In 2014, Estonia became the first country in the world to offer e-Residency to anyone, anywhere. e-Residency allows people from around the globe to access Estonia’s advanced digital services, making it easier to do business remotely. With e-Residency, for example, an entrepreneur from India could establish an Estonian company online, manage it from Singapore, and serve clients across Europe. Using their e-Residency digital ID, they could even sign contracts electronically with EU-based customers. The entire process is online, secure, and hassle-free.
Estonian e-residents receive a government-issued digital ID card, which provides:
- Secure digital identification and authentication
- The ability to sign documents digitally
- Verification of document authenticity
- Document encryption
What e-Residency Is Not
It’s important to note that e-Residency is not citizenship, nor does it grant tax residency, physical residence, or a right of entry to Estonia or the European Union. The e-Residency digital ID card isn’t a physical identification or travel document and doesn’t include a photo, so it can’t be used to establish identity in person.