E-Residency in Estonia.
The E-Residency Workshop for Startup Istanbul in 2018, presented by Arnaud Castaigen to a diverse audience explained the concept and significance of E-Residency as a revolutionized digital programme that has shown progress in Estonia from its bankruptcy in 1991 when the government had poor infrastructure that could not meet the needs of the 1.5 million population in the country. The idea was quite simple and was achieved by realizing the need for a digital administration, digital infrastructure and the business environment as an asset with core values of being inclusive, legitimate, transparent and empowering.
Estonia developed a digital framework for establishing an entrepreneurial mindset that is easy to understand and enable internet freedom, hence making Estonia one of the most entrepreneurial countes. This in turn made it easy for residents to file taxes via E-tax as an achievement in the year 2000, and do almost everything online other than get married or divorced. Another significant milestone was achieved through the introduction of the unique E-Voting system in 2005, which Estonians have been able to vote online through their digital ID. These systems have enabled Estonia to curb the challenges of infrastructure through enabling every Estonian to have an electronic ID and is now serving 99% of the Estonians, yet growing globally; a journey that has taken them about 20 years.
The programme has played a big role since the establishment of this digital infrastructure allowing an ease in registration, and providing opportunity that brings out an independent location-free business to serve globally just by owning a digital ID. It is an opportunity to reach out to other companies for services in any country and has been made it possible and motivational through the startup visas without necessarily living in Estonia. Anyone globally can access this by registering through their website and answering to the few basic questions required. A fee of 100 Euros for facilitation is paid and the E-Residency card is made available for collection from the nearest Estonian Embassy available in 34 countries or from the centres to be opened globally. An additional fee of 190 Euros will be required for E-Residents who wish to register a company in the system. This doesn't apply to E-Residents who are only motivated to be there as part of the social and business environment. There is advanced proof of how the programme is reliable and among the residents, is the re-known Bill Gates.
Successful companies have emerged from the programme to be one of their country's leading businesses from places like Turkey, Europe, Brazil, India and more. It is rather obvious to face competition with other countries that wish to offer E-Residency, but Estonia wishes to allow individuals to choose the best services they would require from whichever country. Regardless, Estonia has been approved the privilege of being the first country to offer E-Visas so as to build a descent friendly community of entrepreneurs globally.
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