How do I establish eligibility for Estonian citizenship 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.