Today, in most cases, work in Estonia is provided to highly qualified specialists who have graduated from higher educational institutions in the country and have an appropriate diploma. As a result, unemployment remains at a very high level, which reduces the chances of emigrants finding employment in this country. But even with the necessary education, finding a job is not so easy.
Tooipea Castle in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia
To find a job in Estonia, foreigners need a work visa and a special permit. The second document is issued if the emigrant has found an employer from this country. The owner of the enterprise must present a certificate of consent to employ a foreigner in his company.
An Estonian employer is allowed to hire Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russian emigrants only after he provides full information to the authorities that not a single native Estonian meets the requirements for the position. In most cases, entrepreneurs rarely engage in such activities. This applies to all EU countries without exception in 2021.
Requirements for applying for a job in Estonia
Those wishing to find work in Estonia need to learn the state language, despite the fact that most of the population knows and speaks Russian. It turns out that without knowledge of the Estonian language, finding a job is almost impossible. But those who do not care about this fact and want to get a job in Estonia should, first, find an interesting and suitable field of activity.
You can start searching on Estonian Internet sites where entrepreneurs post vacancies for their companies. You should also look at job advertisements on the Internet resources of Estonian newspapers. You can increase your likelihood of finding a job by browsing the official websites of some companies that are looking for professionals for a specific position. It is worth sending your resume or calling the company. Perhaps the entrepreneur will be interested and invite you for an interview.
Programmers are in great demand. This is because the IT field has developed well in Estonia, and knowledge of the state language is not required.
Specialists in this field can earn 500 – 2500 euros per month, depending on their length of service and work experience.
In addition to programmers, work in Estonia is available to workers in the financial sector. There are vacancies for bank clerks, insurance agents and others. But to get a job in this field, you need to know several foreign languages and have a higher education diploma, which is listed in the European Union.
If you manage to find a job in Estonia, you can apply for a permit for unhindered residence in the country for the duration of the employment contract.
But this period is limited to two years. After this time, the permit will need to be renewed.
Another important point is that upon arriving in this state, you must register at your place of actual residence within 30 days.
form for registering residence in Estonia
In addition, to find a suitable vacancy, you can resort to the services of agencies specializing in the employment of citizens. If the outcome is positive, the entrepreneur pays all expenses of the office.
Ways to find a job
Any method is suitable for finding a suitable position. But it should be remembered that Estonia is a digital state, and therefore the greatest efforts should be directed to electronic portals:
- is an official resource that also contains information about the social life and culture of the state.
- – here you can find offers from direct employers and government companies. The site also contains offers from companies located in Scandinavia and the Baltic states.
- – one of the most visited resources where private companies, including those from other EU countries, are looking for employees.
What you need to get a job in Tallinn
To find a job in Tallinn, you will have to go through several stages. The process begins with the employer announcing a vacancy and holding a competition among the local population. If the only person suitable for the position is a foreign citizen, the company applies to the Unemployment Insurance Fund to obtain permission to hire him.
It will be possible to receive a positive answer only if the declared salary of the future employee is not less than the national average, multiplied by a factor of 1.24, and the enterprise has been on the market for at least a year.
The employer sends the received permit to the consulate of the country where the future employee will request a visa permit.
To obtain a national visa D, you must prepare the following package of documents:
- A foreign passport valid for three months from the date the visa expires.
- 2 photos.
- Visa application.
- Insurance in the amount of 30 thousand euros.
- Written justification for the purpose of entering the country.
- Certificate of availability of funds in the account (the employer can act as a guarantor).
- Employment contract (sent to the consulate by the employer).
- Work permit.
- Receipt of payment of a fee in the amount of 90 to 230 euros (depending on the period of validity of the visa).
For seasonal work, it is enough to obtain a category C visa. There is no need to request permission. It is also not necessary to obtain a residence permit after entry.
Journalists, people of creative professions, athletes, scientists, and highly qualified specialists can also work without permission.
The visa is issued for a period of 3 months to a year. Immediately after entry, a migrant worker can apply for a residence permit. It should be remembered that a foreigner will only be able to work with the employer who requested a work permit for him.
