Obtaining a tourist visa to Estonia for Russians

What kind of visa do you need for Estonia? How to get an Estonian visa and what documents are required for this? What are the terms and costs of obtaining a visa to Estonia? Read on Tour-Calendar!

What kind of visa do you need for Estonia?

Estonia has always been different for us - a "foreign country" that retained a certain detachment and selfhood even in Soviet times. The peculiar character of the republic, coupled with medieval sights and elite resorts, attracted and made happy the citizens of the Soviet Union traveling here. The discreet charm of these places continues to attract our travelers to this day, especially since some regions of Russia are within easy reach of Estonia. But, since 2011, Estonia has joined the countries that signed the Schengen Agreement, becoming an absolute foreign country for us. So a visa is required to visit the country. But it is hardly worth worrying, because the process of issuing Estonian visas is established throughout Russia, especially in the border areas, and the set of requirements for obtaining a permit does not differ in any significant features.

Important! Do not forget that since 2015, in order to obtain a Schengen visa, a mandatory procedure for submitting biometric data has been introduced, which, in order to obtain a visa, must be completed every five years. So if you have never taken biometrics, or have taken it more than 5 years ago, you will need your personal presence to apply (for everyone, except for children under 12 years old). Information about your biometric data will be available for all Schengen countries.

Applying for an Estonian visa through a travel agency

If you apply for a visa when buying a ticket through a travel company, you still need to collect a certain package of documents.

Application form, documents and other requirements for obtaining a visa to Estonia

The application is filled in electronically, then printed out and signed in the places provided for this. Handwritten applications will not be accepted unless they are submitted by non-working pensioners (and only!). The document can be filled out in Russian, in Latin letters. Estonian representations are asked to fill out the application in English if possible.

• International passport.

Document criteria must meet the usual requirements for applying for a Schengen visa: date of issue no earlier than 10 years ago, validity of at least three months from the end of the trip, the presence of at least two blank pages required for gluing the visa.

• A copy of the first page is bordered with your personal data.
• One color photograph, size 35x45 mm, taken on a light background without frames, corners, retouching, ovals, the period of which should not exceed 6 months.
• Previously issued foreign passports, if they contain Schengen visas.
• Original and photocopy of the internal passport (pages with personal data and registration).
• Insurance medical policy. Standard requirements: insurance must be valid on the territory of all Schengen countries for the entire period of the trip, the amount of insurance compensation must be at least 30,000 EURO. Handwritten policies will not be accepted.

Financial guarantees

Estonian missions require confirmation of the financial capacity of travelers intending to visit the country. The criterion set by this Baltic state is at least EUR 86 per person per day.

The following documents can be submitted as financial guarantees:

• Certificate from the place of work indicating the position and salary of the applicant, drawn up on the letterhead of the employer and sealed and signed by an authorized person.
• An extract from the applicant's account, or the original and a photocopy of the savings book.
• A photocopy of a bank card with the simultaneous provision of a check from an ATM with confirmation of the balance on the card.
• Traveler's checks (originals plus photocopies).
• Non-working citizens (unemployed, pensioners, students) can provide a sponsorship letter with the sponsor's financial documents attached (similar to those listed above).

When participating in the tour of a child under 18 years old, the following is additionally provided:

• Birth certificate (copy).
• Notarized consent from one of the parents, if the child is traveling accompanied by one of them, or from both parents, if the child is traveling accompanied by third parties.

If the child is raised by one parent, it is necessary to provide documents confirming this circumstance.

If a visa for a child is requested separately from the parents, photocopies of the Schengen visas previously issued to the parents, as well as a statement that the parents will travel with the child (issued in free form) are attached to the application. When traveling accompanied by a third person, a copy of the visa of the person for whom the permission to export the child is issued is also provided.

Important! To cross the border, you will also need either the original or a notarized copy of the permit, so it is better to take care of the availability of the required number of copies of the permit in advance.

How to get a visa to Estonia on your own

If you decide to travel to Estonia on your own, you will need to provide additional documents.

• Documents confirming the possibility of accommodation on the territory of the state (fax or electronic confirmation of hotel booking).
• Documents confirming the possibility of travel there and back.
• If you are traveling at the invitation of relatives or friends, then an invitation signed by your friend/relative indicating his personal data (name, date of birth), as well as a copy of the passport or ID card of the inviting person is attached to the application.

When traveling to Estonia by car, you must submit:

A copy of the driver's license and registration certificate for the vehicle on which the trip is planned. In the case of traveling by car owned by another person, a notarized power of attorney is required for the right to drive the vehicle, including outside the Russian Federation.

Estonia visa cost

The consular fee for obtaining an Estonian visa is standard - 35 EURO for a regular visa. The same fee is paid by citizens of Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Armenia.

An urgent visa will cost 70 EURO (possible only when applying to the Consulate of Estonia in Moscow). It should be borne in mind that an urgent visa can be issued only under certain circumstances by decision of the consul.

The fee is paid in rubles at the rate set by the Central Bank of Russia on the day of payment. If the application is submitted at the Moscow Visa Application Center, you can pay the visa fee right there in cash or by card. In other cases (when applying to the regional visa centers), the fee must be paid before submitting the documents. A receipt for payment is generated after registration of the registration and can be paid at any bank, as well as online.

A fairly wide range of people are exempted from paying the consular fee when applying for an Estonian visa. Here are only those whose trips can be carried out for the purpose of tourism:

• children under 6 years of age (also exempt from paying a visa fee).
• disabled people and their accompanying person.
• close relatives of citizens of the EU and the Swiss Confederation, or persons legally residing in Estonia.

Services of visa centers will cost 1300 rubles for each application. At the same time, an application is drawn up for each participant in the trip, including for each child, regardless of the fact that he is entered in the passport of one of the parents.