Standard Procedure for Non-Payment of Services:

The established protocol for addressing non-payment of services typically involves several steps to ensure a fair resolution. These steps are as follows:

1. Reminder Letter: A formal communication is sent to the debtor, notifying them of the outstanding payment and requesting immediate settlement. The letter serves as an initial reminder and allows the debtor an opportunity to rectify the situation promptly.
2. Repeated Reminder Letter: In the event that the debtor fails to respond or settle the outstanding amount after the initial reminder, a subsequent reminder letter is sent as a follow-up measure. This letter reiterates the urgency of payment and emphasizes the potential consequences of continued non-compliance.
3. SMS Reminder: In addition to written communication, a text message reminder is commonly employed as a supplementary means of notification. This method aims to further prompt the debtor to take immediate action in resolving the unpaid balance.
4. Register of Debtors: If the debtor remains unresponsive or persistent in non-payment, their details may be recorded in a register of debtors. This record serves as a reference for future actions and ensures transparency within the process.
5. Court Proceedings: Should the previous steps prove ineffective, legal action may be pursued through court proceedings. This involves initiating a formal lawsuit against the debtor, presenting the case before a judge or magistrate, and seeking a legal judgment in favor of the owed amount.
6. Bailiff or Debt Collection Company: If necessary, following a court judgment, the services of a bailiff or a reputable debt collection company may be enlisted. These professionals are authorized to take further action to recover the owed funds, which may include seizing assets, enforcing payment plans, or implementing other legal measures.

It is important to note that throughout this process, initial transaction costs incurred as a result of pursuing the outstanding payment will be included. Additionally, as the proceedings progress, state fees and bailiff costs, which are associated with legal action and the involvement of authorized officials, will be added to the outstanding balance.

The power of attorney is necessary so that we can carry out transactions on behalf of the client within the framework of the authorization given by him.

The document must be apostilled in the country where it was issued. The translation must be made by an Estonian sworn translator.

• 0% corporate income tax. Profits retained and reinvested in the company have a tax rate of 0%
• A company in one day. Establishing a company is done online and only takes one business day
• 100% online management. Digitally sign documents, declare taxes, conduct banking and submit annual reports
• Everything is in English. All services and official registers are in English. No need to know the Estonian language
• Professional support that will help you set up your company efficiently and smoothly

Can be done without but this is our preferred option.

Other possibilities are visiting a Public Notary in Estonia or using a power of attorney.

These are more expensive options, different service and translation fees are added.

If the intended activity of the company is not related to Estonia, you will not be able to open a bank account in Estonia.

This requires, for example, cooperation partners in Estonia, the partnership must also be verifiable (contracts, sales invoices, letters of confirmation), etc.

Also, to open an account with an Estonian bank, a board member of the company shall be present in the opening process.

But wait a moment, why you need a bank account in Estonia? You can open a bank account in your selected country, in your home country, or use our partners.

Just establish a company in Estonia, get your papers legislated, and open a bank account where you want and can do it.

Estonian notaries have launched an e-notary service so that company owners can visit an Estonian Embassy abroad to transfer shares, instead of at a notary office in Estonia.

You can read more about this on the e-Residency blog here.

You can choose a notary by logging in with your digital ID at notar.ee.

Don’t worry too much about which one to choose, as long as they can conduct the transaction in English and are part of the e-notary scheme. Notary fees are regulated by law and they all provide the same good quality of service.

In the self-service you can:

• Choose a notary and make an appointment
• Initiate transactions and enter transaction details
• Examine contracts before the transaction
• View all your notarial transactions and invoices

You can use e-Notary in:

• all over Estonia and in the following embassies:
• Helsinki
• Stockholm
• Brussels
• London
• Riga

In the self-service you can:

• Start and sell of companies shares
• Certification of copies, printouts, signatures
• Authentication of power of attorney
• Apostille
• etc.

What is the address of the e-notary?

https://iseteenindus.notar.ee

Standard Procedure for Non-Payment of Services:

The established protocol for addressing non-payment of services typically involves several steps to ensure a fair resolution. These steps are as follows:

1. Reminder Letter: A formal communication is sent to the debtor, notifying them of the outstanding payment and requesting immediate settlement. The letter serves as an initial reminder and allows the debtor an opportunity to rectify the situation promptly.
2. Repeated Reminder Letter: In the event that the debtor fails to respond or settle the outstanding amount after the initial reminder, a subsequent reminder letter is sent as a follow-up measure. This letter reiterates the urgency of payment and emphasizes the potential consequences of continued non-compliance.
3. SMS Reminder: In addition to written communication, a text message reminder is commonly employed as a supplementary means of notification. This method aims to further prompt the debtor to take immediate action in resolving the unpaid balance.
4. Register of Debtors: If the debtor remains unresponsive or persistent in non-payment, their details may be recorded in a register of debtors. This record serves as a reference for future actions and ensures transparency within the process.
5. Court Proceedings: Should the previous steps prove ineffective, legal action may be pursued through court proceedings. This involves initiating a formal lawsuit against the debtor, presenting the case before a judge or magistrate, and seeking a legal judgment in favor of the owed amount.
6. Bailiff or Debt Collection Company: If necessary, following a court judgment, the services of a bailiff or a reputable debt collection company may be enlisted. These professionals are authorized to take further action to recover the owed funds, which may include seizing assets, enforcing payment plans, or implementing other legal measures.

It is important to note that throughout this process, initial transaction costs incurred as a result of pursuing the outstanding payment will be included. Additionally, as the proceedings progress, state fees and bailiff costs, which are associated with legal action and the involvement of authorized officials, will be added to the outstanding balance.

