What do I need to apply for e-Residency and register a company?

For the e-Residency application

You apply online to the Police and Border Guard Board, which decides on e-Residency applications. The e-Residency programme lists these items.

The fee is paid when you submit, and the programme says a refund may be possible if you cancel before proceedings on your application have started. It has also announced that the fee changes to €165 (source: e-resident.gov.ee, checked 3 Oct 2026) from 1 January 2027. Check each item before you pay.

After approval: collecting and setting up the card

When the card is ready you collect it in person and give your fingerprints. The kit includes the digital ID card, a USB smart-card reader and the PIN codes in a sealed envelope. To start using it:

1. Connect the card reader to your computer. If the reader doesn’t fit your computer’s ports, you may need an adapter or another compatible reader.
2. Install the official DigiDoc software, which lets you log in and sign documents.
3. Keep the PIN codes somewhere safe, separate from the card.

The card is valid for 5 years (source: politsei.ee, checked 3 Oct 2026). If collecting the card is your main worry, read do I need to travel to Estonia?.

For registering the OÜ

You register the company in the e-Business Register’s online portal and sign the application with the card. The registry’s own instructions ask for the following.

1. Company name. It must include “osaühing” or “OÜ” and be distinct from existing names in the e-Business Register.
2. Main field of activity. One activity from the Estonian classification of economic activities.
3. Address. Usually an address in Estonia, chosen from the address register. A foreign address is possible too. See legal address.
4. Contact person. Needed if the company’s address is abroad. Founders who live abroad usually get an Estonian address, or a contact person, from a licensed service provider.
5. Email address. At least an email address is required as the company’s means of communication.
6. Financial year. The calendar year unless you choose otherwise.
7. Founders and board members. Their personal details. See board member.
8. Share capital. The amount and each founder’s contribution. The minimum is €0.01 (source: abiinfo.rik.ee, checked 3 Oct 2026). See share capital.
9. Articles of association. The portal offers standard articles, or you can upload your own.
10. Beneficial owners. The people who ultimately own or control the company.
11. State fee. €265 (source: abiinfo.rik.ee, checked 3 Oct 2026) for online registration.

If you have co-founders

Each person who has to sign the online application needs an accepted electronic ID: the registry’s instructions list the Estonian ID card (including the e-Residency card), Mobile-ID and Smart-ID. If a co-founder doesn’t have one, the alternative is registering through an Estonian notary, which has its own process and costs. Plan for the slowest person’s timeline. The guide on how long setup takes shows the typical waits.

What you don’t need

You don’t need to live in Estonia, hold Estonian citizenship or have an Estonian bank account to register an OÜ. Board members can live anywhere. What you do need is money for the state fees and the recurring costs. The guide on yearly costs and the setup timeline tool help you budget time and money before you apply.