- Remote setup
- Possible
- Visit, notary or lawyer
- Not required
- Local director
- No
- Registered address
- Provider address OK
- Minimum capital
- €0.01 per shareholder
- Yearly upkeep
- Annual report
- EU member
- Yes
- IWG business address
- 5 centresfrom $47/mo
What the registry requires
| Company type | Private limited company (OÜ) |
|---|---|
| Registry | e-Business Register |
| Government filing fee | €265 — State fee in the e-Business Register. |
| Registration time | The online registration process itself takes from 15 minutes to an hour once you have a digital ID. |
| Resident director | No resident board member is required. If the board is abroad, the company needs an Estonian legal address and a contact person. |
| Visit, notary or lawyer | Founders with e-Residency or an Estonian ID sign digitally; a notary is needed if a founder is a legal entity. Picking up the e-Residency card is done in person at a pickup point. |
| Registered address | The legal address and contact person can be bought from a licensed service provider. |
| Minimum capital | €0.01 per shareholder |
| Corporate tax | No corporate income tax on retained profit; distributed profit is taxed at 22/78 of the net amount. |
| Every year | Annual report to the Business Register (not re-verified in this check). |
What it costs
- Government filing fee
- €265
- ≈ $302 at ECB rates
State fee in the e-Business Register.
- Every year
- Annual report
Annual report to the Business Register (not re-verified in this check).
- Not included
- Provider fees
Registered agent or address, notary fees, accounting and bank onboarding vary by provider — ask for a quote in the request form.
How to register a company in Estonia, step by step
- Apply for e-Residency and collect the digital ID card at a pickup point.
- Choose a licensed provider for the legal address and contact person.
- Register the OÜ in the e-Business Register and pay the state fee.
- Confirm the share capital contribution.
- Open a business account and set up bookkeeping.
- File the annual report every year.
Corporate tax in Estonia
0% retained, 22/78 distributed. No corporate income tax on retained profit; distributed profit is taxed at 22/78 of the net amount.
Rates are the headline figures published by the tax authority; your effective rate depends on residence, activity and treaties. This is not tax advice.
Common mistakes
- Thinking e-Residency gives residence or tax residency — it does not; it is a digital identity only.
- Running the business from another country and ignoring where the company is actually managed for tax purposes.
- Skipping the contact person when the board lives abroad — it is mandatory.
Guides for your situation
Compare Estonia with alternatives
| Yearly upkeep | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 GermanyGmbH | €225≈ $257 | Not stated | 15% + trade tax | No | Notary (video ok) | German address | Not stated |
 SpainSL | €250≈ $285 | 1–10 days | 25% (15% new cos.) | No (NIE needed) | Notary or proxy | Registry silent | Not stated |
 EstoniaOÜ | €265≈ $302 | Same day | 0% retained, 22/78 distributed | No | Not required | Provider address OK | Annual report |
 BelgiumSRL/BV | €286.17≈ $326 | Not stated | 25% (20% SMEs) | No | Notary (video ok) | Registry silent | Not stated |
4 of 4 · official sources, checked September 27, 2026. Government fees only; agent and address costs are extra.≈ USD at ECB reference rates of September 25, 2026.
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Sources
- State fee €265; 15 minutes to 1 hour; address and contact person from providers — e-resident.gov.ee, checked September 27, 2026
- Capital €0.01, notary rules — eesti.ee, checked September 27, 2026 (search extract)
- Distributed profit taxed at 22/78 — emta.ee, checked September 27, 2026 (search extract)