Work, Residence And Business Travel In Estonia After Brexit For UK Nationals
| Published date | 07 January 2021 |
| Subject Matter | Employment and HR, Immigration, Employee Rights/ Labour Relations, General Immigration, Work Visas |
| Law Firm | lus Laboris |
| Author | Ms Heili Haabu (COBALT (Estonia) |
1. GUIDANCE
1.1 Has any guidance been issued on how UK nationals can obtain settled residence status and permission to work from 1 January 2021 and what proof of residence is needed for current residents to maintain their status?
Yes.
The residence of UK citizens and their family members who have resided in Estonia under EU law will continue to be regulated by the Citizen of the European Union Act with the specifications set out in the Withdrawal Agreement ('WA').
UK citizens who have entered Estonia for the first time can register their place of residence in Estonia until 31 March 2021 and will be able to reside in Estonia without having to apply for a residence permit. In order to prove residence, the UK citizen must visit the office of the local municipality unit where they reside and submit a residence notice together with a copy of a document proving their right to use their residence premises (a tenancy agreement, for example).
UK citizens who come to live, work or study in Estonia from 1 April 2021, must apply for a residence permit at a Police and Border Guard Board service office or in advance at an Estonian representation abroad. More detailed information about applying for a residence permit can be found on the webpage of the Police and Border Guard Board.
No specific guidance is currently available on UK frontier workers other than what arises from the WA.
2. BUSINESS TRAVEL
2.1 Do UK employees need a business visa from 1 January 2021?
No.
Regulation (EU) 2019/592 of 10 April 2019 exempts UK citizens from the requirement for a Schengen visa. It applies from the day the UK is no longer subject to EU law (1 January 2021). UK citizens can enter and stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.
However, even if allowed to enter and stay visa-free they would only be allowed to work in Estonia for a maximum of five days in any 30-day period under such visa-free arrangement.
2.2 What documents are needed on arrival for business travel from 1 January 2021?
Travel documents (passport) that is valid for at least three months after departure from Estonia and has been issued within the last ten years.
Proof of duration and purpose of stay as border control may ask additional questions concerning duration and purpose of stay.
2.3 Do UK nationals need additional permission to work for business travel from 1...
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