Living in Estonia
Information aboutfor movingBritish to,citizens livingmoving to or retiringliving in EstoniaEstonia, – including visas,guidance working,on healthcareresidency, healthcare, and driving.
passports.
- From:
-
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office - Published
- 11 November 2013
- Last updated
-
14
24NovemberMay20252024— See all updates
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Updates to this page
Last updated 14
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Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
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18 December 2023 Information on mental health support added under "Emergencies" .
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3 November 2023 Full guide review.
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18 November 2022 Additional information of how to apply for Estonian residence permit.
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11 March 2022 Important information in the 'Working in Estonia' and 'National insurance' sections if you work in Estonia, even if it is for an employer based in the UK.
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21 December 2021 Guide reviewed and updated with new information, including in the sections on driving, national insurance and social security contributions, and emergencies.
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21 December 2021 Guidance reviewed and updated with new information, including Passports and travel, and driving.
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1 July 2021 Guidance reviewed for people who are moving or moved to Estonia after 1 January 2021. Following the residency application deadline, it also includes sub-sections relevant to people living there since before 1 January 2021.
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14 June 2021 New information on residence card permit process and deadline added to visas and residency section
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19 April 2021 Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in Estonia section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services; and education section updated with link to DIT guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.
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10 February 2021 Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
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31 December 2020 Updated as the transition period ends with new information on residency, driving, pet travel and moving to Estonia.
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16 December 2020 Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.
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10 November 2020 Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.
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14 October 2020 Driving section updated to include further information on exchanging a UK driving licence.
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7 September 2020 Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
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23 January 2020 Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
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2 October 2019 Brexit update: Driving section updated to reflect new transition period to exchange UK driving licences
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23 September 2019 Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
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3 September 2019 Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
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11 June 2019 EU Exit update: added information about EEA and EFTA countries to the "Passports and travel after EU Exit" section
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25 April 2019 EU Exit update: Updated information on passports and travel, pensions and returning to the UK.
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8 April 2019 EU Exit update: updated information on healthcare, visas and residency, passports and travel
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14 March 2019 EU Exit update: Added a link to the dedicated Brexit web page of the Estonian Ministry of Interior in the EU Exit section
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13 March 2019 We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
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22 February 2019 Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip
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29 January 2019 EU Exit update: updated information on access to healthcare
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22 January 2019 EU Exit update: Added information about the next outreach event in Estonia
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18 January 2019 EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving
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22 November 2018 EU exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section.
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7 March 2018 All content has been reviewed to ensure it's accurate and up to date.
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16 May 2017 Advice on UK old age state pension added under healthcare.
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11 November 2013 First published.
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Update history
2025-11-14 12:26
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-05-24 10:17
Information on the EU’s new digital border called the Entry/Exit System has been added under “Passports and travel”.
2023-12-18 13:29
Information on mental health support added under “Emergencies”.
2023-11-03 08:14
Full guide review.
2022-11-18 09:47
Additional information of how to apply for Estonian residence permit.
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the ‘Working in Estonia’ and ‘National insurance’ sections if you work in Estonia, even if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2021-02-10 15:28
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
2020-09-07 15:09
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-01-23 13:45
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-10-02 15:38
Brexit update: Driving section updated to reflect new transition period to exchange UK driving licences
2019-09-23 17:20
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-03 17:09
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-06-11 16:16
EU Exit update: added information about EEA and EFTA countries to the “Passports and travel after EU Exit” section
2019-04-25 13:48
EU Exit update: Updated information on passports and travel, pensions and returning to the UK.
Explore the topic
Update history
2025-11-14 12:26
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
2024-05-24 10:17
Information on the EU’s new digital border called the Entry/Exit System has been added under “Passports and travel”.
2023-12-18 13:29
Information on mental health support added under “Emergencies”.
2023-11-03 08:14
Full guide review.
2022-11-18 09:47
Additional information of how to apply for Estonian residence permit.
2022-03-11 08:00
Important information in the ‘Working in Estonia’ and ‘National insurance’ sections if you work in Estonia, even if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2021-02-10 15:28
Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
2020-09-07 15:09
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-01-23 13:45
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-10-02 15:38
Brexit update: Driving section updated to reflect new transition period to exchange UK driving licences
2019-09-23 17:20
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-03 17:09
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-06-11 16:16
EU Exit update: added information about EEA and EFTA countries to the “Passports and travel after EU Exit” section
2019-04-25 13:48
EU Exit update: Updated information on passports and travel, pensions and returning to the UK.