To be considered a permanent resident in Estonia, you must live in the country for at least 186 days each year due to personal or professional reasons.

You can provide various documents to prove your permanent residence, including a lease agreement signed for at least six months, an employment or service contract lasting for at least six months, proof of property ownership in Estonia, invoices in your name for utilities or fuel, evidence from a school or kindergarten if you have minor children, an annual report if you serve on an Estonian company’s board, transportation tickets with clear dates of stay, letters of explanation from people you live with, and other evidence showing your personal ties to Estonia.

If you provide an employment contract, a certificate of studying in Estonia, or a certificate of being in Estonian military service, one certificate is enough. However, for other evidence, such as a lease agreement, additional evidence must also be provided along with the lease agreement.

An authorization is a collection of rights within the limits of which a representative may act on behalf of the principal.

It is essential for the Estonian Tax and Customs Board that the content of authorization would be understandable and the person granting the authorization and the authorized person would be identifiable.

The main and also the most convenient and practical way to transfer the right of representation is to do it through a suitable digital identification channel. These are Mobile ID, Estonian ID, e-resident ID, and Smart ID. European Union country ID cards are also suitable. It is important to have the right to log in to the systems of the Estonian state.

If necessary, other less convenient and more expensive methods can also be used: power of attorney, lawyer’s client agreement, etc.

Additional info:

Of course, there is such a solution. In case there are difficulties logging into the client’s environment or there is no need for it.

We use STRIPE payment links, which are personal for each service, as well as the Paypal QR payment link, where you can determine the amount to be paid according to the desired service.

Paypal payment QR link:

Unfortunately, the e-Residency status alone does not include the provision of a physical address in Estonia.

A stronger connection with Estonia is needed. Establishing a company is a very suitable solution for this. We can help with that. As well as with a contact person and a legal address service. These services will assist you in meeting the necessary requirements and ensuring compliance with the regulations of Estonia’s company registration process.

Estonia is NO. 1 most entrepreneurial country in Europe (World Economic Forum) with the world’s most digitally advanced society

• The taxation system of Estonia is favourable because the refinanced and retained profit is not subject to the corporate income tax. All taxation can be done remotely. So do company establishment, accounting etc.
• Secure online access to company data (legal facts, accounting, banking, taxes, etc.), allowing you to operate the company from anywhere in the world without the need for a regular physical presence in Estonia.
• Member of the European Union
• Member of the European Monetary Union (currency: Euro)
• English is widely spoken
• Transparent and attractive tax system
• Rapid company registration and business set up
• Easy business management via innovative e-solutions
• Pro-business environment

It looks like you’ve ordered a service from us. This can be a one-time single order or an ongoing subscription-based order. Please review your details.

The purpose of sending reminders is to help you better meet your obligations.

It is most convenient to log in to the customer environment and make a payment there. If this fails or is not possible, we will send you a payment link and manually renew your subscription.

The definition of the beneficial owner is defined in § 9 of the Money Act, according to which a beneficial owner is a natural person who ultimately owns or controls a legal person through the direct or indirect holding of a sufficient number of shares, voting rights, or ownership, including participation in bearer shares or otherwise.

The real beneficiary can be through direct or indirect control. Direct control is when a natural person has a shareholding of more than 25% in a company. Indirect control is when a company that is controlled by a natural person or several companies that are controlled by the same natural person owns more than 25% of the company.

In principle, a situation is also possible where no natural person has a shareholding of more than 25% in the company. For example, it could be a private limited company with 4 shareholders with equal shares, all of whom have a 25% shareholding and the corresponding voting rights. Thus, within the meaning of the Money Act, none of them exercises control over the private limited company and such a legal person has no real beneficiary.

The Manual for adding beneficial owners:

[sociallocker] [pdf-embedder url=”https://virtualofficeinestonia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/The-Manual-for-adding-beneficial-owners.pdf” title=”The Manual for adding beneficial owners”] [/sociallocker]

A natural person is a resident if one of the following conditions is met:

Estonia invites anyone in the world to apply for e-Residency, as long as:

• You have a reasonable interest in using e-services in Estonia
• You are not an Estonian citizen or a foreigner residing in Estonia on a residence permit or with the right of residence (you already have a government-issued digital ID)

E-Residency is particularly well-suited for many freelancers, consultants, digital nomads, solo entrepreneurs and other digital entrepreneurs interested in establishing a digital services company they can manage from anywhere.

The purchase and sale of cryptocurrencies may be subject to anti-money laundering regulations. Therefore, attention must be paid to § 70 (1) 4) and (5) and § 71 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (RahaPTS), according to which the corresponding activity license must be applied for from the FIU.

An application for an activity license can be submitted to the register of economic activities, which can be accessed either through the www.eesti.ee portal or from the MTR website https://mtr.mkm.ee. The state fee for applying for an activity license is 3,300 euros. Pursuant to § 71 of the Money Laundering Act, the FIU shall resolve an application for an activity license within 60 days as of the date of submission of the application. Upon the decision of the Financial Intelligence Unit, the term for granting an activity license may be extended up to 120 days. Services may not be provided before permission has been obtained. A person who holds an activity license of the Financial Supervision Authority does not have an obligation under another law to apply for an activity license of the Financial Supervision Authority, an activity license of a financial supervision authority of a Contracting State of the European Economic Area. The services specified in subsection 70 (1) within the group.

As a general rule, the bank asks for a certified copy of the shareholder’s and director’s passport (beneficial owner), as well as recent proof of residence which, must be less than three months old. However, the full scope of documents depends on the bank, and on the particulars of each case. If the client goes to the bank in person to open the account, a certified copy of the passport is not required.
We will send you the additional documents necessary for opening the account by email, as an attachment, for you to sign and return to us preferably by special courier ( DHL, FedEx or Chronopost), along with the other documents mentioned above.

Disclaimer:

• Each bank account application is subject to the bank’s mandatory due diligence requirements and duties under national and international (FATF) standards, in particular, to prevent money laundering, and nothing on this webpage shall be construed as an offer to waive such requirements and duties.
• Banks are listed as examples only. You will need to confirm your choice of a bank after the registration of your company. You have no obligation to select a listed bank and may propose another bank of your choice. SFM is not proposing bank services. An introduction service includes the preparation of the application form and the submission of the application file. Any application is subject to the acceptance of the client by the bank.

It is included with your order confirmation to be automatically downloaded.

Please check your email.

The contract, if related to the service, will be sent automatically with the order confirmation. You will then need to download and sign it, preferably digitally, and send it back to us.

As stated in our Terms of Service, this must be done before the new period begins.

Once this deadline has passed, it can be done before the end of the next period.

• IT IS NOT an actual residency. It does not give you any rights to stay in Estonia, the EU or the Schengen zone whatsoever. Nor any other social rights in Estonia or anywhere else.
• IT IS NOT a way to avoid paying tax in your actual country of residence.
• IT IS NOT a citizenship, and you will never receive any consular support from the Estonian government for holding an e-residency.
• IT IS NOT a travel document. It is not a picture ID. It can not be used as a form for identification in the “real world.”

To be considered a permanent resident in Estonia, you must live in the country for at least 186 days each year due to personal or professional reasons.

You can provide various documents to prove your permanent residence, including a lease agreement signed for at least six months, an employment or service contract lasting for at least six months, proof of property ownership in Estonia, invoices in your name for utilities or fuel, evidence from a school or kindergarten if you have minor children, an annual report if you serve on an Estonian company’s board, transportation tickets with clear dates of stay, letters of explanation from people you live with, and other evidence showing your personal ties to Estonia.

If you provide an employment contract, a certificate of studying in Estonia, or a certificate of being in Estonian military service, one certificate is enough. However, for other evidence, such as a lease agreement, additional evidence must also be provided along with the lease agreement.

Estonian Mobile ID allows people to use a mobile phone as a form of a secure digital ID.

Like the ID card, it can be used to access secure e-services and digitally sign documents but has the added advantage of not requiring a card reader.

The system is based on a special mobile SIM card, which the customer must request from the mobile phone operator. Private keys are stored on the mobile SIM card along with a small application delivering the authentication and signature functions.

Additional data

E-Residency enables digital entrepreneurs to start and manage an EU-based company online:

• Estonia is the first country to offer e-Residency, a government-issued digital identity, and status that provides access to Estonia’s transparent digital business environment
• E-Residency allows digital entrepreneurs to manage their business from anywhere, entirely online

Note, an e-Residency digital ID card provides access to e-services, but it is not a valid form of physical identification and cannot be used as a travel document. e-Residency does not confer citizenship, tax residency, physical residency, or right of entry to Estonia or the European Union.

There are no annual or maintenance fees for the e-Residency digital ID card.

The e-Residency digital ID card is valid for (5) years. The state fee for renewal or replacement is the same.

The availability of services is contingent upon the selected package.

A legal address is required for corporate entities and up to a decision for individual entities.

Additionally, a contact person service is compulsory for companies or nonprofit associations whose board members reside outside of Estonia.

Our company provides assistance with establishing companies or nonprofit associations in Estonia, as well as accounting services that are tailored to the volume of business and can include VAT, EORI, and IOSS services, among others.

To obtain further information on our services, please refer to our e-shop. Each service contains a FAQ and detailed information on the inclusions of each product is available.

First of all, we hope this does not happen.

However, if this happens, and after the first notice, you continue to use the service without paying for it, the squeezing process will begin.

It consists of the following:

• 7 days after the payment deadline and the first reminder, a notification is sent to the Estonian Commercial Register that the right to use the address and / or contact person has expired.
• 14 days after the payment deadline has been exceeded and the first letter of formal notice, a claim is submitted to the Tallinn County Court.
• Following legal proceedings in the accelerated procedure, the claim is forwarded to a bailiff, who seizes bank accounts and / or other property.

• 0% corporate income tax. Profits retained and reinvested in the company have a tax rate of 0%
• A company in one day. Establishing a company is done online and only takes one business day
• 100% online management. Digitally sign documents, declare taxes, conduct banking and submit annual reports
• Everything is in English. All services and official registers are in English. No need to know the Estonian language
• Professional support that will help you set up your company efficiently and smoothly

The power of attorney is necessary so that we can carry out transactions on behalf of the client within the framework of the authorization given by him.

The document must be apostilled in the country where it was issued. The translation must be made by an Estonian sworn translator.

The data of a legal person related to you can be viewed by entering the e-business register

as a natural person with your ID card / mobile ID or Smart-ID (it is not possible to sign annual applications with smart ID) here: https://ariregister.rik.ee/eng

The manual:

Estonian notaries have launched an e-notary service so that company owners can visit an Estonian Embassy abroad to transfer shares, instead of at a notary office in Estonia.

You can read more about this on the e-Residency blog here.

You can choose a notary by logging in with your digital ID at notar.ee.

Don’t worry too much about which one to choose, as long as they can conduct the transaction in English and are part of the e-notary scheme. Notary fees are regulated by law and they all provide the same good quality of service.

