Q: Is the number of NPA establishers regulated?

Yes. Under the Estonian Non-profit Associations Act , a non-profit association (NPO) must be established by at least two founders . Founders may be natural or legal persons . There is no fixed limit on the number of board members — the structure can be tailored to your organisation’s needs. If you need support in arranging a second founder, we can assist you with a suitable solution.

Question 1

Will e-Residency give me a physical address or residency rights in Estonia?

John Doe · Accepted Answer

No – e-Residency is not a residence permit.

Estonia’s e-Residency is not a residence permit and does not provide a physical address.
Being an e-resident does not give you the right to live in Estonia or elsewhere in the EU, and it does not grant a visa, immigration status, or physical residency.

✅ E-Residency is a digital identity designed for remote business management.

What qualifies as permanent residence in Estonia?

To be considered a permanent resident, you generally must live in Estonia for at least 186 days per calendar year, for personal or professional reasons, and prove strong ties to Estonia with documentation.

Common supporting documents include:

Lease agreement of at least 6 months (usually plus additional evidence)
Employment or service contract lasting 6+ months
Proof of property ownership in Estonia
Utility bills or fuel invoices in your name
School/kindergarten documents (if you have children)
Annual report (if you are on the board of an Estonian company)
Transport tickets showing extended stays
Letters of explanation from people you live with

📌 In some cases, an employment contract, study certificate, or proof of military service may be sufficient on its own.

Why residence registration matters

If you plan to live and work in Estonia, registering your local address in the Population Register is essential.

Without registered residence, you may not have access to:

Public healthcare
Social support and benefits
Many state and municipal public services

What you need to register your residence

Typically required:

Notice of Residence (elukoha teade)
Your ID (or copy, if by post)
Proof of residence (tenancy agreement or ownership document)
If multiple owners: consent from all owners

✅ If you have an Estonian ID card, you can register online via the eesti.ee portal.

📌 VOE practical note:
While e-Residency does not include a physical address, creating an Estonian company and using a legal address + contact person service (e.g., Package ONE) can be a practical and compliant way to build a structured business presence in Estonia.

Question 2

Why is there a need for Apostille?

John Doe · Accepted Answer

It lets you use the documents abroad.

You need apostilled documents whenever your Estonian company must prove its legal standing abroad. The apostille lets foreign banks, authorities, and business partners trust that the papers are genuine, enabling you to open non-Estonian bank accounts, sign contracts, or complete transactions in other countries without additional verification.

Question 3

Is this background check regarded with the e-residency program?

John Doe · Accepted Answer

Short answer — no.

The background check we offer has nothing to do with applying for e-Residency.
Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PBGB) carries out its own screening of every e-Residency applicant and charges the state fee set in the Identity Documents Act and the State Fees Act. Those fees vary by pick-up location (Tallinn: no extra charge; embassies: + €20; partner hubs such as Seoul, Tokyo or San Francisco: local service fee).

What e-Residency is — and isn’t

A government-issued digital ID that lets you sign, authenticate and run an EU company online.
Not a form of citizenship, tax residency, visa, residence permit, or travel document.

Our background-check service is designed for corporate due-diligence on Estonian natural or legal persons; it neither replaces nor influences the PBGB’s screening for e-Residency applications. For official details on e-Residency requirements and fees, see the PBGB website.

Question 4

Is the number of NPA establishers regulated?

John Doe · Accepted Answer

Yes.

Under the Estonian Non-profit Associations Act, a non-profit association (NPO) must be established by at least two founders. Founders may be natural or legal persons.

There is no fixed limit on the number of board members — the structure can be tailored to your organisation’s needs.

If you need support in arranging a second founder, we can assist you with a suitable solution.

Question 5

How to renew my subscription?

John Doe · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

Does e-Residency affect tax residency?

John Doe · Accepted Answer

Clarifying taxation rules for e-residents and Estonian companies.

According to Estonian tax law, e-residents are considered non-residents for tax purposes. This means that only income earned in Estonia is taxed in Estonia. If there is no Estonian-sourced income or activity, you must pay taxes in the country where the service is provided or the income is earned. E-Residency alone does not create tax residency—neither in Estonia nor elsewhere.

An Estonian company established by an e-resident is automatically considered an Estonian tax resident company, and subject to Estonian corporate tax rules. However, the personal tax residency of the e-resident does not change simply because they hold an e-Residency card.

It’s a common misconception that e-Residency provides residency or tax residency status—it does not. E-Residency is a digital identity, not a visa, residence permit, or travel document. It allows you to manage a company remotely, but it has no impact on where you pay personal taxes.

Keep in mind:

Your personal tax residency is determined by factors such as physical presence (e.g. more than 183 days in a country) and centre of economic or personal interests.
Your personal tax residency may also trigger permanent establishment rules, which could lead to tax obligations for your Estonian company in your country of residence.

Lead-in:
E-Residency gives you access to Estonia’s digital business environment—but it has no effect on your personal or corporate tax residency, which are determined by entirely separate legal criteria.

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