Work in Estonia — national talent attraction programme and International House of Estonia

Work in Estonia is a national initiative run by Enterprise Estonia (EAS) since 2015, designed to make Estonia attractive for international skilled workers and to help Estonian companies recruit and retain foreign talent. Its physical anchor is the International House of Estonia, established in 2018 at Ülemiste City (Tallinn), offering a one-stop service for workers, families, and employers — relocation guidance, public-service navigation, and employment support.

What it does: the programme supports companies in recruiting internationally, assists workers with relocation and acclimatisation, and provides specialist career services to accompanying family members. The 'Re-Invent Yourself' programme for international spouses achieved ~50% employment in its first cohort, with employer partners including Bolt and Paxful.

Measurable results: in the programme's early phase, the number of expatriates working in Estonia doubled over five years. The 2022–2025 action plan targets at least 3,000 additional high-paid specialists in ICT and natural/exact sciences, projected to generate ≥€26 M in direct tax revenue. Estonia ranks 23rd (out of 125 countries) in the INSEAD Global Talent Competitiveness Index, and 1st globally for new business density and digital governance.

Why it is a good practice: the combination of Estonia's e-state infrastructure (fast company registration, digital public services) with a physical one-stop service hub and employer partnership services provides an integrated model particularly well-suited to small open economies competing globally for talent.

Read the full analysis: https://workinestonia.com/