In the self-service you can:

• Choose a notary and make an appointment
• Initiate transactions and enter transaction details
• Examine contracts before the transaction
• View all your notarial transactions and invoices

You can use e-Notary in:

• all over Estonia and in the following embassies:
• Helsinki
• Stockholm
• Brussels
• London
• Riga

In the self-service you can:

• Start and sell of companies shares
• Certification of copies, printouts, signatures
• Authentication of power of attorney
• Apostille
• etc.

What is the address of the e-notary?

https://iseteenindus.notar.ee

A Public Notary in Estonia is an intermediary between a physical or juridical person and the Estonian Business Registry.

You have the right to demand that a notary who has certified or confirmed the application for representation represent him or her in the administration of the court registry department, including forwarding documents (see also § 30 (2) – (21) and § 33 (1) of the Notaries Act).

If you want the notary to certify the substance of the application, the certification fee also includes legal consultation, preparation of a draft application, and information on how much you have to pay the state fee.

In addition, at the request of participants, a notary has the right and obligation to prepare and submit to the population register a notice of change of residence data and an application for an activity license, license, and registration specified in Annex 1 to the Notarial Regulations (see § 37 of the Notarial Regulations).

Remote authentication enables the conduct of notarial acts via a video bridge created between the notary and the customer. Such authentication is equivalent to authentication at a notary’s office.

Remote authentication is an opportunity, not an obligation. It is up to the notary to decide, whether a specific transaction can be carried out by using remote authentication.

Subject to agreement with a notary, transactions using remote authentication can be carried out either at a place suited for the customer (e.g. at home) or at an Estonian embassy.

Outside embassies remote authentication can be used to perform all notarial acts, except certification of contraction of marriage and divorce.

At Estonian embassies, remote authentication can be used for carrying out transactions with shares of a private limited company, authenticating powers of attorney, submitting applications for marriage and divorce, and applications related to succession. Deletion and transfer of real rights and commercial pledges are also possible. Acts using remote authentication can be conducted in five Estonian embassies – Helsinki, Stockholm, Brussels, Riga and London. 

In order to conduct an act by using remote authentication and be given the relevant advice, one should first contact a notary’s office. The contact data of all notaries can be found at www.notar.ee/et/notarid/nimekiri. One can also carry out the required act via the self-service portal of the Chamber of Notaries at iseteenindus.notar.ee (EE). A Republic of Estonia ID card, digital ID, mobile ID or an e-Resident’s digital ID can be used to log in to the portal and to sign documents to be authenticated. SmartID and European Union member state’s eID card can also be used to log in to the portal, but they can not be used to sign any documents.

If the intention is to carry out the act by using remote authentication in an Estonian embassy, one of the five embassies can be selected in the self-service portal, by also indicating the desired dates. Based on the data submitted in the application the self-service portal proposes the available times that suit both the notary and the embassy. The times are proposed in accordance with the time zone in which the embassy is located.

Additional info

The registration of the activities of an unlicensed small fund manager is regulated by § 453 of the Investment Funds Act (IFS). Accordingly, in order to register the activities, the applicant must submit a written application to the Financial Supervision Authority and the following information and documents specified in IFS:

• the contact details and articles of association or another equivalent document of the small fund manager
• the number of funds managed and their names or business names
• the dates on which the funds managed are set up or set up and the law under which they are set up or set up
• information on the investment policy of the funds, including the fund’s investments and marketable instruments, trading venues, the fund’s main risks, and the composition and total value of assets under management

In addition to the above, the following must also be submitted:

• the partnership agreement of the fund to be established and, if necessary, also the management agreement
• rules of procedure and internal control rules which comply with the requirements provided for in § 14 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (RahaPTS)
• Money risk document provided for in § 10 of the PTS
• rules of procedure and internal control rules which comply with the conditions of § 23 of the International Sanctions Act
• an organizational solution for the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, based on the principle of three internationally recognized lines of defense (including the number of employees in each line of defense)
• legal self-analysis, taking into account the guidelines on the basic concepts of the Directive on Alternative Investment Fund Managers ESMA / 2013/611 (available on the website of the Financial Supervision Authority here: http://www.fi.ee/failid/Soovituslik_juhend_ESMA_suunise_ylevotmine_2013_611.pdf), which would indicate the . In the elements of the self-assessment, it is appropriate to refer to the partnership agreement of the proposed fund or other relevant documents from which the relevant rights or obligations of the fund, the fund manager and investors arise
• A document certifying payment of the processing fee on the basis of subsection 457 (4) of the Financial Supervision Authority Act (payment order)

Non-residents not registered in the commercial register in Estonia and operating in Estonia through a permanent establishment or non-residents not having a permanent establishment but being employers in Estonia have to register with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. Likewise, non-resident employees and recipients of payments not having an Estonian personal identification code have to be registered with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.

Closer look: https://www.emta.ee/en/business-client/registration-business/non-residents-e-residents/registration-non-resident

If you want to live and work in Estonia, you must submit your permanent local address to the Population Register of Estonia.

You will not have access to Estonian health insurance, social support, and the right to use many other public services without having your data in the register. So, when moving, always update your address in the register as well.

Things to bring when registering your place of residence:

• A residence notice (filled before or on the spot). The document is only available in Estonian, but have a look at a translated example.
• Your personal ID or a photocopy of the ID if the documents are sent by mail.
• A copy of a document proving your residence and the right to use these premises (your tenancy agreement, for example). If the property you register to live at belongs to many owners, you must have everyone’s consent.

If you own an Estonian ID card, you can register your place of residence online via the citizen portal eesti.ee.

