The information on this page was collected from public resources and does not constitute legal advice.
General information on border crossing?Ukrainian citizen does not need a visa to come to Estonia. The family members of Ukrainian citizens (children, parents, spouses) who are citizens of some other country and whose visa or other basis for stay has expired or is about to expire may temporarily remain in Estonia. Additionally, the Police and Border Guard Board can admit other arrivals, e.g. partners, from Ukraine to Estonia on humanitarian grounds, in order to maintain family unity. Ukrainian citizen must have a valid travel document for crossing the border. This could be: โขย biometric passport If a Ukrainian citizen does not have a valid travel document and he reaches the external border of Estonia and wishes to receive protection from the state of Estonia, it is possible for him to submit an application for international protection at the border crossing point. Border crossing points will be established between Estonia and Latvia at four locations, three in Valga and one in Ikla. During the reintroduction of border control between Estonia and Latvia, people are allowed to cross the state border between the border crossing points as usual. The government of Estonia has organized information points in the country to help refugees from Ukraine, where you can get information about the rules of processing documents to stay in Estonia, humanitarian aid or temporary shelter. They work around the clock and are located at the following addresses:
Tips for those who were deported to Russia or the so-called DPR are collected in the Telegram channel |
What documents do I need to enter?You can enter Estonia with any of the following documents:
In order to prove family/marital status, birth certificates and a marriage certificate are required. The telephone number of the DPSU hotline ("Trust" Service) is 1598. You can use it for questions of a consultative nature within the competence of the State Border Service of Ukraine. For more information about the documents with which you can cross the border, and about the categories of citizens who are allowed to travel outside Ukraine, see here |
What happens after a border crossing?Once you have arrived in Estonia, move to your destination. If you plan to stay in Estonia, please apply for temporary protection as soon as possible. You can do this at the Police and Border Guard Board. Before visiting the Police and Border Guard Board, please book an appointment. More information here At Tallinn bus station, in Tartu, Pรคrnu and Jรตhvi, official information points are open 24 hours a day and provide you with additional information about the possibilities of staying in Estonia. If necessary, you will be provided with accommodation in simple conditions (for up to 24 hours) until you have received temporary protection or can move on from Estonia. You can also get help from an information point if you arrive in Estonia in the evening, at night, on a weekend, or on a public holiday and you do not have a temporary place of stay. The government of Estonia has organized information points in the country to help refugees from Ukraine, where you can get information about the rules of processing documents to stay in Estonia, humanitarian aid or temporary shelter. They work around the clock and are located at the following addresses:
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How can I get from the border to the capital (a certain town)?At Tallinn bus station, in Tartu, Pรคrnu and Jรตhvi, official information points are open 24 hours a day and provide you with additional information about the possibilities of staying in Estonia. Elron and the Transport Administration in cooperation with public transport centres allow Ukrainian war refugees to travel for free in trains, as well as city and county bus lines. The right to travel for free does not extend to commercial bus lines (e.g. the Tallinn-Tartu bus lines). The right to travel for free is not automatic: war refugees need to get a relevant public transport card from the local municipality The following public transport cards can be used to prove to the ticketing system that one has the right to travel and right to a discount: รhiskaart of Tallinn and Harju County (the so-called green card), the Atko Kohtla-Jรคrve รhiskaart, the GoBus รhiskaart, the Ridango รhiskaart, the Tartu รhiskaart, the Pรคrnu County รhiskaart, the Viljandi รhiskaart, and the รhiskaart of the Road Administration. The public transport cards can be cross-used: i.e. a Ukrainian war refugee can use the Tallinn รhiskaart to also travel for free in Tartu and vice versa. The "Friends of Mariupol" organization helps those evacuating through the territory of the Russian Federation with the construction of a route and transport after crossing the border with Estonia. To contact: send a request to the Telegram bot |
How can I travel to another (specific) country?You can travel by airplane, bus, car or train to different countries. The largest airports in Estonia are located in the following cities: Tallinn, Pรคrnu, Kuressaare, Kรคrdla. |
How long can I stay?As of 9 March 2022, Ukrainian citizens and their family members who have come to Estonia because of the war will be able to apply for temporary protection from the Police and Border Guard Board of Estonia. With the temporary protection you are allowed to stay for one year. |
Where can an unaccompanied minor get help?Unaccompanied minors have to have a legal representative, i.e. a guardian, appointed in Estonia, who will take care of the welfare of the child and represent him in necessary procedures (e.g. applying for benefits, applying for a bank card, making medical decisions etc.). Until a guardian has been appointed, the role of a guardian is taken up by the local municipality where the child has been registered (if there is no registration to residence, the local municipality on whose administrative territory the child resides). A guardian is appointed by the court. For this, it is necessary to submit an application to the court. As the language of the court proceedings and administration is Estonian, the specialists of the local municipality will assist in applying for the guardianship. If the guardianship is applied for as a provisional measure, the court will usually make its decision about appointing a guardian within up to five days. After receiving the court order, the guardian will be able to officially represent the child. The person that has been appointed a guardian is fully responsible for the child, including raising him, making decisions regarding him, taking care of his person and property, and representing him. The guardian can apply for family benefits for the child, e.g. the child allowance and the guardianship allowance: |
Are there any Covid-related requirements and if yes, what are they?The border crossing restrictions enacted to stop the spread of COVID, including the obligation to present a COVID certificate, do not apply to Ukrainian citizens and their direct descendants (children, grandchildren) and ascendants (parents, grandparents). |
Where do I register for temporary protection?You can apply for temporary protection in Tallinn at Police and Border Guard Board service offices at A. H. Tammsaare tee 47 and P.Pinna 4. For details, see The Police and Border Guard Board is also planning to establish pop-up processing points in accommodation facilities where refugees from Ukraine are staying. Information on this can be obtained onsite at the accommodation facilities. One adult with any minor children may use a single appointment for applying. If there are more adults in the family, you will need to book more than one appointment. In order to apply for temporary protection, you will need to bring your identity documents or other documents, such as a birth certificate. If you do not have any documents, you should contact the Embassy of Ukraine, which will issue identity certificates to Ukrainian citizens. Then you will be able to apply for temporary protection. Who will get temporary protection in Estonia?