The issue of diploma recognition deserves special attention. The fact is that the difference in academic programs and the number of teaching hours may become a reason for undergoing the nostrification procedure. You can find out whether the candidate’s profession is included in this list on the official portal.
Recruitment agencies
Good vacancies in Tallinn can also be found through intermediaries. But you need to approach their choice very carefully so as not to trust scammers. First, you should read reviews about the company to make sure of its competence. Most often, such companies offer seasonal or unskilled vacancies and physical work.
Where to contact:
- – there are many vacancies here at manufacturing enterprises, construction sites and car service centers.
- – one of the largest agencies with representative offices in all Baltic countries.
- – Suitable for executives and middle managers. The site is available only in Estonian and English.
Alternatively, you can take advantage of the offers presented at the Job Fair. You can find the schedule of such events.
Work permit
Such a document allows emigrants to obtain employment in Estonia for the duration of this permit. Without it, foreigners can work in this country for no more than six months. However, before starting work, it is necessary to register it. Based on this, citizens of other countries who have a residence permit are prohibited from changing their place of work in Estonia.
Registration of short-term work is not required if the emigrant already has a residence permit in Estonia and is staying on its territory legally and lawfully on this basis. He needs to apply for a work permit or obtain a residence permit in Estonia for employment.
Citizens of another state are allowed to apply for short-term employment registration in two cases:
- If residents of other countries entered Estonia with or without a visa;
- For EU citizens who are allowed to work for three months from the date of arrival in the country when applying for a residence permit.
In some cases, a work permit is not required:
- An emigrant has a residence permit for a long-term resident;
- The foreign citizen has a residence permit for work;
- A resident of another state who submitted an application for a residence permit before July 12, 1995 and received it.
An application for a work permit must be submitted to the Estonian Police and Border Guard Department.
Official employment stage
Subtleties of obtaining a work visa to Estonia
A work visa to Estonia is an entry permit for temporary residence in the country. Typically, immigrants make their request by choosing one of two options: a “C” or “D” visa. The first is suitable for those who take a short-term job without registration (lasting no more than 6 months). The second is necessary when there is an opportunity to work in Estonia for a long time - 1 year or longer. It should be borne in mind that initially a “D” visa can be issued for 6 or 12 months. An additional advantage for an immigrant is that with such a visa you can travel within the Schengen zone for 3 months.
...I immediately asked for a long time, but they gave it “gradually”; first time for six months, then for a year, then for two. Now I asked for four. I wanted it for 5 (the validity period of the prints), but just because of the prints I asked for 4, so that the prints would still be valid for the next submission...
semigor
https://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?p=6957163#p6957163
...After the Consular Section of the Estonian Embassy transferred part of the work to an intermediary (CC), the number of possible applications for category C visas to the embassy became limited. A similar situation is observed not only in the Consular Section of the Estonian Embassy, but also in the embassies of other countries participating in the Schengen Agreement...
Feuer Und Licht
https://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?p=6916316#p6916316
The D work visa offers many benefits to an immigrant.
List of documents and requirements for obtaining a visa
- a completed application form of the applicant according to the approved form of the Estonian Migration Service,
- a foreign passport, the validity of which is at least 3 months longer than the validity of the visa,
- photograph measuring 35x45 mm,
- medical insurance policy valid for the entire period of employment,
- a written explanation of the purpose of entry into the Republic of Estonia,
- certificate of availability of financial security for the duration of your stay in the country,
- a receipt confirming payment of the state fee (for visa “D” - 80 euros).
It is noteworthy that citizens of Ukraine and Belarus are exempt from paying state duty. Under certain conditions, a long-term D visa can be obtained even if you take a temporary job lasting several months. Usually in this case a “C” visa is issued, but if the invitation to work is registered with the Police and Border Department, the rules change. In particular, the following types of activities are allowed to be registered:
- creative, which refers to entertainment events,
- teaching that meets the requirements of Estonian educational institutions,
- scientific, if the immigrant has special training and experience,
- sports (coaching, refereeing), if there is an invitation from the Estonian sports union,
- internships or internships that are part of study programs,
- servicing diplomatic missions of foreign states, if there is approval from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
- work on the upbringing and development of children,
- the work of an adviser, expert, consultant, provided that the immigrant has special training,
- work as an installer of specific equipment, subject to high qualifications,
- seasonal work on processing agricultural products.
