Estonia

Country: Estonia

Estonia has a statutory minimum wage of €946 a month (from 1 April 2026) and a flat 22% income tax – in 2026 the first €700 of your monthly income is tax-free. 81.7% of people aged 20–64 have a job, more than the EU average. Find out where the jobs are, how to apply and what to do in your first weeks.

Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland can work in Estonia without any permit, just like Estonians. A student job is a normal job: the minimum wage, holiday and working-time rules apply.

  • Short jobs and health insurance: your employer’s health insurance only covers you if your contract is for more than one month or for an unspecified term – for short holiday jobs, keep your European Health Insurance Card.
  • Study leave: if you work and study at the same time, you can take up to 30 calendar days of study leave a year – 20 days paid at your average wage and 10 days unpaid – plus 15 extra days, paid at the minimum wage, to complete your studies.
  • Work practice for jobseekers: if you are registered as unemployed with Töötukassa, you can do work practice with an employer for up to 4 months and receive a stipend of €3.84 a day plus a travel allowance (EURES, 2026).

Students from outside the EU with a residence permit for study can work without a work permit, with no limit on working hours, as long as the job does not interfere with your studies – you must keep passing your courses on time.

Thinking of studying there first? See Studying in Estonia – practical information.


published: 2014-09-01
last modification: 2026-10-03

Common questions about job applications and interviews

Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.

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