procedures for an Estonian visa for a smooth visa application experience. 


Safe travels!


FAQs

How much is a visa for Estonia from India?

June 11, 2024 onwards the visa fee for Estonia from India is € 90 for applicants aged 12 and above. For children aged 6 to 12 years, the visa fee will be € 45. Children below 6 years old are exempt from visa fees. Additionally, VFS Global charges apply to all age groups, with the current charge set at ₹ 1984.

Can Indian citizens get a visa on arrival in Estonia?

No, Indian citizens cannot obtain a visa on arrival in Estonia. Instead, they need to apply for a Schengen visa before their travel. The Schengen visa allows Indian passport holders to enter Estonia and other Schengen member states for tourism, business, or other short-term stays for a period of up to 90 days within a 180-day timeframe.

Is travel insurance mandatory for an Estonia visa for Indian travellers?

Yes, travel insurance is mandatory for Indian travellers applying for an Estonian visa. The Schengen visa requires coverage of at least € 30,000 for medical emergencies, repatriation, and other unforeseen circumstances. The insurance should be valid in the entire Schengen region.

Can Indian citizens apply for an Estonian visa online?

No, Indian citizens cannot apply for an Estonian visa online. They must submit their visa application in person at the nearest VFS application centre in India. The application process typically involves filling out a form (online), providing required documentation and a print of the application form in person, attending an interview (if necessary), and paying the applicable visa fee.

How long does it take to process an Estonia visa for Indian citizens?

The processing time for an Estonia visa for Indian citizens can vary depending on several factors such as the type of visa applied for, the volume of applications received, and the applicant's circumstances. Generally, the processing time is 15 days. This may stretch to 15 days in exceptional cases.

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