E-Residency of Estonia offers an opportunity for entrepreneurs, freelancers, digital nomads, and global business owners to start and manage a company entirely online - from anywhere in the world.
By becoming an e-resident, you receive a secure, government-issued digital ID card that gives you access to Estonia’s advanced e-services. This allows you to sign documents digitally, manage your business remotely, and operate in a transparent, EU-based business environment that empowers small entrepreneurs and supports easy online management of larger corporations.
As an e-resident, you can:
- Digitally sign documents
- Verify the authenticity of signed documents
- Encrypt and send documents securely
- Access a wide range of Estonian public and private e-services
- Establish an Estonian company online
- Manage your Estonian company online from anywhere in the world
- Apply for digital business banking and online payment services
- Declare Estonian corporate taxes online (if your company is an Estonian tax resident)
- Join a community of like-minded people
Our value proposition for e-resident founders
The e-Residency programme is designed to support global entrepreneurs. While some e-residents have personal or professional ties to Estonia, or use digital public services for research or other needs, our main focus is on enabling people to start and manage companies online from anywhere in the world.
Our purpose is to create an innovative business environment that empowers entrepreneurs and contributes to Estonia’s economy, society, and culture.
We support entrepreneurs in four key areas:
Ease
Estonia’s digital infrastructure, straightforward tax system, and efficient legal framework create a business environment with lower costs and minimal administrative complexity. Through collaboration with both public and private sector partners, e-Residency offers access to tools and services that simplify company formation, accounting, banking, and compliance. This allows founders to focus more on running and growing their businesses.
Trust
Estonia is recognised for its transparent and reliable business environment. Company information is verified and publicly accessible, making due diligence easier for entrepreneurs, investors, and partners.
The country has spent decades building strong digital governance systems that are secure, open, and trusted. Estonia consistently ranks high for low corruption, rule of law, and digital security.
Opportunity
e-Residency makes it possible to run a business entirely online. This is especially useful for digital nomads and entrepreneurs working across borders, as there is no need to be physically present to make decisions or manage operations.
It also provides access to the EU business environment, whether you are part of a larger company entering the European market or an early-stage startup looking for a stable, digital-first base to scale from.
Community
Entrepreneurs who join the e-Residency programme become part of a growing international network of like-minded founders and service providers. The programme regularly shares information, guidance, and opportunities to help e-residents connect and succeed.
Benefits of running a company as an e-resident
Estonia is renowned for low bureaucracy thanks to its advanced e-Governance services and digital business environment. And thanks to e-Residency, non-residents can take advantage of the country’s low-bureaucracy business environment.
The majority of administrative activities can be done online, so there is no need to travel to the country where your company is registered just to handle the paperwork. From easy business administration to innovative e-notary initiatives, here are multiple ways e-Residency can help entrepreneurs cut bureaucracy, save time and money, and be free to focus on creating value for clients and doing what you love.
Estonia is part of the EU and companies registered in Estonia can benefit from the EU regulations such as the free movement of goods and services. The business environment is already mostly accessible in English as well and it is constantly being improved.
Estonia's business environment is transparent and trusted. For example, key details about all Estonian companies, including their ownership and financial data, are publicly available and verified through the use of digital identities. This means one can also easily conduct due diligence online for potential partners.
Estonia also ranks pretty high on the Ease of doing business (18th from 190 countries).
Estonia understands that global business is not only for large corporations anymore and is taking steps to help smaller companies and freelancers to do business globally too, one of the examples being the e-Residency project itself.
Hear from fellow e-residents
Sometimes to best way to understand the benefits of e-Residency is to learn from those who are already building their businesses.
- Explore our blog. Read stories from e-residents across the globe. You can filter by region, industry, or goal to find most relevant insights.
- Browse the Company List. Discover what kinds of businesses e-residents are building. This platform helps founders showcase their companies, connect with partners and find new customers. New features are coming later 2025.
- Connect with envoys and community leaders. They are expert in their fields and successful entrepreneurs. They often host events for the community around the world and foster connections with media, prospective e-residents and also represent e-residents with policymakers.
- Engage on social media. Connect with other e-residents, share experiences, and get support from the wider community.