Living in Estonia

EU Exit updates

To keep up to date with information about EU Exit:

• read essential information about UK nationals in the EU
• sign up for email alerts on living in Estonia
• follow the British Embassy in Tallinn on Facebook and Twitter
• attend one of our citizens outreach meetings
• read the Brexit section on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia website which covers information if the UK Leaves the EU without a deal

Residency and visas

You should check the entry requirements for Estonia.

You must register on the Estonian Population Register if you’ll be in Estonia for more than 3 months and apply for an ID card. All Estonian citizens and residents over 15 must have an ID card.

Residency after the UK leaves the EU

Information on residency after the UK leaves the EU, both with or without a deal, and latest updates are on the Estonian Ministry of Interior’s website.

In the event of changes to residency rules or registration processes after the UK leaves the EU, we will update this guidance as soon as information is available.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Estonia. If you cannot get a passport in time for your trip, you may need to get an emergency travel document or ‘emergency passport’

If you plan to move to or retire in Estonia, read our guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

Read our travel advice for Estonia and sign up for up-to-date information on local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.

Passports and travel after EU Exit

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, new travel rules will apply. You should have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland).

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You should check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. You’ll need to renew your passport before travelling if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, UK nationals will not need visas for short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will be able to stay up to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You should retain evidence of travel (e.g. train and plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, MemberEEA State,or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, MemberEEA Statesor EFTA countries to reach your country of residence. We will update this guidance as more information becomes available.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the Schengen area with your UK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

You can find information on travel document requirements for visitors in Estonia from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Healthcare

You should ensure you are properly registered for healthcare as a resident in Estonia, as well as registering, where necessary, with a health insurer. You can read the NHS’s guidance on who is able to access healthcare in Estonia and how to register.

For information on how the health care insurance system in Estonia works read the Estonian health insurance fund and Estonian official state portal.

If you live in Estonia and receive an exportable UK pension, contribution-based Employment Support Allowance or another exportable benefit, you may currently be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

If you are resident in Estonia, you should not be using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK to access healthcare in Estonia.

• you may use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland

• the EHIC covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home

• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance

• for more information you can read our travel advice pages and advice on foreign travel insurance

You can read the NHS’s guidance on healthcare and studying abroad

You can find English-speaking doctors in Estonia.

You should also check your prescriptions are legal in Estonia.

You can use your Estonian ID card or Residence Permit card to get digital prescriptions.

Healthcare after EU Exit

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your current rights on access to healthcare in Estonia will remain the same until 31 December 2020, as long as you remain a resident in Estonia.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, your access to healthcare may change. If you are a permanent or temporary resident you should review the status of your healthcare cover.

The UK has proposed maintaining current healthcare cooperation with Estonia for S1 form holders until the end of December 2020. If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and there is no arrangement with Estonia to continue reciprocal healthcare, those receiving coverage through the S1 form will not be covered.

You should take action now to confirm your residency status and decide what steps you need to take to ensure access to healthcare if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. UK nationals will be able to return to the UK for treatment.

Your EHIC may not be valid in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The UK has offered to maintain the EHIC scheme should the UK leave the EU without a deal, however this is reliant on Estonia continuing to accept UK EHICs.

You should read the NHS’s guidance on healthcare for UK nationals in Estonia and how it may change after UK leaves the EU.

Working in Estonia

If you are registered as a resident in Estonia, you have the right to work. Read our guidance on working in another EU country.

You may need to apply for a:

• UK criminal records certificate

• Estonian criminal records certificate

If you require a record of your employment history in Estonia contact the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs.

Working in Estonia after the UK leaves the EU

If you’re planning to start a business, provide a service, or do a job in a regulated profession after the UK leaves the EU, further guidance can be found here.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, your right to work will stay the same until the end of the implementation period.

Money and tax

The UK has a double-taxation agreement with Estonia to ensure people do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

You should read the guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in an EU country
• paying income tax in Estonia from the Estonian Tax and Customs Board

We recommend you get professional advice on paying tax in Estonia. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Estonia.

