The e-residency program offered by Estonia is of increasing interest to persons associated with terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda, Daesh, the Taliban, and others, writes ERR News.
The Estonian Internal Security Service or KAPO published an annual report on the 12th of April, and the information found in it shows that 26 persons connected with Islamic terrorist organizations or extremist groups have applied for or received e-resident status.
The report says that the motivation of extremists to apply for Estonian e-resident status in order to do business is mainly the
desire to hide their economic activity from the authorities of the countries where these persons are residents.
One of the main features is obtaining e-resident status and establishing a company registered in Estonia without immediately starting a business. KAPO also points out that setting up a company can help to get a Schengen visa.
At the end of 2021, there were 23,362 non-profit organizations and 818 foundations in Estonia, of which 56 were assessed as high-risk legal entities in connection with possible involvement in terrorist financing.
E-resident status is relatively easy and quick to obtain and is one of the benefits of the program that is usually emphasized. This also applies to persons applying from countries with which the Estonian authorities do not cooperate. E-residency can be obtained within one to two months, it is not necessary to come to the country, and the checks are based on publicly available information. However, revocation of e-resident status is a much longer process, especially if a person goes to court.
KAPO has noted that the interest of terrorist organizations in the possibility of making transfers and hiding them will continue to grow.
The e-residency program was established at the end of 2014 to provide citizens of other countries with safe access to e-services provided by Estonia, the opportunity to create companies in Estonia, and supplement state revenues. E-resident status does not confer any residency or citizenship rights.