Estonia is an increasingly attractive entry point for businesses looking to access the European Union alcohol market. Known for its digital infrastructure, business-friendly environment, and straightforward regulatory processes, Estonia offers a fast and cost-efficient path to operating legally within the EU. Whether you’re importing wine, beer, cider, or spirits, Estonia provides both a stable legal framework and logistical flexibility.
However, despite the efficiency of the Estonian system, importing alcohol is still a regulated activity. The most critical legal step you must take before doing business is registering your alcohol-related activity in the Majandustegevuse Register, or MTR. This is a government-managed register that ensures your company is authorised to operate in regulated industries such as alcohol.
At BBCTallinn, we work with clients from across the world who want to start or expand alcohol import operations in Estonia. We assist with every step of the process, including company formation, MTR registration, and establishing connections with local warehouses that can handle customs and compliance. For clients who need long-term assistance, we also offer ongoing accounting and company management support.
By setting things up properly from the start, you avoid costly delays and ensure your goods move smoothly through Estonian and EU channels. This guide outlines the full process and explains how we at BBCTallinn make the transition into the Estonian alcohol market as simple and effective as possible.
Setting Up Your Estonian Business and Accessing the MTR
Before you can import alcohol into Estonia, you must have a registered Estonian company. The standard structure used by most importers is a private limited company, or Osaühing (OÜ). This type of company is fully compliant with both Estonian and EU regulations and offers flexibility and limited liability for owners.
There are several ways to establish a company in Estonia:
- By visiting a notary in person and signing the incorporation documents
- By granting a notarised power of attorney to a representative such as BBCTallinn
- By registering digitally using an Estonian e-residency card
At BBCTallinn, we assist with all of these options. If you prefer a hands-off approach, we can handle the entire process remotely through a notarised power of attorney. We also support clients who choose to register their companies digitally using e-residency, or who wish to visit Estonia and manage the process in person. Regardless of your choice, we prepare the documentation, coordinate with the notary, and take care of the filings to ensure your company is properly registered.
Once the company is established, the next legal requirement is to register your activity in the Majandustegevuse Register (MTR). This is the government’s register of economic activities, and registration is mandatory before your business can legally import, store, or sell alcohol.
MTR registration is not a licence, but a formal declaration that your company is operating in a regulated field. Only businesses with the appropriate entry in the MTR are legally allowed to handle alcohol. Accessing the MTR can be done either with an e-residency card or through a representative who is authorised by power of attorney. We offer both options and handle the registration from start to finish.
Once your MTR activity is properly registered, your business is fully set up to begin importing alcohol. The next step is securing a compliant warehouse partner for customs clearance, excise storage, and product registration.
Warehousing, Customs, and Alcohol Product Registration
Once your company is formed and your activity is registered in the MTR, the next essential step is arranging for the proper handling of your goods. In Estonia, all imported alcohol must be delivered to a licensed excise warehouse. This is not just a logistical preference – it is a legal requirement for compliance with customs and tax regulations.
An excise warehouse is a storage facility that is authorised to hold alcohol under suspension of excise duty. This means that the importer does not need to pay excise duty immediately upon import. Instead, the duty is deferred until the goods are removed from the warehouse for sale or distribution. This provides flexibility and helps manage cash flow, especially for new businesses.
Warehouses that specialise in alcohol typically offer a full range of services beyond storage. These include:
- Customs clearance through the Estonian IMPULS system
- Product registration in the national Alcohol Register
- Labelling to meet Estonian and EU consumer protection rules
- Excise calculation and duty deferral handling
The Alcohol Register is a national database where all imported alcoholic beverages must be entered before being cleared through customs. Registration requires documentation such as the VI1 certificate (for wine), customs declaration, invoice, and label photographs. Most warehouses manage this process for you, and they are experienced in meeting the technical requirements.
Labelling is another critical step. Under Estonian and EU regulations, alcohol labels must include required information in Estonian, with specific font size and presentation rules. Warehouses often apply compliant stickers to imported bottles and ensure all labelling standards are met before the goods leave the facility.
At BBCTallinn, we maintain working relationships with several trusted and compliant warehouse operators in Estonia. We assist our clients by introducing them to the right warehouse partner for their product type and business model. We also help coordinate the initial deliveries, documentation requirements, and timelines to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Having the right warehouse is crucial to operating a legal and efficient alcohol import business. With BBCTallinn supporting your setup, you avoid delays, meet all compliance requirements, and gain access to professional services that simplify ongoing operations.