National Insurance

You may be able to pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

Money and tax after the UK leaves the EU

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Pensions

You will need to tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire in Estonia, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension and new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pension Centre

• your Estonian pension if you’ve worked in Estonia

• pensions from working abroad, if you’ve worked in other EU countries

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you need to respond as soon as possible – your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Pensions after the UK leaves EU

The UK government will continue to pay State Pension, child benefits and disability benefits to those eligible in the EU after the UK’s exit from the EU.

The UK government will uprate your UK state pension for the fiscal year 2019/2020 in any scenario.

Find guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario here.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Estonia, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Estonian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after the end of the implementation period.

Benefits

You may still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Estonia. You should:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim if you live abroad

• use our tool to check which benefits you can claim while you’re abroad

If you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks, many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit can’t be paid.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Estonian benefits

You can find information about Estonian benefits and Allowances from the Estonian State Portal.

Benefits after the UK leaves the EU

The UK Government will continue to pay child benefits, and disability benefits to those eligible after the UK leaves the EU.

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal and you work and pay social security contributions in Estonia, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Estonian contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after the end of the implementation period.

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you can read our guidance on benefits and pensions in a no deal scenario.

Driving in Estonia

If you are resident in Estonia, you should exchange your UK licence for an Estonian one with the Estonian Road Administration before the UK leaves the EU, as your licence may not be valid once the UK leaves the EU. You can use your Estonian licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

For information on driving in Estonia, read the guidance on:

• driving abroad

• road travel in Estonia

• information on motor vehicle documents a driver must carry in Estonia

• information on lost and stolen driving licences if you travel in the EU

Bringing a UK registered vehicle to Estonia

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK. You should also read the Estonian Road Administration information on vehicle registration in Estonia

You should read the EuropeanEU’s Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Estonia. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.

Driving after the UK leaves the EU

If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period.

If the UK leaves EU without a deal, UK driving licences will be valid in Estonia for 12 months starting from the time its holder takes up permanent residence of Estonia on the population register. Estonia will still recognise driving licences issued in UK, but if your UK driving licence was issued before 1990 you may also need an International Driving Permit to drive in Estonia.

Please read our guidance on driving in the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

Voting

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote

• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

If you’re resident in Estonia, you can vote in local municipal elections and in European Parliamentary Elections.

Voting after the UK leaves the EU

After the UK leaves the EU, you will continue to be able to vote in local elections if you have permanent residence or a long-term residence permit. You will no longer be eligible to vote in European Parliament elections.

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Estonia, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Estonia you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad

• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavements in Estonia

• find a list of English-speaking funeral directors in Estonia

Find out how you can get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Estonia.

You may need:

• English-speaking lawyers in Estonia

• translators and interpreters in Estonia

Pets

When the UK leaves the EU, you will still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret but the rules will change. You can read guidance on pet travel to Europe after Brexit.

While the UK is still an EU Member State you’ll be able to travel with your pet to the EU under the current pet travel rules using your current EU pet passport.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time you’ll have to visit your vet to get a pet passport.

Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK. For moving pet horses and other equines read guidance on export horses and ponies: special rules.

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number on 112 in Estonia. If calling from outside Estonia about an emergency in Estonia, you can dial (+372) 6000 112 to reach Estonian Response Centre

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact yourthe nearest British embassyEmbassy or consulateTallinn

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

Returning to the UK

You should read our guidance on:

• returning to live in the UK

• returning to live in the UK in the case of no-deal

• bringing your family to the UK

• access to higher education, 19+ further education and apprenticeship funding

• importing vehicles back to the UK

• bringing your pet back to the UK

• checking your tax status after returning to the UK

Tell the UK and Estonian authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently. To help prove you are now living in the UK, you should deregister with your:

• Estonian Population register

• local health care provider

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

Read our guidance on bringing your pet to the UK and importing vehicles to the UK.

If you get healthcare in Estonia through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Disclaimer

Please note that this information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Estonian authorities. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.