If you’ve been thinking about becoming an e-resident of Estonia, now is the time to act. The Estonian government has announced increased state fees for e-Residency applications and card renewals starting 1 January 2025.
The state fee for e-Residency applications starts at €100. Still, most e-residents have paid €120 as the collection from the embassies is more expensive than from Estonian Police and Border Guard offices. In 2025, this fee will rise to €150.
Why You Should Apply Now
If you plan to apply for e-Residency or renew your existing card, we strongly recommend submitting your application before the end of 2024. Applications submitted by 31 December 2024 will still be processed at the lower state fee, which means you can lock in the lower rate before the state fee increases.
At Unicount, we’re here to help you navigate the application process. Whether you’re applying for the first time or renewing, we’re happy to answer your questions. Don’t miss our blog post, “Estonian e-Residency in a Nutshell,” for more details on the program.
Understanding State Fees in Estonia
Estonia prides itself on simplicity and transparency in all areas of governance, and state fees are no exception. These fees help maintain the sustainability of public services by sharing costs among those who directly benefit. State fees cover services like:
- Applying for e-Residency
- Registering your company (which Unicount can assist with)
- Changes to your company in the Business Register
The State Fees Act governs Estonian state fees, typically paid when interacting with state institutions or digital registries. This fair and transparent system ensures everyone shares the cost of keeping these services running smoothly.
Why Is the Fee Increasing?
The rise in the e-Residency state fee is part of a review of Estonia’s state fees. Like many other services, the costs associated with e-Residency have risen due to inflation, enhanced security measures, and the growing complexity of reviewing applicants to ensure the highest safety and reputation of the program for e-residents and Estonia.
Since 2020, the e-Residency fee has remained unchanged. Still, in the meantime, the costs of processing applications, conducting background checks, producing digital ID cards, and shipping them worldwide have all increased. To ensure the sustainability of the e-Residency program, the government has determined that an adjustment in fees is necessary.
To give you some context, the fee for fast-track ID card renewal for Estonian citizens will increase from €45 to €250, while the fee for fast-track passport renewal will jump from €58 to €250.
Save Money by Applying This Year
If you want to take advantage of the lower fee, now is the time to apply. Submit your e-Residency application before 31 December 2024. If you’re curious about the benefits of e-Residency or need guidance on how to apply, the official e-Residency website offers plenty of helpful resources.
Thanks for reading
We hope you enjoyed this article. For more questions, check out our extensive support articles here.
