Estonia is well known for the continuous development of its e-services. At the end of April the government of Estonia approved the draft of the Estonian e-residency. Basically the wish is from now on to give foreigners the opportunity to get a digital identity, which works in Estonia and also in the European Union. An e-resident is a foreigner for whom Estonia will create a digital identity on the basis of the identity of the country of nationality and will issue a digital identity card.
An e-resident will receive an Estonian chipped ID-card without a photo and thereby a chance to use all Estonian e-services, including for example the company registration portal, the e-tax board and internet banks. Thanks to this an e-resident foreign entrepreneur can easily create a company in Estonia that can be managed from abroad. More information about the e-services offered in Estonia can be found here.
According to the current plans the registration for an e-resident should take place in Estonian public authorities, however it is hoped to give the Estonian embassies and consulates the opportunity to issue digital identities already next year. This in turn means that a foreigner does not need to come to Estonia not even once to take up business and use e-services but could sort everything out over the Internet.
Becoming an e-resident requires the applicant to provide biometric data (finger prints, photo of the iris). In addition the issuing of the e-identity is preceded by a thorough background check, as is the case for visas. With a thorough check the possibility of using the digital identity for criminal purposes is tried to be avoided. Regardless of the digital identity an e-resident is still a foreigner and not an Estonian citizen for the purposes of the law. According to the Estonian Ministry of the Interior, e-residence is a privilege and not a constitutional right. The State may terminate being an e-resident quickly in case of a suspicion of a criminal offence.
By 2025 the Estonian government hopes to issue 10 million digital e-resident identities. If the preparations go smoothly then the registration of e-residents in Estonia may already start this autumn. More information about the concept of the e-resident may be found from Enterprise Estonia and Finance Estonia.
