Letter Concerning e-Residency Programme’s continuation

Suur-Ameerika 1 / 10122 Tallinn / ESTONIA Phone: +372 625 6342 / Fax: +372 631 3660 / E-mail: [email protected] / http://www.mkm.ee

Paul Kelley Acquire.com Brokerage Services Inc.

Our Ref: 22.05.2024 No 6-2/1441-1

Letter Concerning e-Residency Programme’s continuation

To Whom It May Concern,

The Republic of Estonia is a member of the EU and NATO and one of the world’s most digitally

transformed countries. Estonia's e-Residency programme was launched in December 2014 by

the Estonian Government and is financed from the state budget. The programme allows

individuals residing outside of Estonia to apply for and obtain an e-resident digital identification

(ID) card that facilitates electronic identification and therefore enables remote/borderless access

to all Estonian business-related e-services as well as facilitates secure digital signing.

The e-Residency programme is globally recognised as the first and most expansive national

initiative of its kind. It offers foreign nationals the opportunity to acquire an Estonian

government-backed e-resident digital ID card, thereby providing access to Estonia's unique

digital society, where approximately 99% of public services are available online. This

accessibility significantly democratises cross-border entrepreneurship and fosters a global

ecosystem of startups, SMEs, sole proprietors, and digital nomads.

Estonian e-residents, through their individual digital ID cards, can establish and manage

European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) companies online, independent of

geographical location. The services associated with e-Residency are continuously evolving to

meet the needs of its global community. In addition, e-residents also benefit from the e-

Residency Virtual Marketplace, an ecosystem of various trusted business service providers

including currently over 130 international companies.

As of today, the e-resident community comprises individuals from over 180 countries world-

wide, with over 110,000 individuals having obtained e-Residency status over time. Since the

spring of 2020, Spain has emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets for the e-Residency

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programme. The level of engagement among Spanish citizens in applying for e-residency is

among the highest worldwide, and the proportion of Spanish citizens forming Estonian

companies as e-residents remains consistently higher than in most other markets.

In spring 2022, the Republic of Estonia's Government ratified the growth strategy for the e-

Residency programme until 2025. The activities outlined in this growth strategy include market

validation in target countries, product development, and ambitious expansion efforts. The

current three primary target countries for the e-Residency programme include the UK, Spain

and Germany. Should you require further information regarding the e-Residency programme or

related matters, please do not hesitate to contact us.

With best regards,

Sandra Särav

Deputy Secretary General for Economy and Innovation

Vice Chair of the e-Residency Advisory Board

Chair of the Enterprise Estonia Board