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IMMIGRATION LAW IN ESTONIA

IMMIGRATION LAW IN ESTONIA

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Countries Requiring Visas:

All persons entering Estonia, except the following require visas:

• citizens of all European Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland for staying up to 3 months, provided they are in possession of personal ID card and a valid passport;
• citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), Israel, Japan, Korea (Republic), Macao (Special Administrative Region), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Uruguay, United States of America, Vatican City and Venezuela for staying up to 3 months in a 6 month period;
• diplomatic passport holders of Turkey and Ukraine for staying up to 1 month within 6 months;
• passport holders of South Africa provided they are holding a Latvian or Lithuanian Visa;
• diplomatic and service passport holders of Macedonia for staying up to 3 months within 6 months;
• diplomatic passport holders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Moldova and Georgia for staying up to 3 months within 6 months;
• participants in organized excursions for staying up to 12 hours provided their name is on a list presented to the Estonian Border Guard Board;
• stateless persons who are in possession of an alien passport and living permit issued by the European Union Member State, for staying up to 3 months during a period of 6 months.

Types of Visa, and Validity:

1.      Airport Transit Visa (Type A): This allows a person to pass through an international transit zone at airports without having access to the national territory of Estonia.

2.      Transit Visa (Type B): This is valid for up to 3 months and allows a maximum stay of 5 days. It is issued to foreigners who are passing through Estonia to a third destination.

3.      Short Stay Visa (Type C): This is issued to foreigners for single entry or multiple entries not exceeding 3 months. A single entry Short Stay Visa may be issued to a foreigner for staying up to 5 days in Estonia for the purpose of using a tourism or entertainment service.

4.     Long Term Visa (Type D): This is issued to foreigners intending to stay in Estonia for a period exceeding 3 months. It is issued for single entry or multiple entries not exceeding 6 months.

5.      Diplomatic and Service Visa: This can be issued as a Transit, Short Stay or Long Term Visa and is issued to a person who is in transit through Estonia on official business or to a person entering Estonia having a diplomatic status of either a foreign state or an international organization.

Visa Charges:

Airport Transit Visa (Type A):  £ 14

Transit Visa (Type B):  £ 17

Short Stay Visa (Type C):

• Single Entry (up to 1 month): £ 14
• Single Entry (up to 3 months): £ 24
• Multiple Entry (up to 1 month): £ 17
• Multiple Entry (up to 3 months): £ 24
• Multiple Entry (up to 1 year): £ 34

Long Term Visa (Type D): £ 53

This information was last updated on 01.02.2007.

Documents Required for Visa Application:

The following documents are required while applying for a Visa:

• Completed Application Form;
• Passport valid for at least 3 months;
• One passport-sized photograph;
• A receipt proving the payment of Visa Fee;
• Health Insurance with a coverage of at least 160,000 EEK (Estonian Kroons) for entire stay duration in Estonia;
• Documents confirming the purpose of visit such as Visa invitation, letter of invitation from a private person, company or an international organization, travel vouchers, document proving employment in Estonia, transport tickets or other similar documents;
• Proof of adequate financial means equal to one-fifth of the minimum monthly wage;
• Documents confirming accommodation and other expenses.

Postal Visa Applications are not acceptable.

You can download a Visa Application Form from:web-static.vm.ee/static/failid/314/visa_application_eng_fillable.pdf

ESTONIAN CITIZENSHIP

A person may acquire Estonian citizenship through one of the following methods:

1.      By Birth: The following persons can acquire Estonian citizenship by birth:

·        A person whose one parent is an Estonian citizen at the time of his / her birth;

·        A person born after his / her father’s death, provided the father was an Estonian citizen at the time of his / her birth;

·      A person found in Estonia of unknown parentage.

2.     By Descent: A person whose either parent is a recognized Estonian acquires Estonian citizenship by descent irrespective of his / her place of birth and death of the father before his / her birth.

3.      By Naturalization: A person can acquire Estonian citizenship by naturalization upon fulfillment of the following conditions:

·        he / she has attained 15 years of age;

·      has permanently resided in Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit for at least 5 years prior o making an application for Estonian citizenship;

·        has a basic knowledge of Estonian language;

·        has knowledge of the Estonian Constitution and the Citizenship Act of Estonia;

·        has a permanent legal income sufficient for self-subsistence and that of the dependants;

·        is loyal to the Estonian state and takes an oath to maintain this loyalty;

·        has not been convicted of a serious crime;

·       is not a foreign military personnel on active duty.

An adult has to pass an examination for proving his / her knowledge of the Estonian knowledge, Estonian Constitution and the Citizenship Act of Estonia.

Acquisition of citizenship by naturalization by a Minor:

A minor, that is, a person under 15 years of age can acquire Estonian citizenship by naturalization if an application for citizenship is made by any of the following persons:

·       by the minor’s parents who are Estonian citizens;

·        by one parent who is an Estonian citizen, provided the other parent gives a notarized agreement for the acquisition of citizenship by the minor;

·       by the minor’s single or adoptive parent who is an Estonian citizen;

·        by a guardianship authority or the minor’s Estonian guardian, in case of minors whose parents are dead, have been declared as missing, divested of active legal capacity or deprived of their parental rights, provided that the minor stays in Estonia permanently;

·        by a parent who applies for acquisition of Estonian citizenship for himself / herself;

·        by parents who do not hold the citizenship of any state.

