Definition
The Key Employee Initiative, usually abbreviated as KEI, is one of Estonia's employer-facing work-migration pathways for strategically important or higher-value hires. It sits inside a broader framework where the employer's role, the salary level, and the business purpose all matter to the case. For applicants, the term matters because it signals a route logic that differs from an ordinary quota-based or standard subordinate-work filing.
Official name
KEI
Related terms
Salary Threshold
A minimum annual gross salary that a job offer must meet for an applicant to qualify for certain work permits, most notably the EU Blue Card.
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Specialist Employee Initiative
SEI
An Estonian work-migration route label used for certain specialist hires within the country's employer-driven permit framework.
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Sponsorship
A formal arrangement where a licensed employer or organisation takes legal responsibility for a non-EU worker's immigration application and compliance obligations.
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