Company registration in Estonia

Registration fee is from 1700 ā‚¬

Registration period ā€” 1 week

Minimum authorized capital - 0.01 EUR

Remote opening ā€” yes

Financial statements ā€” yes

The Republic of Estonia is an independent state located in Northern Europe, on the northeastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Estonia is a member of the EU, NATO and the Schengen Agreement. The capital of the country is Tallinn.

Maira Consult recommends using companies registered in Estonia for international trade, logistics and forwarding services, IT projects and software development, online trading, and cryptocurrency operations.

There are several ways to register a company in Estonia:

  1. Electronic registration of a company on the portal of the electronic commercial register
  2. Business registration with the help of a notary

Electronic registration on the Estonian commercial register portal

  • The electronic incorporation procedure provides the most efficient and convenient way to establish a company in Estonia. For foreigners (non-residents) who want to establish a business in Estonia, it is recommended to apply for E-residency. This status allows for secure access to a variety of electronic services provided by the Estonian state.
  • It is possible to register and open a business in Estonia through the electronic commercial register portal only if all parties related to the company (board members, founders, council members, etc.) can sign documents with an electronic signature.
  • The portal of the electronic commercial register offers the function of registering various forms of ownership (LLC, general and limited partnership, sole proprietorship). However, it is not possible to register a commercial partnership and a joint-stock company in Estonia electronically.
  • When registering a company in Estonia, you need to enter the data of the founders and the company, choose a business name, draw up a charter based on a standard model, pay the state fee and the authorized capital (if necessary).

Company registration in Estonia with the help of a notary is required in the following cases:

  1. The shareholders (founders) of a company cannot sign the constituent documents with an electronic signature.
  2. When the authorized capital of an Estonian company is formed not in cash, but in valuable assets or property rights that are subject to valuation and transfer to the company (e.g., equipment, software, etc.).

Before registering a company in Estonia, a notary submits the following documents to the Commercial Register: a power of attorney (in case of remote company registration), a memorandum of association, articles of association, an application for registration, contacts of the founders, a bank certificate of deposit of the authorized capital, and a receipt of payment of the state duty. The period for registering a company in Estonia through a notary is 2-5 business days. Company registration in Estonia takes only a few business days and we know how to speed up all the processes. 

Important!The standard corporate income tax rate is 22% (from 1 January 2025).

Maira Consult specialists will help you register a company in Estonia without going abroad. 

Estonia advantages

1

Tax on retained earnings 0%

2

Ease of company registration

3

Territorial location

4

Included in the TOP 5 countries for ease of doing business

General Information

Registration Features

In Estonia, the most commonly chosen form of company is a limited liability company (OƜ).

Company Name

The name of the company must end with a word or abbreviation indicating its limited liability, for example, (OƜ).

Authorized Capital

The minimum authorized capital is EUR 0.01, and there are no payment requirements at the time of registration. The authorized capital must be paid if the organization plans to distribute profits or pay dividends.

Director

At least one individual is required, with no residency requirements.

Shareholders

At least one individual or legal entity is required, without any residency requirements.

Financial Reporting

OƜ is required to submit an annual financial report to the Estonian Commercial Register no later than June 30.

Taxation

Corporate tax is 0% on retained earnings. The rate of 22% is applied to the distribution of profits. VAT rate is 22% (within the EU - 0%).

Confidentiality

The Estonian Commercial Register is public and contains information on the date of company registration, members of the company's board, the amount of authorized capital and its status, and the company's beneficiary.

Stages of company registration

01

Choosing the name and form of the company

At this stage, you should check the availability of the chosen name for registering a company in Estonia and decide on its organizational form.

02

Preparation and collection of documents

Each member of the organization must provide a passport and proof of residence (utility bill). Depending on the method of company registration, we prepare electronic company documents or paper documents for submission to the register.

03

Identification of company participants

Depending on the method of company registration in Estonia, a company member visits a notary in Estonia or another country, or undergoes online verification.

04

Formation of the share capital (if necessary)

If necessary, the authorized capital can be formed after the company is registered in Estonia.

05

Company registration

Business registration in Estonia is carried out online with the help of e-residency or at a notary with a power of attorney.

06

Receiving of corporate documents

Once a company in Estonia is registered, you can see information about the company in the register and obtain corporate documents.

07

Legalization of documents (if necessary)

If necessary, the documents of an Estonian company can be sent for legalization and apostillization.

08

Delivery of corporate documents

Delivery of documents of an Estonian company is carried out by courier service to the address you specify.

Answers to the Most Common Questions:

The cost of registering a company in Estonia depends on the type of company you choose and additional services such as assistance in obtaining a registered office or opening a bank account. Typical costs include registration fees, notary services (if necessary) and agent fees if the registration is done remotely. You can get an accurate cost estimate from specialists who can help you choose the best option depending on your needs.
Opening a company in Estonia provides access to the European market, the possibility of remote business management and tax benefits for investors, such as no tax on retained earnings. It is an attractive option for entrepreneurs seeking a transparent and convenient way to do business in Europe.
Registering a company in Estonia offers a number of advantages, including a stable economy, convenient tax laws, the ability to manage your business online and no tax on retained earnings. Estonia also provides an e-residency program that allows foreigners to remotely manage their company, making it easier to conduct international business.
In Estonia, companies do not pay tax on undistributed profits. However, income tax is levied on the distribution of dividends and amounts to 20% of their amount. Social security and pension contributions may also be levied if the company has employees. Thanks to this approach, companies can flexibly plan their tax burden.
The corporate income tax in Estonia is 20%, but is only levied on dividend distributions. If profits are not withdrawn from the company, they are not taxed, which allows firms to reinvest the funds in business development.
To open a company in Estonia, you will need to register a registered office, prepare the founding documents, deposit the authorized capital, and register the company with the Estonian Commercial Register. The process can be simplified with e-residency, which allows foreigners to manage their business remotely. Professional support will help to speed up the registration and avoid errors in documentation.
Yes, Estonia welcomes foreign investors and any foreigner can register a company in the country. Moreover, the e-residency program allows foreigners to manage their business remotely, which makes Estonia an attractive jurisdiction for international business.
Starting a business in Estonia usually takes a few working days, provided that all documents are ready and submitted correctly. If you use e-residency and prepare the documents in advance, the process can go faster and be easy to manage remotely.
No, Estonia is not an offshore country. It is a country with a transparent tax system, part of which is the absence of tax on retained earnings. Estonia is considered a low-tax jurisdiction, which attracts entrepreneurs, but unlike offshore, it complies with European standards of financial regulation and reporting.

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