IMMIGRATION LAW IN ESTONIA

VISA REQUIREMENTS

Countries Requiring Visas:

All persons entering Estonia, except the following require visas:

• citizens of all European Union countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland for staying up to 3 months, provided they are in possession of personal ID card and a valid passport;
• citizens of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region), Israel, Japan, Korea (Republic), Macao (Special Administrative Region), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Uruguay, United States of America, Vatican City and Venezuela for staying up to 3 months in a 6 month period;
• diplomatic passport holders of Turkey and Ukraine for staying up to 1 month within 6 months;
• passport holders of South Africa provided they are holding a Latvian or Lithuanian Visa;
• diplomatic and service passport holders of Macedonia for staying up to 3 months within 6 months;
• diplomatic passport holders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Moldova and Georgia for staying up to 3 months within 6 months;
• participants in organized excursions for staying up to 12 hours provided their name is on a list presented to the Estonian Border Guard Board;
• stateless persons who are in possession of an alien passport and living permit issued by the European Union Member State, for staying up to 3 months during a period of 6 months.

Types of Visa, and Validity:

1.     Airport Transit Visa (Type A): This allows a person to pass through an international transit zone at airports without having access to the national territory of Estonia.

2.      Transit Visa (Type B): This is valid for up to 3 months and allows a maximum stay of 5 days. It is issued to foreigners who are passing through Estonia to a third destination.

3.      Short Stay Visa (Type C): This is issued to foreigners for single entry or multiple entries not exceeding 3 months. A single entry Short Stay Visa may be issued to a foreigner for staying up to 5 days in Estonia for the purpose of using a tourism or entertainment service.

4.     Long Term Visa (Type D): This is issued to foreigners intending to stay in Estonia for a period exceeding 3 months. It is issued for single entry or multiple entries not exceeding 6 months.

5.     Diplomatic and Service Visa: This can be issued as a Transit, Short Stay or Long Term Visa and is issued to a person who is in transit through Estonia on official business or to a person entering Estonia having a diplomatic status of either a foreign state or an international organization.

Visa Charges:

Airport Transit Visa (Type A):  £ 14

Transit Visa (Type B):  £ 17

Short Stay Visa (Type C):

• Single Entry (up to 1 month): £ 14
• Single Entry (up to 3 months): £ 24
• Multiple Entry (up to 1 month): £ 17
• Multiple Entry (up to 3 months): £ 24
• Multiple Entry (up to 1 year): £ 34

Long Term Visa (Type D): £ 53

This information was last updated on 01.02.2007.

Documents Required for Visa Application:

The following documents are required while applying for a Visa:

• Completed Application Form;
• Passport valid for at least 3 months;
• One passport-sized photograph;
• A receipt proving the payment of Visa Fee;
• Health Insurance with a coverage of at least 160,000 EEK (Estonian Kroons) for entire stay duration in Estonia;
• Documents confirming the purpose of visit such as Visa invitation, letter of invitation from a private person, company or an international organization, travel vouchers, document proving employment in Estonia, transport tickets or other similar documents;
• Proof of adequate financial means equal to one-fifth of the minimum monthly wage;
• Documents confirming accommodation and other expenses.

Postal Visa Applications are not acceptable.

You can download a Visa Application Form from:web-static.vm.ee/static/failid/314/visa_application_eng_fillable.pdf

ESTONIAN CITIZENSHIP

A person may acquire Estonian citizenship through one of the following methods:

1.     By Birth: The following persons can acquire Estonian citizenship by birth:

·        A person whose one parent is an Estonian citizen at the time of his / her birth;

·       A person born after his / her father’s death, provided the father was an Estonian citizen at the time of his / her birth;

·       A person found in Estonia of unknown parentage.

2.      By Descent: A person whose either parent is a recognized Estonian acquires Estonian citizenship by descent irrespective of his / her place of birth and death of the father before his / her birth.

3.      By Naturalization: A person can acquire Estonian citizenship by naturalization upon fulfillment of the following conditions:

·        he / she has attained 15 years of age;

·       has permanently resided in Estonia on the basis of a long-term residence permit for at least 5 years prior o making an application for Estonian citizenship;

·        has a basic knowledge of Estonian language;

·        has knowledge of the Estonian Constitution and the Citizenship Act of Estonia;

·       has a permanent legal income sufficient for self-subsistence and that of the dependants;

·       is loyal to the Estonian state and takes an oath to maintain this loyalty;

·        has not been convicted of a serious crime;

·      is not a foreign military personnel on active duty.

An adult has to pass an examination for proving his / her knowledge of the Estonian knowledge, Estonian Constitution and the Citizenship Act of Estonia.

Acquisition of citizenship by naturalization by a Minor:

A minor, that is, a person under 15 years of age can acquire Estonian citizenship by naturalization if an application for citizenship is made by any of the following persons:

·        by the minor’s parents who are Estonian citizens;

·        by one parent who is an Estonian citizen, provided the other parent gives a notarized agreement for the acquisition of citizenship by the minor;

·        by the minor’s single or adoptive parent who is an Estonian citizen;

·        by a guardianship authority or the minor’s Estonian guardian, in case of minors whose parents are dead, have been declared as missing, divested of active legal capacity or deprived of their parental rights, provided that the minor stays in Estonia permanently;

·       by a parent who applies for acquisition of Estonian citizenship for himself / herself;

·        by parents who do not hold the citizenship of any state.