How to add a reference Viitenumber to your business transfers to Estonia

When you send money to a business or government organisation in Estonia, they'll usually ask you to include a Viitenumber (reference number) with your payment.

It's a fixed string of numbers used exclusively in Estonia. It's usually 2 to 20 digits long, generated using a mathematical formula. You'll typically find it clearly labeled Viitenumber or Viide on your Estonian utility bill, tax invoice, or payment request.

This number ensures that the receiving business can automatically match your payment to your specific bill or account. If you don't include it, your payment might be delayed on their end.

How to enter a Viitenumber manually

We have a dedicated field for this to make sure your number is formatted correctly.

1. Start a transfer — choose a business recipient with an Estonian IBAN starting with EE

2. On the transfer setup screen, look for the Viitenumber field under the optional reference field

3. Type or paste the number exactly as it appears on your invoice

4. Our system will automatically check the math behind the number to make sure there are no typos. If it highlights an error, double-check the number on your bill

You'll only find this field for business transfers. If you're sending money to a personal account, like a friend or family member, you won't see this field because personal transfers don't use Viitenumbers. You can just use the standard Reference field for a personal note instead.

If the business hasn't provided a Viitenumber on their invoice, you can simply leave the field blank. You can still use the standard Reference field to add an invoice number or account name. Always use the Viitenumber field if it's on your invoice, as the recipient business account software can process the payment instantly that way.

Auto-fill your Viitenumber

If you have a digital copy of your bill, you don't need to type the Viitenumber manually. Our system can scan your document and extract the Viitenumber, along with the other payment details, using two different methods:

A: Upload a screenshot or invoice

1. Set up a transfer to a new business recipient

2. Choose the option to upload a document (PDF, PNG, or JPEG under 10MB)

3. Upload your Estonian invoice, or a screenshot of the payment details

4. Our system will scan the document and automatically fill in the recipient's name, IBAN, the transfer amount, and the Viitenumber

5. Review the details to ensure they match your bill, and continue to payment

Learn more here

B: Forward your bill via email

You can forward invoices straight to Wise, and we'll create a draft payment for you with the Viitenumber already filled in.

1. Find your unique bill forwarding email address by going to Settings > Security and privacy > Bill forwarding email. It'll look something like yourwisetag-123@inbox.wise.com

2. Forward an email with your Estonian bill attached (PDF, JPEG, or PNG) to this unique address

3. We'll extract the relevant information, including the Viitenumber, and create a draft payment in your Wise account

4. Next time you log in, open the draft, check that the details match your invoice, and select Send

Learn more here