Three small countries, three distinct strengths
Estonia built its reputation on e-government and a startup-friendly regulatory environment — it's home to a disproportionate number of unicorns for its population size and runs one of Europe's best-known digital nomad and startup visa programs. Lithuania has become a fintech hub, partly driven by Vilnius's growing base of licensed fintech companies. Latvia sits between the two, with a strong outsourcing and product-engineering base in Riga.
Work permits
As EU members, all three allow free movement for EU citizens. Non-EU applicants generally need a temporary residence permit tied to employment, or can use Estonia's startup visa if joining a registered startup. English proficiency is very high across the region, especially among people under 40.
What relocating engineers notice first
Compact, walkable capital cities, reliable public transit, and a lower cost of living than Scandinavia despite close cultural and business ties to the Nordic countries. Winters are long and dark, which is worth factoring in if you're considering the move.