Changing Jobs

If you have a temporary residence permit for employment, you can hold multiple positions simultaneously. 

If you have a temporary residence permit for employment, and you keep fulfilling the conditions (keep working for the same employer, at the same position, and meeting all the requirements) of your residence permit then you can hold multiple positions simultaneously.
There are no requirements from Police and Border Guard Board to your second employer for the additional position.

You do not need to notify the Police and Border Guard Board if nothing has changed about the job that is connected to your residence permit.

• Inform the Police and Border Guard Board about your decision. When you decide to change your employer and transfer to a new company you must inform the Police and Border Guard Board about it in advance. 

Both the employer and the employee have to inform the state authorities when:

– changes take place in the conditions on which the employee was given a residence permit for employment;

– the employee does not start work; 

– the employee decides to take a break and stay away from Estonia; 

– the work relationship is effectively (although not perhaps formally) finished. 

Apply for a new residence permit for employment. If you change your employer you have to apply for a new residence permit.

Keep in mind, that:

– it may take up to 2 months to process the residence permit application. If you manage to submit a new residence permit application before the previous residence permit is revoked you may legally stay in Estonia until a decision on your application is reached,

– you must wait until you have been granted the new residence permit before starting actual work at the new company or your new company may additionally apply for a short term employment (if you need to start working before obtaining the new residence permit),

– there might be requirements for proving qualification, certain salary criteria or a need to get the permission of the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund. 

If your work relationship ends prematurely and you were granted your residence permit based on this job/position, your grounds for staying in Estonia will also end. 

In case you wish to stay for longer:

• Notify the Police and Border Guard Board about the situation. Your employer must do the same.
• Search for a new job

When your permit ends, The Police and Border Guard Board will start with the procedural act of invalidating your residence permit. This procedure takes 30 days. You should quickly find a new job and file a new application for temporary residence for employment during this time, if you wish to stay.

As finding a new job this fast can be difficult and the job application processes can take slightly longer, have an open dialogue with the authorities. If you prove that you are actively looking for a new job, they might meet you halfway and provide you with some additional time for your job search.

• Apply for a new residence permit for employment

As soon as you find a new employer, submit your application for the temporary residence permit for employment.

In general, the processing time of the application is up to 2 months. If you manage to submit a new residence permit application before the previous residence permit is revoked you may legally stay in Estonia until a decision on your application is reached. If your new employer would like you to start work before the decision has been made by the Police and Boarder Guard Board they may additionally apply for a short-term employment registration.

For further information, please contact directly the Police and Border Guard Board migration advisers or book a migration consultation at International House of Estonia.

International House of Estonia provides free personal consultations for foreigners, their families and local employers about settling in, documentation, healthcare, language programs etc. Located in Valukoja 8, Tallinn.
Book your appointment online.