Immigrants applying for an Estonian long-term visa usually have to deal with requirements for knowledge of the Estonian language. When applying for a job, speaking Estonian is also a very important argument . True, the level of language proficiency is not specifically specified, but the skills must be present.
...In Estonia it is not necessary to learn the language for a temporary residence permit. Language exams are mandatory for those applying for permanent residence or citizenship...
Vasin
https://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?p=6751474#p6751474
Work permit for foreigners, including Russians and Ukrainians
Foreigners who wish to work in Estonia and are citizens of non-EU countries must obtain a work permit. The document is an annex to the visa, which indicates all the details of employment, including the established period for work activity. The Police and Border Guard Department is responsible for processing and issuing permits.
Immigrants from non-EU countries require a work permit
The document is drawn up based on the employer’s request. Therefore, a foreign specialist will have to first seek contact with the employer in order to agree on employment. This is not easy to do in conditions of high unemployment and strict migration policies towards non-EU countries.
If, after all, an agreement with the employer has taken place, there is a reason to issue a work permit. However, there are many things to consider. The country's laws require employers to give priority to Estonian citizens or foreigners from the European Union . Everyone else fades into the background and can get a job unless there are people willing to fill the vacant position.
Categories of foreigners who do not need a work permit:
- foreigners without a residence permit, if the period of work is up to 6 months,
- who have officially registered their labor activity in the country,
- having a residence permit for business immigration,
- holders of permanent residence,
- holders of a residence permit for the purpose of working in Estonia.
Jobs required in Estonia
There are vacancies in Estonia that are in particular demand:
- Service specialists.
- Sales representatives.
- Equipment and machine operators.
- Highly qualified workers.
- Shipbuilders.
- Metallurgy workers.
In Estonia, specialists in the field of IT technologies are highly valued, who can earn up to 2 thousand euros per month. Along with programmers, financial professionals are also required, which include bank employees, insurance agents and others. As a rule, proficiency in the state language is not so important for IT specialists, while for the second category it is one of the important criteria when hiring.
In addition, it is important to have sufficient experience in this field. Also, when hiring, Estonian entrepreneurs pay attention to a higher education diploma.
Estonian higher education diploma
Specialists trained in European universities are highly valued. The smallest salary in Estonia is 320 euros per month.
After employment, a foreign worker is issued a residence permit for a period of no more than 2 years. If the entrepreneur provides the emigrant with future work after the expiration of the employment contract, then the employee’s residence permit in Estonia is extended for five years. After crossing the borders of the state, a foreign worker must obtain registration at his place of residence within a month.
Employment and salaries for foreigners in Estonia
Labor tourism in Estonia is directly proportional to the outflow of indigenous people who go to work in more solvent EU countries.
See also: Average salary in Georgia 2019
More than a third of the vacancies are posted on the Internet and anyone can try to find a niche in developing industries. Mainly required are information technology specialists, medical personnel, builders and teachers. The level of qualifications often does not matter, but it is worth remembering that without knowledge of English and minimum work experience, wages will be 25-30% lower.
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To find employment in Estonia, Russian citizens must submit an application to the consulate for a residence permit. The issue will be resolved within 2 months. Then you need to apply for a work visa.
The average salary of a hired employee with legal employment is up to 2,000 euros per month, depending on the type of activity. For violations of the law, foreign citizens are punished with fines, and for repeat violations - with imprisonment.
Employer Responsibilities
When hiring emigrants, the Estonian entrepreneur is obliged to pay him a salary equal to the average salary for the previous year in this company. In the case where an individual is an employer, the salary of a foreign worker depends on the type of activity he performs.
comparison of Estonian salaries with salaries in other countries
In Estonia, work is paid in this way:
- caregivers;
- advisors, experts, consultants;
- seasonal agricultural workers for processing products.
Average salary in Tallinn in 2021
If we take into account the level of wages, the Republic of Estonia is several steps higher than many EU countries. The average monthly salary in Estonia is about 900 euros, in Tallinn - 1000 euros. The minimum wage for Estonian workers is 500 euros per month.
