Net migration in Estonia in 2016 was positive for the third year in a row. According to Statistics Estonia, 14 800 persons immigrated to and 13 800 persons emigrated from Estonia in 2016, making net migration slightly more than 1 000. Most of the migrants were Estonian citizens (48% of immigrants and 66% of emigrants). Net migration of Estonian nationals was negative. As of 2016, Statistics Estonia calculates external migration based on a residency index: a person’s transition from resident to non-resident is emigration and the opposite is immigration (excluding birth or death). As a result, recorded migration flows have increased and must be taken into account when comparing 2016 migration data with those of previous years. Estonian external migration statistics now better reflect reality, even though the country of origin and destination of many immigrants and emigrants remains unknown.
In 2016, most immigrants (88%) were from Europe, primarily from the European Union. Their main origin countries were Finland (45%), Ukraine (11%) and Russia (11%).
In 2016, Estonia issued about 6 700 new temporary residence permits to foreigners – excluding renewals, but including status changes and changes of employer or position, which is 36% more than in 2015. However, the number of renewed residence permits decreased by 34% (close to 4 900) compared to 2015. The increase in temporary residence permits has been mainly due to an amendment to the Aliens Act in January 2016 which introduced a new residence permit category, namely a temporary residence permit for permanent settlement. In consequence, there was a substantial increase in the number of persons with undetermined citizenship who then received a residence permit (112%). Many citizens of Russia, Ukraine, as well as those of India and Nigeria, also received a residence permit for settling permanently in Estonia. The number of residence permits issued for studying and for employment also increased by 13% and 9% respectively. The number of extensions of residence permits decreased by one-third, since fewer residence permits expired while those whose residence permit had expired tended to apply for a new permanent residence permit. Extensions of residence permits issued for employment and for studying increased respectively by 67% and 21%. Estonia receives few asylum seekers; the number of asylum applicants decreased in 2016 by 52% compared to the previous year.
EU countries remain as the main destinations for Estonian emigrants. The main destination was again Finland, which received close to 2 700 Estonian emigrants (58%), followed by the United Kingdom (9%). Among other main destinations were non-EU countries including Ukraine, Russia and Australia.
Most of the changes concerning asylum followed from the amendments introduced to the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens (AGIPA) that came into force in May 2016, transposing the Reception Conditions Directive and the Asylum Procedures Directive into Estonian legislation. The AGIPA now states that an asylum application should be registered within three working days, or ten days if the number of applications for international protection submitted makes it impossible in practice to do so. The AGIPA also establishes an obligation for beneficiaries of international protection to take part in the international protection module of the Welcoming Programme.
Estonia fights irregular migration by enhancing cooperation to combat human trafficking and illegal employment and by reinforcing co-operation with the border guard services of neighbouring countries. Several initiatives were also implemented to upgrade the equipment used for border checks. In order to facilitate the return of irregular migrants, in 2016 Estonia launched a database of aliens staying irregularly in the country to identify them better.
Most policy changes regarding economic migration occurred in 2016, but in 2017 another round of amendments to the Aliens Act and other related Acts were designed to encourage immigration to Estonia. These amendments mainly aim to attract foreign skilled workers, start-ups and investors, with special regulations for those who invest more than EUR 1 million. IT professionals and start-ups were also granted an exemption from the immigration quota cap. The wage threshold for hiring a foreign worker was lowered, from 1.2 to 1 times the Estonian average gross wage. Other amendments included an expansion of the list of fields eligible for hiring foreign workers temporarily or seasonally; a new opportunity to apply for a long-stay visa or residence permit whilst already in Estonia and a simplification of application procedures. Furthermore, since October 2017 a residence permit is automatically granted – without parents having to apply – to children who are born or settled in Estonia immediately after their birth.
