Estonia is a beautiful country in the east of the European Union, located on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Many Russians like to spend their holidays here in a quiet, peaceful environment. This state was part of the Soviet Union in the recent past, and the local population speaks fluent Russian.
The absence of a language barrier is an important incentive for Russian residents who want to settle here. This article fully outlines all the answers to the question: how to obtain Estonian citizenship.
Ways to obtain Estonian citizenship
There are 4 ways to obtain an Estonian citizen’s passport:
- By birth.
- On restoration.
- By origin.
- Naturalization.
Obtaining citizenship by birth
This method of obtaining citizenship applies to children who were born on the territory of Estonia. A child can receive this status if at least one of the parents has an Estonian passport. However, even if both parents have citizenship of other countries, but have legally resided in the territory of this Northern European country for 5 years or more, then according to the law, the baby has the right to receive Estonian citizenship.
Obtaining an Estonian passport upon restoration
This method is suitable only for that category of people who had citizenship of a given country, but, for some reason, lost it. The main condition is that Estonian citizenship was lost before the age of 18. If a passport of another country was received after reaching adulthood, then citizenship can be returned under normal conditions, as for other people.
Obtaining citizenship by descent
In this case, the applicant can apply for an Estonian passport, provided that the person is a descendant of a citizen of the country who lived in this state between 1918 and 1940, when the country was completely independent.
Obtaining citizenship by naturalization
This method is the most common and suitable for citizens of other countries who wish to reside permanently in Estonia and have a passport of this country. It is worth noting that compared to other European countries, this Northern European country is quite loyal to foreigners who meet certain insufficiently stringent requirements.
Application for citizenship
Since Russia borders Estonia, there will be even more of our compatriots wishing to immigrate to this country in 2021. To do this, you need to submit an application for the right to be an Estonian citizen. This right can be claimed by:
- Citizens over 15 years of age;
- People who have a long-term residence permit or the right to lifelong stay in the country;
- Persons who lived in Estonia before 1990;
- Persons staying in the country until the submission of an application based on a residence permit or right of residence for more than eight years, five of which must be in the country without leaving. The applicant is required to stay in Estonia for at least six months from the date of filing the application;
This is what a residence permit card looks like in Estonia
- People who have confirmed knowledge of the national language. Citizens whose education was completed in the state language are exempt from taking the exam;
- Those who have passed the examination on a complete knowledge of the civil law and the constitution;
- Persons receiving official income that is enough to provide for themselves and their loved ones;
- Applicants legally registered in Estonia;
- Persons who have a positive attitude towards the state;
- Patriots who swore an oath of allegiance on a sacred document for Estonia - the constitution.
People with disabilities, as well as those who have a special reason related to poor health, have the right not to take exams. To submit an application for Estonian citizenship, you must submit an application and a set of documents to the citizenship and migration office of your local government. Employees of the institution will help you fill out the questionnaires and approved forms.
Sample passport of an Estonian citizen
Who can apply for Estonian citizenship
Basic requirements for obtaining citizenship:
- the person was 15 years old at the time of naturalization;
- residence in the country for 8 years, while the last 5 years must be continuous;
- passing a language proficiency test, the minimum level must be A2, however, if a person studied at one of the Estonian universities, then he is exempt from the language proficiency test;
- the applicant must also pass an exam on knowledge of the country’s Constitution;
- providing a source of income. The applicant and his family (if any) must indicate the official place of work;
- you need to have a residence permit and documents confirming the rental or ownership of the residential premises;
- Also, when obtaining citizenship, you need to take an oath and confirm your loyalty to the new country.
It is worth noting that the naturalization procedure for persons with disabilities is much simplified. Children who are not yet 15 years old are completely exempt from testing the Estonian language, and they also do not need to take an exam on their knowledge of the basic laws of the country.
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There are several ways to obtain a residence permit in Estonia, which is called a “temporary residence permit”. These include education and work, entrepreneurial activity, and family reunification. It is worth considering that immigration to Estonia is limited and amounts to 0.1% of the country's total population. For 2021, the upper limit is set at 659 people. This does not take into account US citizens and people coming for scientific research.
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Electronic residency allows you to fully use all the services of the electronic state. In other words, you get access to company registration, legal services, fast, even speedy payment of taxes and getting answers to your questions from the state, while remaining where you are now.
Required documents
All documents required to obtain citizenship can be submitted in several ways:
- A person can independently take the papers to the migration department, which is located at the prefectures.
- If it is not possible to carry the documents with your own hand, then you can send them by mail.
- Send documents by email. All papers are sent to
If the application for citizenship is submitted directly to the migration department, then the application can be processed directly on the spot. The person who works there can help the future citizen prepare all the necessary documents.
Required documents for a person over 15 years of age:
- application for Estonian citizenship. It must be filled out exclusively in Estonian; all required fields can be filled in manually using a ballpoint pen or on a computer. It is worth noting separately that corrections in this document are strictly prohibited;
- biography. Can also be written by hand or on a computer;
- one photo. When submitting documents in person, it must meet the following requirements: size – 4 by 5 cm, color. If the submission of papers occurs via e-mail, then: size – 480 by 600 pixels. It is highly recommended to submit only those photographs that were taken no later than six months ago;
- passport;
- a confirmation that indicates that the applicant has renounced citizenship of another country, or guarantees can be provided where the person undertakes to renounce it as soon as he receives an Estonian passport. Children from 15 to 18 years of age do not have to give such confirmation, however, appropriate consent from parents or guardians is required;
- documents proving education;
- certificates from previous places of work;
- paper indicating the presence of permanent income, this can be: wages, income from business, parental allowance, alimony, scholarship, pension;
- There must also be documents that indicate knowledge of the Estonian language: a certificate or diploma of education that was received in Estonia;
- receipt for payment of state duty. Its cost is 13 euros.
