In what situation can I claim?

A citizen of the European Union, a member state of the European Union Economic Area and Swiss Confederation (hereinafter an EU citizen) has a right to stay in Estonia on the basis of a valid travel document or an identity card for the period of up to three months without registration of the right of residence.

After 3 months, if a person continually stays in Estonia, they must register the place of residence at the population register of Estonia.

The residence of a person is the place where they permanently or primarily lives.

The right of temporary residence is granted for a period of five years and will be extended automatically for a period of five years, if your registered place of residence is continually in Estonia.

What conditions do I need to meet?

An EU citizen obtains the right of temporary residence upon registration of their place of residence in the population register of Estonia.

You can register for a permanent residence, if you have resided in Estonia on the basis of the right of temporary residence during 5 successive years. A child under 1, of an EU citizen who permanently resides in Estonia, has the right of permanent residence.

In some exceptions you may obtain the right of permanent residence prior the fulfilment of 5 years:

• Exception 1 – you reside for at least 3 years and you have been employed or self-employed for at least the last twelve months and have attained the pensionable age;
• Exception 2 – you reside for at least last two years and are unable to work;
• Exception 3 – you are unable to work because of work injury or occupational disease;
• Exception 4 – you have worked in Estonia as an employed or self-employed person for at least three years and you are currently working in another EU member state but you will return to Estonia at least once a week.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

A person must have a permanent residence or temporary residence when submitting an application for the following entitlements:

family benefits, maternity and parental benefit, benefits for disabled persons, work ability benefit, unemployment benefit and allowance, pension and social welfare benefits.

Forms you may need to fill in

Documents requested for applying for an ID-card

• an application for identity documents ;
• an identity document;
• 1 colour photo with measures 40x50 mm;
• a document certifying the payment of the state fee.

If you apply on behalf of a child under 15, the following must be added to the above-mentioned documents:

• a child’s identity document, if such exists;
• an identity document of the legal representative;
• if the parent's name in the child's birth certificate differs from the name in the parent's identity document, please submit a document certifying the change of the name of the parent (e.g. certificate of marriage), if the name was changed in a foreign country not in Estonia;
• If the application is being submitted by a guardian who has been appointed by the Court, or a legal representative of the guardianship authority, then the following must also be added:
  • a document certifying the right of representation (except if the data of the document have been entered into the population register of Estonia);
  • an authorization letter (if the application is being submitted by an authorized representative of a guardianship authority).

Issue of the ID-card:
The ID-card is issued within 30 days (after acceptance of the application for proceeding) to the applicant in person at the Service Office named on the application form. The ID-card of a child under 15 is issued to his/her legal representative.

An ID-card applied for in urgent procedure (the first ID-card cannot be applied for in urgent procedure) is issued within 5 working days (starting from the working day following the date of submission of the application) solely in Tallinn Service Offices.
Upon receipt of the ID-card please present an identity document.

Who do you need to contact?

For registration of the place of residence please address to the local government authority nearest to your place of residence. More information about the registration of your place of residence can be obtained at the local government authority or on the home page of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (https://www.siseministeerium.ee/en/contact).

• https://www.politsei.ee/en/kontakt/kmb/index.dot;
• https://www.politsei.ee/en/kontakt/.

For applying for the document (ID-card) which certifies the right of temporary residence, please address within the period of one month from the registration of your place of residence in person in a Service Office. An application on behalf of a child under 15 is submitted by their legal representative (e.g. parent).