Living in Estonia

Attend

You acan citizen outreach meeting

The

• read BritishLiving Embassyin regularlythe holdsEU: eventsprepare across Estonia for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizens’ outreach meetingsBrexit to keep up to date on working and living in Estonia after Brexit.

  You can also:

  • read the Brexit section on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia website
  • read Livingwhich incovers information if the UK Leaves the EU: preparewithout fora Brexitdeal
  • attend one of our citizens outreach meetings

  Visas and residency

  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 Brexit

  Information on residency after Brexit, and latest updates are on the Estonian Ministry of Interior’s website.

  If youthere are residentchanges to residency rules or registration processes after Brexit, 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 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 Brexit

  After Brexit, the rules on travel will change. 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 with a deal, nothing will change until the end of 2020. In this time you can continue to travel freely in the implementationSchengen periodarea onwith 31your DecemberUK passport. What happens after 2020 will form the next part of negotiations.

  If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, you willmust behave ableat least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to stay.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.

  If therethere’s areno changesdeal, toUK residencynationals registrationwill processesnot afterneed Brexit,visas wefor short stays elsewhere in the EU. You will updatebe thisable guidanceto asstay soonup to 90 days in another EU, EEA or EFTA country, within a 180 day period. You must retain evidence of travel (such as informationtrain isand available.plane tickets), in case these are requested by national authorities. If you hold a residence permit from an EU, EEA or EFTA country, you will be able to transit through other EU, EEA or EFTA countries to reach your country of residence.

  Read travel document requirements for visitors in Estonia from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  Healthcare

  You must register for healthcare as a resident in Estonia, as well as registering, where necessary, with a health insurer.

  Find out how the health care insurance system in Estonia works. Read the Estonian health insurance fund and Estonian official state portal.

  Read the NHS guidance on who is able to access healthcare in Estonia and how to register.

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

  State healthcare: S1

  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 must apply for a certificate of entitlement known as an S1 certificate.

  European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

  If you are resident in Estonia, you must not use youra European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from the UK for healthcare in Estonia.

  When you travel from Estonia for a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland, you can use an EHIC to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.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

  If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on healthcare and studying abroad

  You can find English-speaking doctors in Estonia.

  You should also check your prescriptions are legal in Estonia.

  Healthcare after Brexit

  ThereIf willthere beis noa changesdeal, to your healthcarecurrent accessrights beforeon 31access December 2020. You can also continue to usehealthcare your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.

  If you are living in Estonia orwill moveremain therethe permanentlysame beforeuntil 31the Decemberend 2020,of you’llthe haveimplementation life-longperiod, healthcareas rightslong in Estonia as you doremain now,a providedresident youin remain resident.Estonia.

  YouIf mustthere’s confirmno deal, your residency status and decide how you will ensure access to healthcare ifmay there’schange. no deal.

  Passports and travel

  You can apply for or renew your British passport from Estonia. If you planare toa movepermanent to or retiretemporary inresident 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 Brexit

  Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should bereview valid for the proposed duration of your stay;healthcare you do not need any additional period of validity on your passport beyond this.cover.

  You’llIf need to renew your passport before travelling if you docurrently not have enough time left on your passport.

  Thehealthcare rulescosts onpaid travelfor willby stay the sameUK untilgovernment, thewe endcan ofhelp theif implementation period on 31 December 2020. During this time you canare continueasked to travelpay tofor countriestreatment induring the Schengenfirst area6 ofmonths elsewhereafter inBrexit. theTo EUorganise witha yourpayment, UKyou passportmust untilgive theyour passporthealthcare expires.

  Weprovider’s will update these pages with details of any changes to the rulesNHS asBusiness soonServices asAuthority’s informationOverseas isHealthcare available. You should sign up for updates to this guidance.Services.

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  Read travel document requirements for visitorsUK nationals in Estonia fromand thehow Estonianit Ministrymay ofchange Foreignafter Affairs.Brexit.

  Driving in Estonia

  IfThe you are resident in Estonia, you should exchange your UK licencegovernment forhas anoffered Estonianto onecontinue withpaying the Estoniancountry Roadyou Administration.live Youin canfor use your Estonianhealthcare licenceif inthere’s theno UKdeal, foras short visits or exchange it fordoes anow. UKThe licencegovernment withouthas takingproposed amaintaining testcurrent ifhealthcare youcooperation returnwith toEstonia livefor inS1 theform UK.

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  YouYour should read the EUEHIC’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Estonia. You may not be exemptvalid fromif somethere’s ofno thesedeal. taxes.The IfUK sohas youoffered willto needmaintain certificates of exemption.

  Driving after Brexit

  Driving licence rules will stay the sameEHIC duringscheme theif implementationthere’s periodno untildeal, 31however Decemberthis 2020.

  Ifis youreliant registeron for residence in Estonia aftercontinuing Brexit,to youraccept UK driving licence will be valid in Estonia for 12 months, from the day you registered.EHICs.