Since we offer services, not commodities, it is generally not possible. Exceptionally, for example, if a service has not yet been provided, cancellation of the order is possible.

Estonian law allows for the physical person the cancellation of the order within 14 days after the order is submitted if there is a reasonable basis and in the case of sales of goods. This requirement does not apply to the service already provided.

Note that your application must be made before the service duration has ended and you should not have unpaid bills. It is not possible to terminate the Contract prematurely.

Disputes are resolved by way of negotiations. Upon not reaching an agreement the dispute is resolved in the jurisdiction of the service provider. The litigation is based on the Estonian Law of Obligations Act (VÕS) in general and on transactions made through a computer network more narrowly ( § 62 ¹ ).

Answers to all the most frequently asked questions about the electronic use of ID card and Mobile ID on the id.ee.

However, if your problem remains unsolved, please contact the ID Help Centre through the form here. The more precisely you describe your problem and the emergence of the situation, the more personalized assistance we can provide. All answers with easy steps and instructions that could help to resolve your problem will be sent to you in writing!

1. We email you the Power of Attorney.
2. You send us the POA and copy of the Passport once notarized and legalized.
   • Notarization: Take the Power of Attorney and Passport to your nearer Notary Public.
   • Legalization: After the documents have been notarized, they require legalization.
   • You can ask your notary if they can also take care of the legalization and send the documents by post. If not, you can legalize and post it yourself.

Can be done without but this is our preferred option.

Other possibilities are visiting a Public Notary in Estonia or using a power of attorney.

These are more expensive options, different service and translation fees are added.

Of course, there is such a solution. In case there are difficulties logging into the client’s environment or there is no need for it.

We use STRIPE payment links, which are personal for each service, as well as the Paypal QR payment link, where you can determine the amount to be paid according to the desired service.

Paypal payment QR link:

Smart-ID personal identification can be used today in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Anno 2023.

If you are an alien living in Estonia the options are:

• Residents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (incl. people staying here on the basis of a permanent residence permit) have a residence permit card. It allows you to create a Smart-ID account exactly as you would with an ID card: just follow the on-screen instructions. Your personal identification code is written on the residence card.
• If you are a non-resident, ie a person who does not have a local personal identification code, it is not possible to create a Smart-ID account in Estonia and Latvia. However, it is possible to register a Smart-ID Basic account with limited rights in Lithuania by visiting the bank branch of Medicines Bankas, don’t forget to bring your identity documents!

Additional data: https://www.id.ee/en/article/smart-id

The best suited businesses for e-Residency are paperless companies that can be run completely online independent of location, for example consulting or freelance services in IT and communications, professional and scientific activities, and administrative and support service activities.

We are increasingly seeing e-residents setting up small to medium eCommerce and dropshipping businesses, as well as larger companies manufacturing and/or selling physical goods wanting to set up a subsidiary in Europe.

Payment for the service is made when it is received by us, not when it is made.

Your status changes immediately upon receipt.

Check to see if the money has ever gone out of your way.

Your e-Residency digital ID card is an electronic personal identification used to identify yourself over the Internet securely.

Just like showing identification when completing a credit card transaction at a store, you indicate your digital ID for verification over the internet so companies are certain you are you.

The ID card has technical support. If starting to use the card online seems difficult or daunting, they are there to assist you, here: https://www.id.ee/en/id-card

On their website, you can find how-to videos, support articles, step-by-step solution finders, and the contacts of the support team.

Video:

For an example of the videos, check out how to create a digitally signed document on your computer!

Manual for logging in to the business registry:

Customers can log into the client area and pay to renew their subscriptions.

All offered payment gateway extensions can be used to process manual renewal payments. Customers can choose a different payment method for each renewal payment. It’s better to set up automatic payments.

If there is a problem with logging in to the customer area, let us know and the payment link will be sent.

After we receive the payment we will manually extend your subscription.

If the intended activity of the company is not related to Estonia, you will not be able to open a bank account in Estonia.

This requires, for example, cooperation partners in Estonia, the partnership must also be verifiable (contracts, sales invoices, letters of confirmation), etc.

Also, to open an account with an Estonian bank, a board member of the company shall be present in the opening process.

But wait a moment, why you need a bank account in Estonia? You can open a bank account in your selected country, in your home country, or use our partners.

Just establish a company in Estonia, get your papers legislated, and open a bank account where you want and can do it.

An authorization is a collection of rights within the limits of which a representative may act on behalf of the principal.

It is essential for the Estonian Tax and Customs Board that the content of authorization would be understandable and the person granting the authorization and the authorized person would be identifiable.

The main and also the most convenient and practical way to transfer the right of representation is to do it through a suitable digital identification channel. These are Mobile ID, Estonian ID, e-resident ID, and Smart ID. European Union country ID cards are also suitable. It is important to have the right to log in to the systems of the Estonian state.

If necessary, other less convenient and more expensive methods can also be used: power of attorney, lawyer’s client agreement, etc.

Additional info:

The e-Residency application environment is administered by the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. PBGB is also responsible for processing e-Residency applications and making decisions.

If you need help submitting your e-Residency application, consult with the FAQ below or contact the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.

In order to track your application status, please log in to the application environment.

Please note that the e-Residency project team does not have access to the application environment. All inquiries related to application process, should be directed to the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.

When establishing a company, the legal address is drawn up by the founder or founders in the e-Business Register.

The address will be indicated in the decision on the establishment of the company, the Articles of Association, as well as in the registration card.

The software guarantees that only real addresses are added. A step-by-step guide is added to your order confirmation.

