global talent
in short
main activities
Agile Response
The global talent focus addresses the technology sector’s rising demand for skilled professionals and varied entrepreneurial pursuits, especially given the startup sector’s consistent 30% yearly growth rate over time.
The startup sector is inherently dynamic and swift, necessitating supportive organizations to adapt swiftly in tandem. Herein lies the distinctive advantage of the Estonian Startup Visa – its agility. Should a startup require immediate workforce expansion, the Startup Visa offers a prompt solution, with short-term permits potentially assessed as early as the next day.
All our startups, from seeds to unicorns, use the Estonian Startup Visa. The headquarters of our most successful ecosystem players are for a big part in Estonia due to the Startup Visa agile possibilities for them to grow.
Startup and Scale-up Visa
Startup Estonia provides startups and access to Startup or Scale-up Visa applications.
Startup Visa:
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The Estonian Startup Visa program provides one of the fastest streamlined ways for non-EU founders and employees to build their businesses in Europe.
This first-of-its-kind program provides a fast-track process for obtaining residence permits for non-EU employees, which enables startup founders to relocate to Europe themselves but also to hire the best talent from around the world.
Sacale-up Visa:
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The Scale-up Visa program is designed for Estonian scale-ups that have been operating in Estonia for at least 10 years, have already achieved some level of success, and are ready to scale up their operations.
Diplomacy in Hand for Startups
The Startup Visa departments’ primary focus is to act as an intermediary for information dissemination, advocate for policy changes, and foster international relations by inviting various stakeholders to influence the direction and outcome. This includes:
- Collaborative legislative efforts with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication as well as the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
- Partnership initiatives with startups.
- Active engagement with community builders.
- Strengthened ties with relocation companies and international partners.
Community Building and Supporting
Startup Visa acts as a connector as well as a community builder:
- We conduct roadshows in countries outside the European Union, showcasing the opportunities of the Estonian startup sector. We promote joining our startups or founding one in our expanding ecosystem. Our frequent stops include Brazil, South Africa, and the UK.
- We highlight Estonian startups at significant conferences in key export markets and ensure their visibility in the international media.
- For global talent community engagement and support, we host bi-monthly sessions with timely content, fostering active participation from global founders.
Our Main Partners
The startup sector is multi-faceted and has very different needs for its growth. Therefore, working smart and effective partnerships is essential.
You can see us together with our community partners like:
database access
Have a look at the most extensive source for Estonian startups. Get an overview of Estonian startups by ranking and filtering them by sectors, technology, stage, employee count, turnover, etc.
events - coming in this season
Startup Estonia’s Joint Stand at the Hello Tomorrow Global Summit 2026
11–12 June 2026
Amsterdam
Estonian Startup Awards 2025 Mark a Turning Point for the Ecosystem
22 January 2026
Estonian Startup Awards 2025
Global Founders Meetup vol 21 x Tehnopol Startup Incubator
10 January 2024
Tehnopol Startup Incubator / Tehnopol Startup Inkubaator • Mäealuse 2/4, A-wing, 3rd floor, 12618 Tallinn, Harju maakond
Startup Embassy: Estonia’s Digital Playground
6 December 2023, 17:30–21:00 GMT
Estonian Ambassador’s Residence in London, address to be announced.