Renewal of residence permits granted under temporary protection If your residence permit is about to expire, you can renew it in the self-service environment of the Police and Border Guard Board. Submit the application for extending your residence permit one to three months before the expiry date of your residence permit. To submit the application in the self-service environment, you need:
Please note! To submit an application, you must go to a service office of the Police and Border Guard Board if:
You will receive an extended residence card from a service office of the Police and Border Guard Board of your choice. |
How to extend the status of temporary protection?An application for an extension of a residence permit for temporary protection can be submitted via the self-service portal asylum.politsei.ee Upon submission of the application in the self-service portal, Ukrainian citizens will receive an e-mail confirmation that their application has been accepted. Ukrainian citizens will also receive an e-mail once their extended residence permit card is ready and they can collect it from the PBGBโs service office of their choice. What do I need to extend temporary protection? Internet access is necessary in order to submit an application for an extension of temporary protection in the self-service portal. You need to enter your personal identification code and residence permit card details upon submission of the application. In addition, the application must indicate the PBGBโs service office where you wish to collect your new residence permit card. Source |
What are my rights while I wait to get temporary protection?Temporary protection grants Ukrainian citizens and their family members rights similar to those of Estonian residents. For instance, access to social services and the right to work and education. It also entails the right of free movement within the European Union. Additionally, the recipients of protection have a right to state support in renting housing, learning Estonian, and using translation services. |
What documents will I receive once I get temporary protection?In order to apply for temporary protection, you will need to bring your identity documents or other documents, such as a birth certificate. If you do not have any documents, you should contact the Embassy of Ukraine, which will issue identity certificates to Ukrainian citizens. Then you will be able to apply for temporary protection. For applicants for temporary protection, the Police and Border Guard Board issues a temporary residence card. |
May I temporarily return to Ukraine? What will happen to my protection status?Beneficiaries of international protection (asylum) cannot return to their country of origin while they are considered a refuge. |
Can I move around the country and the European Union freely while under temporary protection?A Ukrainian citizen who has been granted temporary protection has the same status as any other third-country national holding a residence permit in Estonia. A third-country national holding an Estonian residence permit is allowed to stay in another Schengen Member State for 90 days within a period of 180 days (note that not all EU countries are part of the Schengen zone). If a Ukrainian national enjoying protection wishes to stay longer in the Member State of his or her choice, he or she must apply for a long-stay visa or residence permit in that country. |
Can I apply for asylum while under temporary protection? What is the difference?Foreign nationals, including Ukrainian citizens and residents, who fear persecution in their home country on account of race, nationality, religion, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, may apply for international protection. This also applies to people who consider that their return to Ukraine could lead to serious danger. Refugees are granted a residence permit for 3 years. The period of validity of the residence permit shall be extended every 3 years. The PBGB may extend the residence permit granted to a refugee for a period of three years, provided that the circumstances which led to the granting of the residence permit have not ceased to exist and there are no grounds for revoking the residence permit. Applications from Ukrainian citizens will be dealt with under an accelerated procedure, with the aim of giving a reply within one month. An applicant for international protection whose only legal basis for stay in Estonia is the status of an applicant for international protection is not allowed to work in Estonia as long as no decision has been taken on his or her application within 6 months. If the applicant stayed legally in Estonia before submitting the application and was allowed to work, his or her right to work continues during the period of application for protection. In order to apply for international protection, please contact: For a refugee or a beneficiary of subsidiary protection, the processing of an asylum application could take up to six months. For more information on applying for international protection, please contact asylum.counsel@counsel.ee |
How and where can I apply for the residency?In order to apply for temporary protection, you will need to bring your identity documents or other documents, such as a birth certificate. If you do not have any documents, you should contact the Embassy of Ukraine, which will issue identity certificates to Ukrainian citizens. Then you will be able to apply for temporary protection. Applying for temporary protection is a separate service. In order to apply for temporary protection, war refugees and their relatives arriving from Ukraine need to book an appointment at this website |
How long I need to wait to get the residency?The application is considered as soon as possible. |
What if I don't have the international passport?In order to apply for temporary protection, you will need to bring your identity documents or other documents, such as a birth certificate. If you do not have any documents, you should contact the Embassy of Ukraine, which will issue identity certificates to Ukrainian citizens. Then you will be able to apply for temporary protection. Having a international passport is not a prerequisite. |
