Estonian citizenship is a status that grants you certain rights and a number of obligations to the state. Among the privileges you receive freedom of movement around the world, simplified immigration to EU countries, international business development, free access to European health care and education systems. Usually, a passport is granted by naturalization, less often through birth/restoration/special merit.

The granting of Estonian citizenship is regulated by the legal act “Kodakondsuse seadus” of January 19, 1995. According to the act, the conditions for naturalization are residence in the country for 8 years or more, knowledge of the national language, history and constitutional norms, permanent income and place of registration in the state. The Republic of Estonia does not allow dual or multiple citizenship: when applying for a local passport, you are obliged to renounce a similar document in your home country.

It is also possible to obtain most of the rights of an Estonian citizen with a passport of another EU country, issued under a simplified program. Detailed information is provided by our Immigrantinlaw lawyers during a free consultation.

What are the benefits of Estonian citizenship?

As an Estonian citizen you have the right to:

• visit from 160 countries around the world without a visa or with an easy-to-issue electronic entry permit;
• reside permanently in any EU country without having to find a reason to move;
• immigrate to Europe together with family members (spouse, minor and unmarried children);
• relocate an existing company or start a new one, represent its interests on the world markets without any restrictions;
• work in EU countries without immigration quotas and without obtaining a separate permit;
• expect to study at prestigious universities at the expense of the state or scholarship programs;
• receive necessary social support from the country (integration courses, benefits according to status);
• to be served in banking institutions with SWIFT, Visa, MasterCard, Payoneer systems;
• to apply for medical care in private and public EU clinics on the basis of insurance policy without additional payments;
• protect your interests in fair European courts.

Ways and conditions for obtaining Estonian citizenship

Estonia has a rather strict migration policy, so the list of grounds for citizenship is limited. Usually, foreigners obtain a passport by naturalization - after long residence in the republic and sufficient integration into society. There is no easing of the procedure, including for spouses of Estonians or large investors.

It is impossible to buy an Estonian passport legally, and even significant investments in the local economy do not bring you closer to obtaining the coveted citizenship. Investments in the amount of 1 million EUR can be a reason to open a residence permit, but with it you still have to live in the country for 8 years to obtain the status of a citizen. The “right of soil” in the country does not apply either: if you give birth to a child here, he/she will get your citizenship.

By birth

A child whose at least one parent has Estonian citizenship can obtain the same legal status without any additional conditions. The place of birth does not matter in this case. Children who were found in the territory of the Republic and whose origin is unknown are also eligible for citizenship. A child adopted by Estonians is also eligible for a passport. Children born in a family of foreigners have no privileges in acquiring citizenship, regardless of how long their parents have lived in the Republic.

By naturalization

You can become an Estonian citizen in the general order after 8 years of living in the country legally, i.e., with a temporary and long-term residence permit. For the five years preceding your application, you must stay in the country permanently, i.e., at least 183 days per year, and not travel abroad for more than three consecutive months. At the time of citizenship application, you must have a residence permit card obtained at least six months from the date following the date of registration of your application.

In addition to complying with Estonian residency regulations, you must:

• reach the age of fifteen on the day of submission of the request;
• successfully pass the Estonian language proficiency exam;
• have an address registration in the Republic;
• know the local constitutional norms and the basics of the Citizenship Act;
• receive a permanent income sufficient for self-support;
• demonstrate loyalty to the country and recite the text of the oath;
• renounce current citizenship in the home country and in other states.

For special merits

The Estonian government may grant local citizenship without fulfilling the naturalization norms to those who demonstrate outstanding achievements that are important for the republic. For example, it may be merits in sports, science, culture or other areas of interest to the state. The quota of such decisions is limited: no more than 10 proposals from members of the government per year. Information on the granting of citizenship and its justification is necessarily published in Riigi Teataja - “State Gazette”.

Restoration

If you were an Estonian citizen and lost this status as a child (e.g., by parental decision), you have the right to restore it without having to comply with naturalization rules. You will need to move to Estonia permanently and renounce your current passport.

In the European Union there is a rule of common citizenship. As a passport holder of any EU country, you can move to Estonia and enjoy common citizenship rights here. In a number of EU countries citizenship is issued within 4 to 12 months, without residence in the country with residence permit, demonstration of income level and language proficiency, about which our experts will inform you in detail at a free consultation.

Procedure for obtaining Estonian citizenship

To naturalize in Estonia, you:

1. Choose the grounds for moving to Estonia.
   You compare the ways of obtaining a residence permit in Estonia and determine the most optimal one for you, taking into account all the pros and cons (e.g., validity period or the right to family immigration). You will also need to check yourself for compliance with the requirements of the migration legislation and prepare the necessary documents to apply for a residence permit.
2. Open a residence permit.
   You make an appointment at the Estonian diplomatic mission in your home country, where you come on the appointed day with a package of documents, undergo fingerprinting and apply for a residence permit. You will have to pay from 31 to 190 EUR for consideration of the request (depends on the grounds). Another 20 EUR for delivery of the resident card to the consulate/embassy. Requests for residence permit are considered within two months. It takes up to 30 more days to produce the document itself, and separately you need time to send it to your country.
3. Move and register in the Republic.
   With a residence permit, you get to Estonia, after which you visit the local authorities at the place of residence to obtain an address registration. You can also apply online or by post, presenting documents of ownership or lease of real estate. The procedure is free of charge and it takes up to 10 working days to wait for a decision.
4. Renew your residence permit.
   Usually the primary Estonian residence permit is issued for a period of 6 months to 5 years. If necessary, you can extend it by applying to the Police and Border Guard Department 2 months before the expiration date of the document. You will need to prove that you still have a reason to live in the country, as well as re-pay the state duty at the price of the initial opening of the residence permit. Renewal of the residence permit is approved for a period of up to 10 years.
5. You register the status of permanent resident.
   You can apply for an Estonian residence permit after 5 years of permanent residence with a temporary resident card. You also need to learn the national language up to the level B1, provide a certificate of stable legal income and insurance from the state health insurance company. The cost of the document is 64 EUR. You have to wait for the result for up to 2 months, and the card itself takes up to 30 days to be produced.
6. Take the citizenship exams.
   You will have to take two exams: Estonian language and legislation. You register for each of them electronically in advance or apply for them at the Department of Education and Youth. There are also materials on official resources that you can use to prepare. After successfully passing the exam, you will be issued a certificate.
7. Applying for citizenship.
   You can make a request for citizenship status at the service of the Police and Border Guard Department at your place of residence in Estonia. The authorities accept applications by appointment. You need to submit documents, pay an administrative fee of 13 EUR, and prepare an application. Within 6 months from the date of submission of the application, you will visit the authorities again, declare in writing that you have not changed your mind about citizenship and provide a certificate of rejection of the passport in your home country.
8. Obtaining a certificate of citizenship.
   Within six months of submitting the request, the Police and Border Guard Department shall forward the citizenship application to the Estonian Government. The government agency, in turn, makes a decision on whether to approve or deny the request within the next 90 days. If the application is approved, you will take part in an oath ceremony and receive a citizenship certificate.

Dual citizenship in Estonia

It is not possible to obtain dual or second citizenship in Estonia. To obtain a local passport, you must provide a certificate of renunciation of a similar document in other countries. As of 2024, there are no bilateral treaties for an exception to this rule in the republic.

What documents are needed to obtain citizenship

To apply for Estonian citizenship, you have to submit to the authorities:

• a personally completed application form in Estonian;
• two 40 x 50 mm color digital photos;
• payment order for payment of the state fee;
• proof of legal residence in the country (permanent residence card);
• a handwritten curriculum vitae with basic information about you;
• documents confirming your education and work experience;
• proof of financial security, e.g., a certificate of income;
• two certificates - Estonian language proficiency and knowledge of legislation.

Certain documents may not be necessary if the relevant data is available in national databases. Certificates and statements issued abroad must be translated into Estonian and notarized.

Individual selection of immigration program

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Registration of citizenship for a child

It is not possible to obtain citizenship for yourself and your child by naturalization at once. You first obtain a passport for yourself and then you can apply to the Police and Border Guard Department to obtain similar documents for your children. If the other parent is a foreigner, you will need his or her written consent or personal presence at the procedure. You will need to fill in an application form, provide identification documents of the mother and father, and a digital photograph of the child. No state duty is payable in this case.

Issuing an Estonian passport

As a citizen, you can obtain an Estonian internal passport by applying in person at the Police and Border Guard Department by appointment. The document looks like a plastic ID-card, which certifies your identity on the territory of the Republic and within the European Union. You will need to provide your citizenship certificate, your digital photo, pay a state fee of 30 EUR (45 EUR - in case of urgent request). There are discounts for pensioners and people with disabilities.

It takes an average of 30 days to produce an ID-card from the moment of application, or up to 5 days in an expedited procedure. It is possible to check the status of the case on the official website of the authorized body. The Estonian internal passport is issued for 5 years, after which it can be re-issued, including through electronic services.

After obtaining an ID card, you can also apply for an Estonian passport for traveling abroad. The state fee for the document is 35 EUR for regular production and 58 EUR for urgent production. You also apply to the Police and Border Guard Department, submit your photo and ID card and expect the result within a month (2 days in urgent procedure). The list of visa-free countries for Estonian passport holders includes such popular destinations as the USA, Canada, Australia, UAE, Saudi Arabia and the UK.

International law specialists can help you find an easier and faster way to obtain a second citizenship in the EU. Immigrantinlaw lawyers will conduct a comprehensive review of your request, based on which they will recommend the best immigration programs.

Denial in granting citizenship - reasons and solutions

The application for Estonian citizenship is denied to those who conceal information about themselves that is important for the decision of the authorities, provide knowingly false data or forged documents. A common reason for a negative response is the submission of an incomplete dossier or making mistakes when compiling it. The request is rejected for reasons of national security.

Passport may not be given to those who are associated with foreign intelligence or served as a career officer in other countries. Citizenship is also denied to those who do not comply with the constitutional order or laws of the republic, including those who have an unexpunged criminal record or have been repeatedly punished for willful crimes.

Citizenship in the EU is guaranteed with the help of specialized Immigrantinlaw lawyers. Migration specialists are with you at every stage of the procedure, which eliminates the risk of mistakes and gives you confidence in the result. The lawyers perform most of the tasks for you: from the formation of the dossier to the organization of the reception in the authorities. You can start the procedure of obtaining a second passport in the European Union today with a free consultation.

About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.