Specialists with experience from Ukraine, Belarus or Russia can get a job with a salary of 2–2.5 thousand euros. Programmers, financiers and representatives of insurance companies are paid the highest in Estonia. The salary paid to a new employee must be equal to the average salary paid in this company for the period of the previous year.
Salary levels in different regions of Estonia
If the employer is an individual, then the foreigner’s salary will depend on the specific type of activity. This is how they usually pay in the following cases:
- Nannies or caregivers.
- Persons providing advice on various issues.
- Working for the season.
Summer seasonal agricultural work in Estonia for immigrants
It is not easy to stay away from your family for a long time, so going to Estonia for seasonal work is the most suitable way to improve your financial situation and return home with money. Summer work in Estonia is a good opportunity for Ukrainians to earn extra money, since it is not so difficult and does not force them to stay in this country for a long time.
For women, seasonal work is a good chance to seriously improve their financial situation, see another country, travel and enjoy life. In most cases, married couples go to work for seasonal work.
Most often they can be found when harvesting agricultural crops. Such temporary employment is easier than finding a permanent job.
Internship in Estonia
Foreigners who intend to go to work in Estonia are recommended, if they have the appropriate specialty, to undergo an internship. This will allow you to get to know the country better, get acquainted with the peculiarities of the labor market, understand whether Estonia is right for you, and even find an employer.
The easiest way to find an internship for students is to use the following services:
- an international non-profit program that organizes student exchanges around the planet;
- – a resource for finding internships in the field of digital technologies and online business.
Finding a job without experience or language knowledge
There is no specific guidance for short-term employment in Estonia, as various companies and agencies provide several options for finding work in this country on a temporary or permanent basis.
You can get information about employment on specialized forums or thematic portals for finding jobs in Estonia, of which there are currently a large number.
Reviews on these resources make it possible to identify the most promising companies that offer vacancies for various positions, even without speaking the language. Recruitment advertisements help solve this problem very well, in which anyone can find out information about the specifics of the job, the required length of service and experience.
How to find a job in Tallinn. Search for a vacancy.
The main difficulty for Russians and Ukrainians when looking for a job in Tallinn in 2021 is competition with local residents and Europeans, many of whom have been willing to earn extra money in the Estonian capital in recent years. Moreover, EU citizens do not require special permits for employment. Complicating the task for applicants from the CIS countries is the very limited number of available jobs. Therefore, with a high degree of probability, you will not be able to find a job in Tallinn quickly .
Look for any opportunity to reach an Estonian employer or a large international company directly. Compose a competent resume and cover letter. Highlight your competitive advantages, unique skills and experience. Be sure to visit Tallinn as a tourist. If your friends or relatives do not live in this city or country, then try to establish business contacts with labor migrants or Russian-speaking residents on your own.
More than half of the vacancies in Tallinn are transmitted, as they say, “by word of mouth.” Be active not only when visiting Estonia, but also in your own country. Analyze information on the Internet. Visit thematic forums, groups on social networks and specialized websites. One of the main factors for a successful job search in Tallinn is the personal professional qualities of the applicant , primarily related to education and language skills.
- Education. Official work in Tallinn, especially in positions requiring high qualifications and experience, requires that an applicant from abroad has an appropriate level of education. The best option is to study at a prestigious university in Estonia. For example, at the Tallinn Technical University, which is considered one of the best educational institutions in the Baltics.
To check the recognition of a foreign diploma, visit the state portal eesti.ee, where you can also find a list of regulated professions that are not available to foreigners without special education and sufficient experience. In particular, this applies to many categories of technical specialists, some drivers, medical and social workers. This step will allow a more realistic assessment of the possibility of finding a job in Tallinn in 2021.
- Language . There are quite a lot of Russian-speaking citizens living in Tallinn. It is a fact. However, when hiring a foreigner, local employers set one of the main conditions to have a Estonian or English language skills. Knowing only Russian significantly reduces your chances of finding a high-paying job in Tallinn. It may be possible to find a job that does not require special qualifications and frequent communication with people in the process of work.
Job search in Tallinn
State Unemployment Administration in Estonia – tootukassa.ee
Schedule of job fairs in Tallinn – toomess.ee
Professional social network – linkedin.com
Popular job search sites in Tallinn
workinestonia.com
cv.ee
cvkeskus.ee
