Starting from 1 January 2026, two additional requirements are in force regarding foreigners applying for a temporary residence permit to live in Estonia permanently:
- mandatory completion of the adaptation programme (basic module)
- Estonian language proficiency at least at level A2
Therefore, as of 1 January 2026, the following requirements are in force for foreigners submitting applications for a temporary residence permit to reside permanently in Estonia:
- having resided in Estonia for at least three years over a period of five consecutive years;
- completion of the adaptation programme (basic module);
- a high level of adaptation in Estonia;
- proficiency in Estonian at least at level A2*;
- sufficient income to cover the costs of living in Estonia;
- health insurance;
- their activities to date have been in accordance with the purpose and conditions of the residence permit granted to them.
*The following exceptions apply to the Estonian language proficiency requirement of level A2:
- foreigners who have acquired basic, secondary, or higher education in Estonian are not required to take the Estonian language proficiency exam;
- foreigners who are permanently unable to take the Estonian language proficiency exam due to their state of health are fully exempted from taking the test;
- foreigners who are permanently unable to take the Estonian language proficiency exam due to their state of health are partially exempt from the test – they take the test to the extent and in the manner that their state of health allows.
Completion of the adaptation programme and Estonian language proficiency at least at level A2 are not required if:
- the foreigner has a valid temporary residence permit for permanent residence in Estonia issued before 1 January 2026 and is applying for its extension;
- the foreigner has submitted an application for a temporary residence permit to reside permanently in Estonia before 1 January 2026 and a decision on the application will be made after 31 December 2025.
Please note! All applications submitted to the Police and Border Guard Board before 1 January 2026 will be processed in accordance with the procedure in force at the time of submission.
For foreigners who are applying for or extending a temporary residence permit for employment, the conditions remain the same:
- a foreigner who applies for a temporary residence permit for employment and who has previously resided in Estonia for at least five years on the basis of a temporary residence permit for employment must have proficiency in Estonian at least at level A2;
- when extending a temporary residence permit for employment, the applicant must have acquired Estonian language skills at least at level A2;
- foreigners are not required to have proficiency in Estonian at least at level A2 if:
- they had a valid temporary residence permit for employment on 15 July 2018, and
- they are applying for a temporary residence permit for employment or its extension.
In this regard, we would like to remind you that the Integration Foundation offers so-called newly arrived immigrants who have been residing in Estonia on the basis of a temporary residence permit or temporary right of residence for less than 5 years the opportunity to participate in Estonian language courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 and the adaptation programme. Additional information: https://integratsioon.ee/en/adaptation-programme
Please note! After completing the Estonian language courses of the Settle in Estonia programme, applicants must also pass the respective language proficiency exam organised by the Education and Youth Board. More detailed information about the Estonian language proficiency exam can be found HERE.
For more information on applying for a temporary residence permit to live in Estonia permanently, see: