The small European nation of Estonia is looking to expand its global influence through an “e-residency” program, allowing anyone worldwide to apply to become an e-resident of the country and set up a company there.

This would mean that people outside the EU could set up an Estonian company over the internet and gain easy access to the European market. E-residents of the Baltic country have access to all the digital government services of a state that prides itself on being a pioneer of e-government.

E-residency must be applied online. Confirmed applicants will then need to pick up an e-residency card at an embassy or pick-up location which currently is in Beijing or Singapore. But, according to Arnaud Castaignet, the head of international public relations of Estonia’s e-residency program, the country is planning to open an e-residency center in Bangkok soon.

“We are targeting Thailand because it is a major tourism destination and Bangkok is a rising startup hub with amazing co-working spaces,” Mr Castaignet said. “Also Thailand, especially Chiang Mai, is the capital for digital nomads, a group that would greatly benefit from our program.”

The scheme is popular in countries like Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey — places that are adjacent to the EU but not members of the common market.