Living in Estonia

Stay up to date

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Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up for email alerts on living in Estonia
• follow the British Embassy in Tallinn on Facebook and Twitter

Attend a citizen outreach meeting

The British Embassy regularly holds events across Estonia for UK nationals. Attend one of our citizens’ outreach meetings to keep up to date on working and living in Estonia after Brexit.Estonia.

You can also:

• read the Brexitinformation section on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia website
• read

The LivingWithdrawal Agreement

The Withdrawal Agreement sets out the terms of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and provides for a deal on citizens’ rights. It sets out a transition period which lasts until 31 December 2020. During this time you can continue to live, work and study in the EU: preparebroadly as you did before 31 January 2020.

If you are resident in Estonia at the end of the transition period, you will be covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, and your rights will be protected for Brexitas long as you remain resident in Estonia.

Any rights that are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement will be the subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information

In the meantime, make sure you are registered as a resident in Estonia. We will update this guidance as soon as more information becomes available.

You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.

Visas and residency

Check the entry requirements for EstoniaEstonia..

Residency

If you are resident in Estonia before the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, you will be able to stay.

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

Residency after Brexit

Information on residency after Brexit, and latest updates areon residency is on the Estonian Ministry of Interior’s websitewebsite..

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If you willplan beto ablemove to stay.or retire in Estonia, read our guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

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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.

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

Read our guidance on who can access healthcare in Estonia and how to register.

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.

Read our guidance on how to get an S1 form.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Estonia, you must not use your 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.

• 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

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You canshould findalso read guidance on:

• healthcare and studying abroad
• finding English-speaking doctors in Estonia.

You should also check your prescriptions are legal in Estonia.

Healthcare

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Driving in Estonia

Driving licence rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

If you are resident in Estonia, you should exchange your UK licence for an Estonian one with the Estonian Road Administration. 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 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 will need certificates of exemption.

Driving after Brexit

Driving licence rules will stay the same during the implementation period until 31 December 2020.

If you register for residence in Estonia after Brexit, your UK driving licence will be valid in Estonia for 12 months, from the day you registered.

Working in Estonia

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

If you are resident in Estonia afteron Brexit

Youror before 31 December 2020, your right to work will stay the same, as long as you remain resident in Estonia.

Education and professional qualifications

YourIf you are resident in Estonia on or before 31 December 2020, your right to study in Estonia will stay the same, as long as you remain resident in Estonia.

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

Money and tax

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

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Estonia have not changed following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

You should read the guidance on:

• tellingtax 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.

Money and tax after Brexit

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

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.

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

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 Brexit31 December 2020

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If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance..

If you are living in Estonia 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 the31 endDecember of the implementation period.2020.

Benefits

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Benefits

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

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.

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 Brexit31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If 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 the31 endDecember of the implementation period.2020.

Voting

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• registerby asthe anWithdrawal overseasAgreement, voterthe ifrules youdepend wouldon likenegotiations towith votethe EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Voting

If you’re resident in Estonia, you can vote in local municipal elections.

You andcannot vote in national elections or European ParliamentaryParliament Elections.elections.

Voting after Brexit

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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

Current pet travel rules will stay the same until 31 December 2020.

If you’re travelling with your pet for the first time, you must visit your vet to obtain a pet passport.

Read guidance on bringing your pet travelto the UK.

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

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 ForeignForeign, and Commonwealth & Development Office will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information.