Applying is straightforward and mostly online. The one step you cannot avoid is collecting the card in person, and choosing where to do that is the decision worth thinking about.
€150, online, then collect in person
You apply online, pay €150, wait for a background check by the Police and Border Guard Board, and collect the card at one of 50+ locations worldwide.
The fee is not refunded if the application is declined. The card is valid 5 years and renewal costs the same — until 1 January 2027, when both become a flat €165.
Table of Contents
The Process
Apply online
Identity documents, a photograph, and a statement of why you want e-Residency. The fee is payable here and is not refundable.Background check
Run by the Police and Border Guard Board. This is a real check, not a formality — see below on refusals.Collect in person
You choose the pickup point when you apply. Biometrics are taken and the card handed over. This is the only step that cannot be done remotely.
What You Pay, and When
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Application | €150 | Paid at application. Not refunded if declined. |
| Renewal | €150 | Same fee, every 5 years |
| From 1 January 2027 | €165 | Flat, for application and renewal alike |
| New PIN codes | €20 | |
| Changing pickup location | €10 | After you have applied |
Ignore the €100 and €120 figures still circulating
Third-party pages quote a range of older amounts, some location-tiered. The Police and Border Guard Board states a single fee of €150 with no location split. It is the authority on its own fee.
Choosing a Pickup Location
There are 50+ collection points. Inside Estonia: Tallinn, Tartu, Narva and Pärnu. Outside, they are mostly Estonian embassies and consulates, spread across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania.
Choose carefully, because changing it afterwards costs €10 and the list moves — points open and close. Check the current list at application time rather than trusting any guide, including this one.
Why Applications Get Refused
The background check is genuine. Applications are refused where the applicant cannot be reliably identified, or where there is reason to doubt the stated purpose.
Since the fee is not refunded on refusal, the statement of purpose is worth taking seriously. "I want an EU company to serve EU clients as a freelance developer" is a purpose. "I want EU residency" is not — and is also, as the separate page on this sets out, not something e-Residency provides.
Common Mistakes
Writing “EU residency” as the purpose
It is the fastest way to a refusal, and the fee does not come back. The programme grants no residency, so a purpose built on it does not hold up under a check that exists to test exactly that.
Picking a pickup point casually
Changing it later costs €10, and the list of points opens and closes. Check the current list at application time rather than trusting any guide, this one included.
Budgeting for €100 or €120
Third-party pages still quote older, sometimes location-tiered amounts. The Police and Border Guard Board charges a single €150 with no location split.
Assuming renewal will stay this price
From 1 January 2027 both application and renewal become a flat €165. If your card comes up for renewal after that date, budget the higher figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to apply?
€150 in 2026, rising to a flat €165 from 1 January 2027. It is not refunded if your application is declined.
Do I have to travel to Estonia?
Only if you choose an Estonian pickup point. There are 50+ locations worldwide, mostly Estonian embassies. The card must be collected in person somewhere.
How long is the card valid?
5 years, then renewable at the same fee.
Can my application be refused?
Yes. The Police and Border Guard Board runs a background check and refuses applications where the applicant cannot be identified or the stated purpose does not hold up. The fee is not returned.