I don't think it's a different scenario. Even the Estonian press says Shinzo Abe was presented with his e-residency, rather than him applying: https://news.er

I don't think it's a different scenario. Even the Estonian press says Shinzo Abe was presented with his e-residency, rather than him applying: https://news.err.ee/115597/japanese-prime-minister-becomes-estonian-e-resident https://news.err.ee/115597/japanese-prime-minister-becomes-e... "Abe's e-residency card was presented to him by Taavi Kotka, the Deputy Secretary General at Estonia's Ministry of Economic Affairs, currently on a visit to Japan. Kotka told ERR that e-residency was Estonia's gift to Abe, which he accepted."