When I decided to set up an Estonian OÜ as a non-resident, I first had to choose between using e-Residency and registering through a notary. I initially assumed e-Residency was the only realistic option, but a notarial route can also be used when the founder does not have e-Residency. The timeline and total costs depend on the route and the details of the company.

I also had to understand the practical requirements after incorporation. An Estonian company needs a legal address, and in certain cases a local contact person is required when the management board is based outside Estonia. These are separate roles, so I wanted to know exactly what each one involved.

While researching the process, I found LegalAddressInEstonia — company registration guide and used their information when organizing my registration https://legaladdressinestonia.com/company-registration-in-estonia/

Another thing I had not fully considered was annual reporting. Even if the company has little or no activity, an annual report still has to be submitted according to the applicable requirements.

In the end, the initial setup was less complicated than I expected. For a non-resident, the key things to arrange from the start were the registration route, legal address, contact person if required, and a clear understanding of ongoing reporting obligations.