Abroad, you can apply for or renew an Estonian passport or ID card in three ways:

➡️ Through the Police and Border Guard Board’s self-service portal — Note: To use this service, your fingerprints must be valid, meaning they are no older than 6 years at the time of submission.

➡️ By mail — This is only possible if your fingerprints are still valid. You will need to send the completed application, proof of payment of the state fee, and a document photo to the Police and Border Guard Board by mail.

➡️ In person at an Estonian foreign representation (embassy or consulate) — Necessary if you need to provide or update fingerprints, or if you wish to submit your application on-site. If needed, we recommend directing any additional questions to the foreign representation.

After submitting the application, processing usually takes up to 30 days from the date the application arrives in Estonia. Receiving the document from the foreign representation may take additional time due to transport.

To apply for a first Estonian passport or ID card for a child aged 12 or older, or for an adult, you must submit the application in person at an Estonian embassy, consulate, or the Police and Border Guard Board in Estonia. Fingerprints and identity verification are required. You will need:

• Proof of Estonian citizenship (apostilled birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or previous document)
• A passport photo meeting official specifications
• Completed application forms

Processing usually takes up to 30 days from the time the application reaches Estonia, with additional time for receiving the document abroad. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, you should contact your nearest Estonian embassy before applying.

According to the Estonian Citizenship Act, Estonian citizenship is acquired by birth if at least one of the parents is a citizen of Estonia at the time of child’s birth. This rule also applies retrospectively. In other words, if one of your ancestors had children while being an Estonian citizen, then all their descendants may be eligible for Estonian citizenship by birth.

In most cases, this involves proving that an ancestor living in Estonia had Estonian citizenship, often between 1918 and 1940. To confirm this, you must obtain verification from the National Archives, which conducts investigations upon request for a state fee (currently €15).

If the National Archives confirms that at least one ancestor was an Estonian citizen, you must establish your direct connection to that ancestor. The simplest way is to provide original, apostilled birth certificates of all predecessors in your family line up to the Estonian ancestor. If one of your parents is already an Estonian citizen, this step can be skipped for that line. 

You will also need your own birth certificate, showing both parents, translated into English and apostilled. 

Once citizenship eligibility is confirmed, you can submit your application for a passport or ID card at your nearest Estonian embassy, consulate, or the Police and Border Guard Board in Estonia.

Estonian family benefits (peretoetused) are granted to people living in Estonia. For digital nomads, eligibility depends on meeting the Estonian tax residency requirement, meaning the person must spend at least 183 days in Estonia within a 12-month period.

If you go abroad with your children temporarily, return to Estonia, and the total time spent in Estonia during the year is at least 183 days, eligibility for Estonian family benefits is retained. However, if you move permanently to another country with your children, work there, and continuously perform remote work from abroad, your right to receive benefits in Estonia generally ends.

For more information on Estonian family benefits, visit the Social Insurance Board website .

Last updated: 17 September 2024