Currently there are temporary changes entering and staying in Estonia for foreigners due to the outbreak of Covid19:
Due to the state emergency there are some changes in foreigners rights to stay and enter in Estonia. Please pass this information also to your employees and stay healthy!
News from Police and Border Guard Board:
- As of today (March 17th), Estonia is allowing entry only for Estonian nationals and Estonian residents with an Estonian residence permit or right of residence, including holders of the so called grey passport. Also admitted are foreign nationals with family members residing in Estonia. Entry is also allowed for foreign nationals arriving in Estonia in the context of international military cooperation.
- Foreigners who have legal basis for staying in Estonia as of 12 March and whose return to their home country is restricted, have legal basis for continuing to stay in Estonia temporarily. There is no need to submit an application regarding the extension of stay to the PBGB or to come to the PGBG service office.
- Moreover, all migration proceedings are temporarily suspended as of 16 March. The PBGB is implementing resources to contain the spread of the virus and, therefore, applications for visas, extension of stay, residence permits, rights for stay and the registration of short-term employment are temporarily not processed. New applications are accepted but no decisions are taken with respect to them. The PBGB recommends waiting with the submission of applications until the emergency situation is over.
Regarding the PBGB news ask for additional information from migration advisors at 612 3500 (M-F 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.) or by email .
NB! Please first check if your answer is not already answered in the press release or in the materials and documents linked here. Let’s work together so that the migration advisors can focus on specific issues.
Full press release by the Police and Border Guard Board:
Foreigners staying in Estonia do not have to leave Estonia if their return to their home country is restricted
Foreigners who have legal basis for staying in Estonia as of 12 March and whose return to their home country is restricted, have legal basis for continuing to stay in Estonia temporarily. There is no need to submit an application regarding the extension of stay to the PBGB or to come to the PGBG service office.
In view of the emergency situation in Estonia, the Police and Border Guard Board has undertaken reorganisation concerning foreigners. “In order to ensure that foreigners would not have to submit an application regarding the extension of stay to the PBGB one by one, we give them automatic right to continue to stay in Estonia temporarily,“ Liis Valk, the advisor of the Identity and Status Bureau of the PBGB said.
These foreigners whose return to their country of residence is not restricted, have to leave Estonia before their basis of stay is expired.
Moreover, all migration proceedings are temporarily suspended as of today’s date – 16 March. „The PBGB is implementing resources to contain the spread of the virus and, therefore, applications for visas, extension of stay, residence permits, rights for stay and the registration of short-term employment are temporarily not processed. New applications are accepted but no decisions are taken with respect to them,” Valk said.
The PBGB recommends waiting with the submission of applications until the emergency situation is over. Applications for visas and residence permits can be submitted at the PBGB service offices only as a last resort. In the case of repeated application for residence permit, it may be submitted by postal mail (Pärnu mnt 139, Tallinn, 15060) or email (). Applications for short-term employment can be submitted by using the police self service portal: http://iseteenindus.politsei.ee.
Important links:
Emergency situation (ENG): https://www.politsei.ee/en/instructions/emergency-situation
Government of Republic of Estonia: https://www.valitsus.ee/en/emergency-situation-estonia
Health Board information: https://www.terviseamet.ee/en/covid19
Üldkorraldus Eestis ajutiseks viibimiseks seadusliku aluse andmise kohta
General order on temporary suspension of migration proceedings and extension of term for proceeding
General order on granting legal basis for the temporary stay in Estonia