The contract is signed digitally.

The following solutions are accepted for this purpose:

Estonian e-residency card, Estonian ID card, Dokobit, or Docusign solutions.

Manual how to use e-residency and ID card.

You must submit a notice of residence to the city or rural municipality government of your place of residence.

A notice of residence can be submitted:

• in the e-population register. You can also view the information and status of the notice of residence you already submitted there in the e-population register.
• by sending a digitally signed e-mail to the city or rural municipality government of your place of residence (to the city district government in Tallinn)
• by sending a regular letter to the city or rural municipality government of your place of residence, adding a copy of the side of your identity document that shows personal data to the notice of residence
• at the city or rural municipality government.

Printable and digitally fillable form of notice of residence is available on the homepage of the Ministry of the Interior.

Entering additional addresses in the population register

If you use several residences permanently, you must select one which is going to be entered as the residential address with legal effect (main residence) to the population register.

Other residences can be submitted to the population register as additional addresses.

You have an obligation pursuant to law to make sure your residence address in the Population Register is correct

When you are changing your residence in Estonia, relocating to a foreign country, or relocating from a foreign country to Estonia, you need to submit a notice of residence to register a new place of residence in the Population Register.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V2mJMZic00&feature=youtu.be

• Review the eligibility requirements.
• Fill in the application form online. Print the form and sign it after completion. The state fee is 80€ for a Type C (short stay) visa and 100€ Type D (long stay) visa.
• Make an appointment at your nearest Estonian Embassy or Consulate to submit your application. Make sure you bring copies of any required supporting documents.
• Applications are typically reviewed not sooner than 15 days

Application form for a visa can be pre-filled online. If the visa application is submitted to other Member State representing Estonia in issuing short-stay visas, kindly fill in the Schengen visa application form of the respective Member State.

An e-resident is a non-resident according to Estonian tax legislation. Only income derived in Estonia is taxed in Estonia.

If there is no activity or income derived from Estonia, taxes should be paid in the country where the service is provided or activity is done or income is derived from, the pure e-residency alone does not influence foreign or Estonian taxation.

An Estonian company established by an e-resident is an Estonian tax resident. The Estonian e-residency does not automatically exempt from taxation elsewhere.

Tax residency is the place where you actually have to pay the taxes. For example, if you are an Estonian citizen, but have lived more than 183 days per year in Finland, then you become a tax resident in Finland and have to pay the taxes there.

Generally, a company’s tax residency is in the country where the company is established. So, if the company is based in Estonia, then by law the tax residency is in Estonia. There are exceptions to this rule that will change the tax residency of your company, which we will discuss later in this article.

When talking about tax residency or even e-Residency, it is essential to emphasize that neither is an actual residency. So, if you receive your e-Residency card, then this doesn’t make you a resident nor a tax resident of Estonia – it is a common false perception. E-Residency is not related to a visa or a resident permit and doesn’t enable you to travel to Estonia. An e-Residency card is a digital identity that allows you to run a business in Estonia from a distance and fully online.

NB!

• e-Residency will not change your personal tax residency
• A company registered in Estonia is automatically a tax resident in Estonia
• Your personal residency may trigger tax residency for your company in your place of residence as well

To explain tax residency and citizenship, we first need to consider that there are two separate parties involved: a private and a legal person. This means that your company is a legal person, and you alone are the private person.

Citizenship only applies to a private person and is determined by your passport. The tax residency on the other hand is not the same as citizenship and is determined by tax laws. The tax residency status can be in the same country as your citizenship, but it also might be different or change in time.

It should be noted that immediate registration in the population register is not possible for foreign nationals.

However, our address service can serve as a preliminary step in this process. The recommended order for address registration is as follows: the address, followed by the company, then the business, and finally, a residence in Estonia for at least 6 months per year.

One viable option for foreign nationals seeking registration in the population register is to purchase real estate in Estonia and reside in the country for at least 6 months.

Subsequently, they may submit an application to the local government in the region where they reside in order to initiate the registration process.

To provide contact person services there is a need for a licence, we have that. Virtual Office in Estonia has a licence (licence no FIU000051) to be an authorized contact person in Estonia. The licence is provided by Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The obligation to keep and collect data of the beneficial owner, which entered into force on 1 September 2018, arises from Chapter 9 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act.

By law, private legal entities have an obligation to maintain and collect relevant, accurate and up-to-date information on beneficial owners, as well as information on ownership or other means of exercising control.

Until now, the obligation to identify the beneficial owner has been incumbent on credit and financial institutions, notaries and other obligated persons when establishing a business relationship or concluding transactions. Pursuant to the provisions of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act, which entered into force on 1 September 2018, legal persons in private law are required to disclose their actual beneficiaries through the commercial register. To this end, the shareholders of the company must disclose the details of the beneficial owners to the management board. The management board then submits this information via the company portal or a notary.

Data on beneficial owners must be provided: companies, foundations and non-profit associations (excluding housing and building associations and foundations). There is no obligation for self-employed persons to provide data.

In order to publish the data of these beneficiaries, the authorized person must enter the enterprise portal, click on the link “Actual beneficiaries not specified” on the home page and specify the person (s) from the available selection or enter the data: name, personal identification code, country, role.

Information must be disclosed for natural persons whose direct or indirect participation or other control in the enterprise exceeds 25 per cent.

The deadline for submitting data is 30 October 2018, but the possibility to submit remains open on a permanent basis.

The Ministry of Finance has pointed out in the data submission guide below that the provisions on penalties for non-submission of data of actual beneficiaries will not enter into force before January 2019.

