How to Enter the Estonian Business Environment: Two Legal Options

It is important to clarify one fundamental point when entering the Estonian business environment.

To establish a company in Estonia, a person must either:

• become an e-Resident of Estonia, or

• be physically present in Estonia for identification.

There is no third option.

Estonian notaries do not open companies remotely in the traditional way if they cannot physically identify a shareholder. Remote incorporation without proper identification is not permitted under Estonian law.

Your Two Legal Options

1. Physical Presence in Estonia

You may travel to Estonia and make an appointment with a notary in Tallinn. Identification is completed in person, and the company can be established through the notarial process.

2. e-Residency of Estonia

You may apply for an e-Residency card and operate fully digitally — without the need to travel, schedule notary visits, or manage paperwork in person.

For most international entrepreneurs, the second option is not only more convenient, but the only practical and scalable solution.

An Important Professional Limitation

As a service provider, I do not have the legal authority or technical tools to identify clients. Identification rights are reserved exclusively for:

• Estonian notaries

• the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA)

Therefore, I can only work with:

• e-Residents of Estonia who already hold a valid e-Residency card, or

• Estonian tax residents who are currently located in Estonia (permanently or temporarily), or

• individuals who have previously lived in Estonia and obtained a local ID card with a card reader.

This is not a matter of preference - it is a legal requirement designed to protect the integrity and transparency of the Estonian business environment.