  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. To apply for a job you may need to provide 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 Brexit

  YourRead rightthe toguidance workon willproviding stayservices theafter same,Brexit asif longyou’re asplanning youto remainstart residenta business, provide a service, or do a job in Estonia.

  Educationa andregulated professionalprofession qualifications

  after Brexit.

  YourIf rightthere tois studya indeal, Estoniayour right to work will stay the same,same asuntil longthe asend youof remainthe residentimplementation in Estonia.period.

  Education and professional qualifications

  For information on education, read studying in the European Union after Brexit.

  The European Commission has published guidance on professional qualifications. If you have already been recognised by an EU country as holding valid professional qualifications, this will remain valid after Brexit. If you hold qualifications obtained in the UK before the UK leaves the EU, you should obtain recognition in a EU27 Member State before Brexit day.

  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:

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

  You should get professional advice on paying tax in Estonia. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Estonia.

  National Insurance

  Find out if you can pay National Insurance while abroad in order to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances.

  If you are employed or self-employed in the EU or EEA and you have a UK-issued A1/E101 form, you will remain subject to UK legislation until the end date on the form.

  If the end date on your form is after 31 October 2019, you should contact the relevant EU, EEA or Swiss authority to confirm whether you need to start paying social security contributions in that country after 31 October, as well as UK National Insurance contributions.

  Find out more about social security contributions after a no-deal Brexit.

  Money and tax after Brexit

  Brexit will not change existing double-taxationdouble taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Estonia. Send your taxpayer questions about double taxation to the relevant tax authority.

  Pensions

  YouIf willthere’s needno todeal, tellit themay UKbecome governmentmore officesexpensive thatto dealuse with your benefits,bank pensioncard andin taxEstonia. ifRead youmore areabout movingusing a bank card, insurance or retiringother abroadfinancial service in the EU.

  Pensions

  ThereYou will beneed no changes before 31 December 2020 to thetell rules on claiming the UK Stategovernment Pensionoffices inthat thedeal EU,with EEAyour orbenefits, Switzerlandpension asand atax resultif ofyou theare UKmoving leavingor theretiring EUabroad.

  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 Brexit

  YouThe can continue to receive your UK Stategovernment Pensionwill ifcontinue youto livepay ina the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension.

  IfPension youto arethose livingeligible in the EU, EEAafter orBrexit. SwitzerlandYour by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension upratedwill everybe yearuprated forin asApril long2020, as2021 youand continue2022 to live there. This will happen even if you startlive claimingin yourthe pensionEU, onEEA or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions.Switzerland.

  If youthere areis livinga indeal Estoniaand by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

  If 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

  ThereRead willour beguidance no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claimingpensions UKif benefitsthere’s inno the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EUdeal.

  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

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

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

  Estonian benefits

  Find out about Estonian benefits and Allowances from the Estonian State Portal.

  Benefits after Brexit

  The UK government will continue to pay child benefits, and disability benefits to those eligible after Brexit.

  If there is 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.

  Driving in Estonia

  If you are livingresident in Estonia, you should exchange your UK licence for an Estonian one with the Estonian Road Administration before the UK leaves the EU,. EEAYou can use your Estonian licence in the UK for short visits or Switzerlandexchange byit 31for Decembera 2020,UK youlicence willwithout continuetaking a test if you return to receivelive anyin the UK.

  For benefitsinformation youon alreadydriving receive.in ThisEstonia, willread continuethe forguidance ason:

  • driving longabroad

  • road astravel youin liveEstonia

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

  • information on lost and meetstolen alldriving otherlicences eligibilityif requirements.you travel in the EU

  Bringing a UK registered vehicle to Estonia

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

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

  Driving after Brexit

  If there’s no deal, and payyou socialare securitya contributionsregistered inresident Estonia,of Estonia before Brexit, you will have a 12-month transition period to exchange your UK socialdriving securitylicence contributionsstarting from the day the UK leaves the EU.

  If you register for residence in Estonia after Brexit, your UK driving licence will be takenvalid intoin accountEstonia whenfor applying12 formonths, Estonianfrom contributions-basedthe benefits.day Thisyou are registered, before you must exchange it.

  Estonia will happenstill evenrecognise driving licences issued in the UK, but if your UK driving licence was issued before 1990 you claimmay contributions-basedalso benefitsneed an International Driving Permit to drive in Estonia.

  Read our guidance on driving in the EU after Brexit if there is no deal.

  If there is a deal, driving licence rules will stay the endsame ofduring the implementation period.

  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 Brexit

  YouAfter Brexit, 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

  CurrentYou petwill still be able to travel to and from the UK with a cat, dog or ferret when the UK leaves the EU, but the rules will staychange. Read guidance on pet travel to Europe after Brexit.

  While the sameUK untilis 31still Decemberan 2020.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,time you must visit your vet to obtainget a pet passport.

  Read guidance on returning your cat, dog or ferret to the UK. For moving pet travelhorses 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 the British Embassy Tallinn

  Accommodation and buying property

  Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

  Returning to the UK

  You should read our guidance on:

  • access to benefits and services in the UK if there a 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.

  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.

  Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

  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.