Estonia or Netherlands
Two countries side by side across the same rows as the full comparison. A dash means the value is missing: fields are not filled with guesses. about the data
| Estonia | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | $ 54 624 | $ 106 972 |
| Citizenship | 8 years | 5 years |
| Partner can work | yes | yes |
| Parents | difficult | no |
| Pets | no trouble | no trouble |
| Pet limit | 5 | 5 |
| Quarantine | no | no |
| Residence permit fee | $ 285 | $ 481 |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 1 104 · estimate | $ 2 390 |
| Basket | $ 36,0 | $ 49,1 |
| Life expectancy | 79.3 | 81.97 |
| Homicides/100k | 1.76 | 0.66 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 1.6 | 5.1 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: Estonia — 81, Netherlands — 61. Types present in both: work, study, family, startup, repatriation and working holiday. Estonia adds: remote work, investment and talent. Netherlands adds: job seeking.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
Estonia: fees range from 45 to 350 EUR. Routes stating an income threshold: 21; the lowest is 880 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 78; the shortest is 15 days. Netherlands: fees range from 85 to 1,337 EUR. Routes with no fee: 10. Routes stating an income threshold: 21; the lowest is 690 USD a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 58; the shortest is 30 days.
Beyond the first permit
Permanent status: both after 5 years. Citizenship: Estonia after 8 years, Netherlands after 5 years. Neither recognises a second citizenship. Bringing your own parents: Estonia — yes, Netherlands — no.
Estonia in brief
A digital economy with a strong IT sector, inside the EU, Schengen and the eurozone; IT specialists, startups and EU Blue Card holders are exempt from the immigration quota. Among the lowest corruption and natural risks in Europe. The constraints: mandatory Estonian for permanent residence and citizenship, a ban on dual citizenship for naturalised citizens, 8 years to citizenship, and a cold climate. Since 2022 visa issuance has been restricted for nationals of a number of countries.
Netherlands in brief
High salaries and quality of life. Reuniting with a partner's parents is not provided for. The working language in tech is English.
Other comparisons
More on each: Estonia · Netherlands. Build your own comparison — up to four countries
This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.