The Estonian Ministry of the Interior has proposed to establish a limit of 2569 temporary residence permits for work in sectors experiencing labor shortages for the year 2027. The mechanism is intended to expand the opportunities for employment of foreigners in Europe outside of the overall migration quota. This is reported by the Ministry of the Interior of Estonia.
Residence permits in Estonia: which sectors will the mechanism cover in 2027
Additional permits will be allocated for employment in designated sectors of the economy. An important condition will be that the main activity of the employer falls under the approved list by the government.
The proposed list includes:
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manufacturing of electronics and electrical equipment;
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manufacturing of vehicles, trailers and other transportation;
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machine engineering;
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transport and warehousing;
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chemical and pharmaceutical industries;
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manufacturing of paper products;
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manufacturing of construction materials;
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wood processing;
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textile industry;
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manufacturing of metals and metal products;
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production of rubber and plastic products;
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repair and installation of machinery and equipment.
Under the new mechanism, temporary permits can be granted for up to five years. At the same time, including a sector in the list does not guarantee the approval of every application: requirements for employment and checks on applicants remain in place.
This is a separate national mechanism for labor migration. It should not be equated with the EU Blue Card, which has its own qualification and salary requirements.
Labor migration to Estonia: what has already been approved and what is being agreed upon
The Estonian Parliament has already approved the basic changes to the Foreigners Act. They are set to come into effect on January 1, 2027. Thus, the preparation of the rules for implementing the approved mechanism is underway, not just the draft law awaiting parliamentary vote.
On October 30, the Ministry of the Interior sent for approval projects regarding the list of shortage sectors, the maximum number of permits under special conditions, and the overall migration quota. According to ERR, remarks on them are accepted until November 13.
The number of special permits will depend on the economic situation:
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with real GDP growth of at least 2%, the limit may reach up to 0.2% of the permanent population;
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under other circumstances, a limit of up to 0.1% of the population is provided.
The proposed 2569 permits are calculated based on the economic forecast. Separately, the Ministry of the Interior proposes a total migration quota for 2027 of 1284 persons.
For Ukrainians, this initiative does not mean automatic receipt of a permit or a change in status. Before searching for work abroad, it is necessary to check the final rules, the employer's compliance with the defined sector, and the specific permit requirements.