Permit scheme under review

TALLINN - Estonian Interior Minister Ken-Marti Vaher, who on Dec. 12 answered inquiries of Riigikogu constitutional committee members about issuing residence permits to foreigners, promised to bring amendment proposals to the law to the parliament at the beginning of the next year, reports Postimees.

Constitutional committee chairman Rait Maruste said that the problems that have emerged are not legal, but lie in how the existing law is used. “It is clear now to all that using the possibilities of that law have not been in line with its aims and that the situation has to be changed,” said Maruste.
The aim of the law amendments would thus be to stop the situation in which it is enough to found a company and make a payment of 63,000 euros in its account to get an Estonian residence permit and Schengen entrance rights that automatically accompanies it.

The Interior Ministry is of the position that a person who wants to create a company in Estonia and invest here should not get a residence permit at once, since initially it is possible to take care of the investment and assets with an Estonia visa alone. A residence permit would be issued only after it is clear that the company has real economic activities in Estonia.