If the data changes in the future, the updated data must be submitted to the register by the management board of the association within 30 days. In the future, the accuracy of the data of the actual beneficiaries must also be confirmed in the company’s annual report, if they have not changed.

Standard Procedure for Non-Payment of Services:

The established protocol for addressing non-payment of services typically involves several steps to ensure a fair resolution. These steps are as follows:

1. Reminder Letter: A formal communication is sent to the debtor, notifying them of the outstanding payment and requesting immediate settlement. The letter serves as an initial reminder and allows the debtor an opportunity to rectify the situation promptly.
2. Repeated Reminder Letter: In the event that the debtor fails to respond or settle the outstanding amount after the initial reminder, a subsequent reminder letter is sent as a follow-up measure. This letter reiterates the urgency of payment and emphasizes the potential consequences of continued non-compliance.
3. SMS Reminder: In addition to written communication, a text message reminder is commonly employed as a supplementary means of notification. This method aims to further prompt the debtor to take immediate action in resolving the unpaid balance.
4. Register of Debtors: If the debtor remains unresponsive or persistent in non-payment, their details may be recorded in a register of debtors. This record serves as a reference for future actions and ensures transparency within the process.
5. Court Proceedings: Should the previous steps prove ineffective, legal action may be pursued through court proceedings. This involves initiating a formal lawsuit against the debtor, presenting the case before a judge or magistrate, and seeking a legal judgment in favor of the owed amount.
6. Bailiff or Debt Collection Company: If necessary, following a court judgment, the services of a bailiff or a reputable debt collection company may be enlisted. These professionals are authorized to take further action to recover the owed funds, which may include seizing assets, enforcing payment plans, or implementing other legal measures.

It is important to note that throughout this process, initial transaction costs incurred as a result of pursuing the outstanding payment will be included. Additionally, as the proceedings progress, state fees and bailiff costs, which are associated with legal action and the involvement of authorized officials, will be added to the outstanding balance.

No. Your status as an e-resident does not grant permission to live in Estonia or within the EU. You will not receive benefits related to EU residency by becoming an e-resident.

Of course.

Just let us know via e-mail with an advance of 7 days, before the date of the subscription extension date and not having an invoice unpaid.

Also, you can log in to the customer area and close your subscription yourself.

What needs to be noticed is that the waiver does not have a retroactive effect, ie the period for which it has already been paid is valid until the end.

Also, it is very important to remember that the order ends permanently when the address and/or contact person has also been deleted from the Estonian Business Registry. Without it, the standing order is not completed.

Some transactions can also be carried out through an e-notary.

Among them is the sale of a company or non-profit organization.

1. The act to be performed by remote authentication and the corresponding time must be agreed with the notary in advance, either via the self-service of the website of notar.ee or directly.

2. To perform an act by remote authentication, the client is required to have and use a computer with a webcam and a microphone, an ID card with a card reader, or Mobile-ID for digital signing.

3. Remote authentication only functions in the Google Chrome web browser, and the internet connection speed must enable video calls.

4. To perform an act, it is required to log into the self-service of the website of notar.ee.

For more detailed information about how the notarial acts can be performed by remote authentication, please visit the website of the Estonian Chamber of Notaries.

Legal entities whose address is located or a board resides in a foreign country must appoint a contact person.

A deadline can be set for the contact person. After measuring the deadline, the contact person is automatically deleted from the company. After that, the contact person must be appointed for a new term.

Additional information

It is included with your order confirmation to be automatically downloaded.

Please check your email.

When establishing a company, the legal address is drawn up by the founder or founders in the e-Business Register.

The address will be indicated in the decision on the establishment of the company, the Articles of Association, as well as in the registration card.

The software guarantees that only real addresses are added. A step-by-step guide is added to your order confirmation.

It should be noted that immediate registration in the population register is not possible for foreign nationals.

However, our address service can serve as a preliminary step in this process. The recommended order for address registration is as follows: the address, followed by the company, then the business, and finally, a residence in Estonia for at least 6 months per year.

One viable option for foreign nationals seeking registration in the population register is to purchase real estate in Estonia and reside in the country for at least 6 months.

Subsequently, they may submit an application to the local government in the region where they reside in order to initiate the registration process.

Of course.

Just let us know via e-mail with an advance of 7 days, before the date of the subscription extension date and not having an invoice unpaid.

Also, you can log in to the customer area and close your subscription yourself.

What needs to be noticed is that the waiver does not have a retroactive effect, ie the period for which it has already been paid is valid until the end.

Also, it is very important to remember that the order ends permanently when the address and/or contact person has also been deleted from the Estonian Business Registry. Without it, the standing order is not completed.

As a general rule, the bank asks for a certified copy of the shareholder’s and director’s passport (beneficial owner), as well as recent proof of residence which, must be less than three months old. However, the full scope of documents depends on the bank, and on the particulars of each case. If the client goes to the bank in person to open the account, a certified copy of the passport is not required.
We will send you the additional documents necessary for opening the account by email, as an attachment, for you to sign and return to us preferably by special courier ( DHL, FedEx or Chronopost), along with the other documents mentioned above.

Disclaimer:

• Each bank account application is subject to the bank’s mandatory due diligence requirements and duties under national and international (FATF) standards, in particular, to prevent money laundering, and nothing on this webpage shall be construed as an offer to waive such requirements and duties.
• Banks are listed as examples only. You will need to confirm your choice of a bank after the registration of your company. You have no obligation to select a listed bank and may propose another bank of your choice. SFM is not proposing bank services. An introduction service includes the preparation of the application form and the submission of the application file. Any application is subject to the acceptance of the client by the bank.

