TALLINN, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Estonian parliament passed a bill on Monday, aimed at easing the process of bringing skilled foreign workers into the country.
The bill expands the scope of benefits available to third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA) holding residence permits and it is designed to address a shortage of skilled and qualified labor, a gap that is currently hurting the competitiveness of Estonian companies and slowing economic growth, according to an official statement.
According to forecasts from the Estonian Qualifications Authority, the country faces an annual shortfall of approximately 1,400 "top specialists," most often in the IT sector, along with a deficit of 700 skilled workers.
A key change introduced by the bill replaces the existing short-term employment exemption with a sector-based exemption for fields experiencing labor shortages. In these sectors, fixed-term residence permits for employment will be granted under more favorable conditions.
Once the law takes effect, sector-specific quotas will no longer apply, and employers will not need a separate permit from the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund.
Data released by Statistics Estonia in April shows that the country's total population stood at 1.36 million as of Jan. 1, 2026. The annual immigration quota for foreign workers in 2026 was set at 1,292 people. ■