Excise Duties, VAT and the Cost of Import
Importing alcohol into Estonia involves more than just shipping logistics and registration. It also requires a clear understanding of the taxes that apply. The two primary taxes involved in alcohol import are excise duty and value-added tax (VAT). Both are mandatory and must be calculated correctly to avoid fines or customs delays.
Excise duty is applied based on the type of alcoholic product and its alcohol content. It is calculated per hectolitre (100 litres) and is set by the Estonian government. Below is a summary of current excise duty rates:
| Product | Excise duty rate from 1 January 2025 (in euros) | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 14.00 | ethanol content per one per cent of ethanol by volume per hectolitre |
| Fermented beverage or wine with ethanol content of ≤ 6 % vol | 69.84 | hectolitre |
| Fermented beverage or wine with ethanol content of > 6 % vol | 162.97 | hectolitre |
| Intermediate product | 319.00 | hectolitre |
| Other alcohol | 20.74 | ethanol content per one per cent of ethanol by volume per hectolitre |
To give a practical example, importing a 0.75-litre bottle of wine with 12.5% alcohol content would incur an excise duty of approximately €1.22. This is calculated by converting the volume into hectolitres (0.0075 hl) and multiplying it by the current rate of €162.97 per hectolitre.
VAT, currently set at 24%, is applied on top of the product value, shipping costs, and excise duty. This means it is calculated after excise has already been added to the product’s customs value. The combined tax burden must be paid before the goods can be released from the excise warehouse for commercial use.
In most cases, the excise warehouse you use will handle these calculations and make the necessary declarations through Estonia’s customs system. They will also ensure that the excise duty is paid at the correct time, typically when the alcohol is released for sale or transport.
At BBCTallinn, we guide our clients through the cost structure so that there are no surprises. While we do not directly file customs declarations, we work closely with warehouse partners that provide these services. We also help our clients plan for tax obligations during the setup phase, so you can accurately forecast import costs and retail pricing.
Understanding the duty and VAT structure is essential for building a profitable import business. With the right planning and warehouse support, Estonia’s system is manageable and cost-effective – especially when supported by a professional setup from BBCTallinn.
How BBCTallinn Supports Alcohol Importers
Importing alcohol into Estonia involves legal, logistical and tax-related steps that can be difficult to manage without local support. At BBCTallinn, we help simplify every part of the process, from initial setup to ongoing company operations. Our clients range from first-time importers to established international traders entering the Estonian market.
We begin by helping you establish your Estonian company. Whether you prefer to visit Estonia, use an e-residency card, or provide a notarised power of attorney, we will handle the full registration process on your behalf. We also prepare all required documentation and coordinate with the notary and Business Register to ensure your company is formed without delay.
Once your company is in place, we handle the next step: registering your alcohol-related activity in the Majandustegevuse Register (MTR). We prepare and submit the necessary notifications and ensure that your registration accurately reflects your business operations. This registration is a legal requirement and must be in place before any alcohol can be imported or sold.
We then help you select a suitable excise warehouse. Warehouses play a central role in ensuring compliance with customs, tax and labelling laws. The right warehouse will handle your product registration, customs declarations, labelling requirements and storage. We have strong working relationships with several reliable warehouse operators across Estonia and will match you with one that fits your product and distribution model.
Beyond setup, we also offer ongoing accounting and compliance services. We can assist with tax reporting, financial statements, and other regulatory requirements so that your company stays in good standing throughout its operations. Whether you are based in Estonia or operating remotely, we ensure your back office remains professionally managed.
Our service is designed to be end-to-end. We focus on clarity, speed and reliability so that you can concentrate on your product, marketing and sales. With BBCTallinn as your local partner, you get peace of mind that every legal and structural requirement is handled properly from day one.
Conclusion
Estonia offers an efficient, reliable and business-friendly environment for importing alcohol into the European Union. However, as with any regulated industry, there are essential legal requirements that must be followed from the outset. A properly registered company, a correctly submitted MTR notification, and a trusted warehouse partner are the foundations of any compliant alcohol import operation.
At BBCTallinn, we help businesses at every stage of this process. Whether you’re just getting started or expanding into the Estonian market, we can assist with company formation, MTR registration, and warehouse introductions. We also provide full accounting and compliance support to ensure that your business not only starts legally, but remains fully compliant as it grows.
With our experience and network, there’s no need to navigate Estonian regulations alone. We simplify the legal setup and help you avoid common mistakes, allowing you to focus on building a successful alcohol import business.
If you are ready to start importing wine, beer, spirits or other alcoholic beverages into Estonia, contact BBCTallinn today. Our team is ready to assist you with every step of the process. Let’s build your business on a strong and legal foundation.