It is included with your order confirmation to be automatically downloaded.

Please check your email.

The power of attorney is necessary so that we can carry out transactions on behalf of the client within the framework of the authorization given by him.

The document must be apostilled in the country where it was issued. The translation must be made by an Estonian sworn translator.

Of course.

Just let us know via e-mail with an advance of 7 days, before the date of the subscription extension date and not having an invoice unpaid.

Also, you can log in to the customer area and close your subscription yourself.

What needs to be noticed is that the waiver does not have a retroactive effect, ie the period for which it has already been paid is valid until the end.

Also, it is very important to remember that the order ends permanently when the address and/or contact person has also been deleted from the Estonian Business Registry. Without it, the standing order is not completed.

Legal entities whose address is located or a board resides in a foreign country must appoint a contact person.

A deadline can be set for the contact person. After measuring the deadline, the contact person is automatically deleted from the company. After that, the contact person must be appointed for a new term.

Additional information

Unfortunately, the e-Residency status alone does not include the provision of a physical address in Estonia.

A stronger connection with Estonia is needed. Establishing a company is a very suitable solution for this. We can help with that. As well as with a contact person and a legal address service. These services will assist you in meeting the necessary requirements and ensuring compliance with the regulations of Estonia’s company registration process.

It is included with your order confirmation to be automatically downloaded.

Please check your email.

Of course.

Just let us know via e-mail with an advance of 7 days, before the date of the subscription extension date and not having an invoice unpaid.

Also, you can log in to the customer area and close your subscription yourself.

What needs to be noticed is that the waiver does not have a retroactive effect, ie the period for which it has already been paid is valid until the end.

Also, it is very important to remember that the order ends permanently when the address and/or contact person has also been deleted from the Estonian Business Registry. Without it, the standing order is not completed.

A natural person is a resident if one of the following conditions is met:

Non-residents not registered in the commercial register in Estonia and operating in Estonia through a permanent establishment or non-residents not having a permanent establishment but being employers in Estonia have to register with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. Likewise, non-resident employees and recipients of payments not having an Estonian personal identification code have to be registered with the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.

Closer look: https://www.emta.ee/en/business-client/registration-business/non-residents-e-residents/registration-non-resident

You must submit a notice of residence to the city or rural municipality government of your place of residence.

A notice of residence can be submitted:

• in the e-population register. You can also view the information and status of the notice of residence you already submitted there in the e-population register.
• by sending a digitally signed e-mail to the city or rural municipality government of your place of residence (to the city district government in Tallinn)
• by sending a regular letter to the city or rural municipality government of your place of residence, adding a copy of the side of your identity document that shows personal data to the notice of residence
• at the city or rural municipality government.

Printable and digitally fillable form of notice of residence is available on the homepage of the Ministry of the Interior.

Entering additional addresses in the population register

If you use several residences permanently, you must select one which is going to be entered as the residential address with legal effect (main residence) to the population register.

Other residences can be submitted to the population register as additional addresses.

You have an obligation pursuant to law to make sure your residence address in the Population Register is correct

When you are changing your residence in Estonia, relocating to a foreign country, or relocating from a foreign country to Estonia, you need to submit a notice of residence to register a new place of residence in the Population Register.

An e-resident is a non-resident according to Estonian tax legislation. Only income derived in Estonia is taxed in Estonia.

If there is no activity or income derived from Estonia, taxes should be paid in the country where the service is provided or activity is done or income is derived from, the pure e-residency alone does not influence foreign or Estonian taxation.

An Estonian company established by an e-resident is an Estonian tax resident. The Estonian e-residency does not automatically exempt from taxation elsewhere.

Tax residency is the place where you actually have to pay the taxes. For example, if you are an Estonian citizen, but have lived more than 183 days per year in Finland, then you become a tax resident in Finland and have to pay the taxes there.

Generally, a company’s tax residency is in the country where the company is established. So, if the company is based in Estonia, then by law the tax residency is in Estonia. There are exceptions to this rule that will change the tax residency of your company, which we will discuss later in this article.

When talking about tax residency or even e-Residency, it is essential to emphasize that neither is an actual residency. So, if you receive your e-Residency card, then this doesn’t make you a resident nor a tax resident of Estonia – it is a common false perception. E-Residency is not related to a visa or a resident permit and doesn’t enable you to travel to Estonia. An e-Residency card is a digital identity that allows you to run a business in Estonia from a distance and fully online.

NB!

• e-Residency will not change your personal tax residency
• A company registered in Estonia is automatically a tax resident in Estonia
• Your personal residency may trigger tax residency for your company in your place of residence as well

To explain tax residency and citizenship, we first need to consider that there are two separate parties involved: a private and a legal person. This means that your company is a legal person, and you alone are the private person.

Citizenship only applies to a private person and is determined by your passport. The tax residency on the other hand is not the same as citizenship and is determined by tax laws. The tax residency status can be in the same country as your citizenship, but it also might be different or change in time.

An authorization is a collection of rights within the limits of which a representative may act on behalf of the principal.

It is essential for the Estonian Tax and Customs Board that the content of authorization would be understandable and the person granting the authorization and the authorized person would be identifiable.

The main and also the most convenient and practical way to transfer the right of representation is to do it through a suitable digital identification channel. These are Mobile ID, Estonian ID, e-resident ID, and Smart ID. European Union country ID cards are also suitable. It is important to have the right to log in to the systems of the Estonian state.

If necessary, other less convenient and more expensive methods can also be used: power of attorney, lawyer’s client agreement, etc.

Additional info: