When an e-⁠resident wishes to establish a company in Estonia, one of the first legal requirements is to appoint a registered legal address or a contact person.

This guest post about why a legal address and a local official contact person matter in the Estonian business landscape was written by Aaroni Accounting Services – a long-term and five-star Marketplace member with a special operating licence.

Most founders see a legal address and official contact person as a technical necessity and just another administrative step. In truth, these two elements represent your company’s presence, credibility, and reliability in the eyes of Estonian authorities, international partners, including banks and investors and of course your potential customers.

A legal address is more than an administrative detail

A legal address isn’t merely a place where official letters arrive, but part of your brand identity. A professional, verifiable address linked to a reputable local provider communicates that your company is stable, legitimate, and well-managed.

Why does your legal address matter?

• Banks and investors often review a company’s legal address when assessing risk.
• A trustworthy address signals transparency and compliance with Estonian law.
• It reassures your partners and customers that your company is present and accountable.

A random or low-quality address can raise doubts, and in global business, perception is everything. Imagine your customers searching for information about your company on Google and seeing a random apartment building or dilapidated building in the search results. Would you consider doing business with such a company?

Does the official address really have to be local?

The short answer is "no". When establishing a company in Estonia, your company's address does not necessarily have to be local. It is not legally required, but highly recommended. 

And it depends on where your company's management board actually operates. If it's in your country of residence, you must register the management board's address there in the Estonian Commercial Register. This is also important because you want the company's bank card delivered to your actual location. 

Therefore, it is essential to weigh your options in terms of operational convenience, customers, and legal requirements.

One legal requirement for a foreign address

Note that if you establish a company in Estonia and use your actual, i.e., foreign, address as the registered address, you must appoint an official contact person in Estonia. This contact person can be an attorney, an auditor, a notary, or a company with a special operating license. More information about the official contact person is in the next section.

If your company's legal address isn’t in Estonia, you are required by law to appoint an official and local contact person for your Estonian company.

Your contact person is your company’s voice and shield

As noted above, Estonian law requires every e-⁠resident company with a foreign address to have an official local contact person. A good contact person is your mailbox, an active liaison and safeguard between your business and the Estonian state.

If your company has an Estonian address, a professional contact person is not necessary but highly recommended. Because the contact person's duty is to ensure your business stays compliant and visible. 

Once registered, the official contact person is obliged to communicate with Estonian authorities on behalf of the e-⁠resident. This is important because missing just one government notice can have serious consequences. 

For example, if the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (ETCB) writes to the official email address of a company registered in the Commercial Register and the e-⁠resident does not respond, the ETCB may notify the e-⁠Residency programme and request the revocation of the e-⁠Residency status, as the individual is not cooperating with the Estonian state. Once this status is revoked, it cannot be recovered.

Reputation, trust, and compliance go together

Trust is the foundation of global business. A company that is responsive, transparent, and compliant stands out in Estonia’s digital-first environment. A professional setup with:

• a credible legal address,
• a proactive contact person, and
• clear, digital communication,

helps your business earn trust from banks, clients, and partners alike.

That’s why Aaroni Accounting Services provides a contact person and legal address service designed for e-⁠residents who value reliability and transparency. 

Moreover, Aaroni can support you with the know-how, the registration and formation of your company, as well as handle your accounting and tax management, so you can focus on growing your business.

Check out Aaroni Accounting Services from their website or the e-⁠Residency Marketplace!