According to the law effective as of February 1, 2023, legal entities with a registered office in a foreign country must appoint a contact person and specify the terms of their authorization by April 30, 2023.
What Does a Contact Person Mean for a Business?
A contact person serves as an official representative recognized by all legislative authorities in Estonia. They confirm that the company is actively operating in financial reports and through a designated legal representative available for communication regarding official matters.
Having a legal address and a contact person is a key requirement to ensure the transparency and compliance of your business in Estonia.
I provided a contact person during registration – What Now?
If a contact person was appointed before February 1, 2023, they must submit an application to extend their authorization period via the electronic Business Register no later than April 30, 2023. This can be done online through the e-Residency portal, provided the applicant holds an Estonian digital identity.
If none of the board members can use an Estonian identification document, including an e-Resident card, Mobile ID, or Smart ID, to sign the electronic application. In that case, the submission must be processed via a notarized power of attorney or through a personal visit.
Key Points Regarding the Contact Person Application
- If only the authorization term is added or amended, no state fee is required.
- However, a state fee must be paid if a new contact person is appointed (or any other information is modified).
- Even if a contact person has already been appointed, failure to extend their authorization by April 30, 2023, will automatically remove them from the company’s records.
What Happens if a Contact Person is Not Appointed?
A contact person is not mandatory for companies with a registered address in Estonia. If a legal address service has been paid for, but the contact person’s authorization extension is not submitted, this will not impact the Estonian company’s operations.
However, if the company’s registered address is in another jurisdiction. In that case, the registrar may initiate a procedure to impose a fine or delete the legal entity from the register due to the absence of a designated contact person.
For a consultation on extending the authorization of a contact person, send your request through the form below, or message us on Telegram, Viber, or WhatsApp. We are available Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