If a person restores Estonian citizenship, he will also need to collect the following documents:
- a passport of a citizen of another country, which indicates that this person has a residence permit in Estonia;
- paper confirming the loss of Estonian citizenship.
If you are applying for citizenship based on Estonian origin, you must additionally provide:
- official confirmation that the applicant’s relative was or is a citizen of Estonia. A document that can evidence this can be: passport, birth certificate, documents from the archive;
- the applicant's birth certificate;
- birth certificates of all descendants of an ancestor who was Estonian;
- international passport (needed only in some cases).
For persons under 15 years of age, all documents are submitted by parents or one of the parents, but there must be consent from the absent family member. The father or mother of the child must submit the following list of documents:
- application for Estonian citizenship;
- photography (it has the same requirements as for adults);
- documents that identify the child’s parents;
- if the calving or the mother are foreign citizens, then it will be necessary to show documents of a residence permit in Estonia;
- birth certificate.
It is worth noting that a fee of 13 euros does not need to be paid; children under 15 years of age are exempt from this payment.
Renunciation of citizenship
People who want to renounce the right to be an Estonian citizen if they are outside this country must submit an application in any form and a package of necessary documents to the bureau, whose activities are based on making decisions on deprivation of the status of an Estonian citizen.
For children under the age of fifteen, people whose capabilities are limited, the father and mother, official guardians or institutions that have issued guardianship must submit an application. For persons between 15 and 18 years of age, an application completed by birth parents, adoptive parents, guardians, or board of guardians is required.
How much to wait
It is worth noting that the process of granting citizenship itself is quite lengthy and complex. All documents, of course, are considered individually and at the state level. Therefore, there is no point in hoping that in a week or two you will get citizenship.
All documents provided by a potential citizen are sent to the Cabinet of Ministers within 6 months. Further, the review process must be completed within a period of 2 months. That is, it turns out that in the worst case, a decision can be given 8 months from the date of submission of all documents. But usually, the answer comes a little earlier.
If the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a specific candidacy, the Police and Border Guard Board sends a letter to the newly minted citizen informing him that his candidacy has been approved. The letter also states that he can pick up the citizenship certificate at the ceremony or it will simply be sent to him by mail.
When a person has received this certificate, he needs to make a request to receive a new passport or ID card.
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A foreign passport, which must be valid for at least 3 months after the visa expires; The passport must have at least 2 blank pages; Photo 4x5 cm, color, on a light background; A health insurance policy valid in the Schengen area with an insurance liability of at least 30,000 euros; Certificate from the place of employment (on the organization's letterhead with a signature and seal) indicating the position, length of service, salary and contact information (address, telephone); Confirmation of financial resources for the trip: bank account statement / credit card and card account statement / travel checks in the amount of min. 64 euros/day + hotel cost + ticket cost; Photocopy of the general passport (all pages containing information), Air tickets, Correctly filled out application form, Documents from Estonia for obtaining a tourist visa:
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Dual citizenship in Estonia: how to obtain
According to the current legislation of this country, a person is prohibited from having citizenship of Estonia or any other country. When registering it, a person undertakes to get rid of the past within the time established by law.
However, children whose parents have different citizenships can live in this country with dual citizenship. For example, the mother is Estonian, and the father is Belarusian, but in the future, the parents will still have to decide on the choice of citizenship.
Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Estonia
A well-known Estonian politician, former chairman of the Riigikogu's legal commission, and Minister of Internal Affairs Ken-Marti Vaher tried to give parliamentary discussions on dual citizenship an anti-Russian orientation. He spoke out against dual citizenship, explaining this primarily by the dangers allegedly emanating from the Russian Federation.
“By allowing dual citizenship in Estonia, we will contribute to the emergence of a situation in which people with multiple citizenships will be open to the political influence of the countries of which they have citizenship - even when these states have opposing goals,” he told the newspaper Eesti Päevaleht "
Electronic citizenship and what it gives
Electronic citizenship of a given country allows a foreigner to legally open a company, pay taxes, and sign contracts, while the person does not need to go anywhere, everything happens right in front of the computer.
The main advantages of electronic citizenship include:
- the opportunity to open a company in a given country using the Internet within 20–30 minutes. To do this, you just need to go to a special government website;
- all country taxes can be paid online;
- You can sign any kind of agreement using an electronic signature.
It is worth noting that this type of citizenship does not allow a foreigner to freely visit the countries of the European Union; moreover, it is forbidden to even visit Estonia. Therefore, this type of citizenship is required only for people conducting any activity in the territory of this country.
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The relevance of Estonian citizenship for Russian citizens
The Republic of Estonia is a modern state, with a developed economy and an unusual culture, striving to make the life of its citizens stable and secure. Since 2004, the country has been a member of the European Union , which means its citizens can travel without visas throughout Europe.
The Schengen Agreement gives Estonians the opportunity to freely work in any country that is part of the union, while guaranteeing respect for rights and universal equality. The Estonian government supports entrepreneurial activity and allows you to start your own business using a simplified procedure.
Young people can receive education both in Estonia and in any European country on preferential terms. Moreover, the percentage of the Russian-speaking population in the country is quite high and, coming from Russia, people can communicate in their native language and preserve their own traditions.
Estonia is a European state in which Russians feel comfortable and almost at home. All this makes the Republic an attractive place for permanent residence for citizens of the Russian Federation.
