Estonia to raise e-Residency fee to €165 after 2-year freeze

Estonia’s e-Residency card fee will rise to €165 on Jan. 1, 2027, from the current €150. The new flat fee will apply to first-time applicants and renewals, whether the card is picked up in Estonia, at an embassy or at one of more than 50 collection points worldwide. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the higher price reflects background checks, card production and secure delivery costs.

The tax side is steadier. Estonia confirmed there are no planned increases to the corporate income tax on distributed profits for 2026 or 2027 and the rate stays at 22/78. Retained and reinvested profits still face 0% corporate tax. The standard VAT rate, though, is already locked at 24% after the July 2025 increase.

Remote founders and workers face the sharper limits

The fee change affects e-residents renewing cards or applying for the first time. It doesn't change the five-year card validity or the lack of annual maintenance fees, but it does add a higher upfront cost for remote founders using Estonia to run EU-based companies.

The bigger constraint for many digital nomads came earlier: since August 2025, companies without local substance in Estonia no longer get EU VAT IDs. That makes it harder for some e-resident firms to invoice EU customers. Companies with employees in Estonia should also note the extra 2% personal income tax on certain salaries and board member pay from Jan. 2026. Follow our visa updates for more country changes.

What applicants should do now

Current applicants still pay €150 until Dec. 31, 2026. Processing usually takes 3 to 8 weeks and applications are filed online through Estonia’s e-Residency portal. Card pickup options remain the same for now.

A mobile biometric application tool is planned for 2027, which would let applicants submit facial images and fingerprints by smartphone instead of visiting an embassy. Read our full Estonia guide for the complete picture.