How to issue a foreign passport while abroad?In order to issue a foreign passport, you need to contact the Ukrainian Embassy A foreign passport is issued to a person who has reached the age of 16 on the basis of an application-questionnaire submitted by him personally. At the same time, the issuance of a foreign passport to a person who has been recognized by the court as having limited legal capacity or incapacity is carried out on the basis of an application-questionnaire of the guardian or other legal representative. The following are attached to the application:
In case of loss or theft of the previous passport, a document (report, certificate, etc.) issued by the competent authority of the state in which the passport was lost or stolen is attached to the application, confirming the fact of the owner's application regarding its loss or theft. Such a document is submitted without legalization and translation into Ukrainian. In the case of issuing a passport in connection with a change in personal data (surname and/or first name), a document confirming such a change (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, court decision, etc.) is attached to the application. When issuing a foreign passport with a new surname and/or first name, the "domestic" passport (ID card) must be reissued. In the event that the applicant has not previously been issued with an identity document, confirming Ukrainian citizenship and/or granting the right to leave Ukraine and enter Ukraine, a certificate of registration of the person as a citizen of Ukraine is provided (with the exception of cases when the person's parents at the time of his were citizens of Ukraine at birth). |
How can a Ukrainian refugee register a newborn in this country?You can register the birth of a child only at the consulate. There, the determination of his origin and the assignment of his surname, first name, and patronymic are carried out. The application for registration must be submitted immediately, but no later than one month after the birth of the child, and in the case of a stillborn child - no later than three days. The registration process takes place at the place of birth or at the place of residence of the child's parents or one of them (with a written application). At the same time, in case of illness, death of the parents or for other reasons it is impossible to register the birth - the application can be submitted by relatives or other persons authorized by the representative of the health care institution in which the child was born or is currently. What is required for registration?
Registration is free, and based on its results, parents are issued a birth certificate. How to return to the homeland with a child born in the Estonia? In order for Ukrainians to return home with a child born in the Estonia, they must have with them:
Is the status of a citizen of Ukraine preserved during the birth of a child in the Estonia? A newborn Ukrainian in the Estonia retains the status of a citizen of Ukraine. Data on citizenship and nationality in the act record of birth and certificate are not filled in, which is why a corresponding entry is made in the column "For marks". In addition, a person whose parents or one of his parents were citizens of Ukraine at the time of his birth is a citizen of Ukraine. The place of birth of the baby does not affect the possibility of him acquiring Ukrainian citizenship. |
Where to apply in case of death of a Ukrainian abroad? How to repatriate the deceased to their homeland?There are several steps involved in the process of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine: 1. Notify the authorities. The first step of body repatriation from abroad to Ukraine is to contact the local authorities in Estonia, so you can register the death. Ukrainian embassy 2. Arrange the correct documents. Youโll need to have all the right paperwork before you can repatriate your loved one home from abroad to Ukraine. If you are repatriating a body to Ukraine for burial or cremation, the documents you will need include:
All the mentioned documents should be authenticated, legalized and translated into Ukrainian by the certified translator. The originals of abovementioned documents and notarized translations, must accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. The passport of the deceased person should be sent to the Embassy of Ukraine along with a notarized and authenticated copy of the Certificate of Death, and a translation from Estonian to Ukrainian. The Embassy is to make correspondent procedures with the passport and can forward it back if it is required to accompany the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. The Embassy is to be informed of the date, time, and the place of delivery of the casket containing the deceased, or urn with ashes, to Ukraine. Only the next of kin relatives of the deceased, or persons correspondingly authorized by them, can receive the casket or urn. 3. Transport the deceased to Ukraine. The casket containing the body, or urn with ashes, must be sealed by the Funeral Home. There are no strict requirements with respect to the urn with ashes; however, the body should be transported in a metal casket, made of zinc-plated steel or tinplate not more than 0,4 thick. For the air cargo transportation, it is necessary to specify a cemetery in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian Funeral Home which will take care of the casket, or the urn with ashes, in Ukraine. Both are a subject of private choice by the relatives or friends of the deceased person. Source |
Where can I take a photo for my documents?Photos can be taken at a photo booth of a service office of the Police or photographer. You may also take a photo yourself. There are also many shops that offer such services. Look for printer shops and copy centers on Google Maps. |
How do I get Mobile phone/internet services?A new SIM card can be obtained on the border crossing or refugee center. Estonian operators offers free calls to Ukraine, distribute Sims to refugees. |
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