Logo

Coming to Estonia

Initial information to Ukrainian citizens and their family members about the opportunities they have to come to Estonia, the necessary documents and contacts.

Coming to Estonia: general information

  • Ukrainian citizens holding a biometric passport may travel to Estonia without a visa. Ukrainian citizens who are not holders of a biometric passport may travel to Estonia if they are war refugees or apply for temporary protection or international protection. The family members of Ukrainian citizens (children, parents, spouses) who are citizens of some other country and whose visa or other basis for stay has expired or is about to expire may temporarily remain in Estonia. Additionally, the Police and Border Guard Board can admit other arrivals, e.g. partners, from Ukraine to Estonia on humanitarian grounds, in order to maintain family unity.

  • A minor must also have a valid travel document to cross the border. If a child is travelling with a person who is not his parent or legal guardian, then we recommend giving a minor a hand written note with her parents contact information to take along, in order to simply the crossing of border(s).
  • If a Ukrainian citizen does not have a valid travel document and he reaches the external border of Estonia and wishes to receive protection from the state of Estonia, it is possible for him to submit an application for international protection at the border crossing point. International protection must be applied for in the first safe country that the person reaches.
  • As a Ukrainian war refugee you have the right to move around in the European Union (EU) according to your own wishes. The important part is that you are aware of the potential dangers on your route and make sure that you base yourself on trustworthy sources, institutions and people when you plan your trip, to avoid possible fraud, becoming a victim of human trafficking etc.
  • If you wish to move on to some other state, turn to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) who will make sure that your onward journey is safe and dignified and takes into account your possible needs.

Possibilities to get from Ukraine to Estonia

  • Ukrainian airspace is closed, the country can be left by land. When travelling to Estonia, avoid routes that take you to regions and states (Russia, Belarus) involved in the armed conflict. It would make sense to first travel away from the war affected areas towards west and then leave through Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, or Romania. These countries also have functioning air traffic.
  • The entry into Poland via land border with Ukraine is not limited, eight border crossing points are open. We recommend that travellers who do not have a car use the Shehyn/Medyka border crossing point for crossing the border. It should be taken into account that there are traffic jams on the highways.
Seisev buss

Important contacts and consular aid

UNCHR information for persons inside Ukraine

For persons inside Ukraine, UNHCR advises you to:

  • Stay informed and connected (via radio, TV, Internet) and follow official advice for your security. Listen to official messages from emergency services, local authorities, and follow the instructions, including curfews.
  • Keep a copy (even digital) of your documents in a safe place. The replacement of lost documents will be easier if people can present a copy to the SMS later.
  • For advice on how to provide emotional support to children during these difficult times, see pages such as this.

The Ukraine State Emergency Services (SES) has a WhatsApp helpline for critical updates. To start using the helpline, save the number +380676785917 in your contacts and text the word почати (begin) in a WhatsApp message. Link: https://www.turn.io/news/ukraine-state-emergency-services

There is also a hotline phone number for IDPs at: 0-800-307-711.

UNHCR can be contacted at phone number +38 (044) 288 97 10 and by e-mail: ukrki@unhcr.org. Note that these hotlines are receiving a high number of calls.

UNHCR is doing its outmost to ensure that its services and assistance are continued and strengthened. Please note that UNHCR is, however, not involved in evacuations of any person from Ukraine.

For more information, please see our HELP page in Ukraine: https://help.unhcr.org/ukraine/.

If you are a refugee from Ukraine, UNCHR can help. Please visit https://help.unchr.org

For Ukrainians traveling to or present in other countries, please see the below for information on asylum procedures and where to go for help

Ukrainian war refugee: coming to Estonia

The border crossing point:

  • establishes the border crossing of people and a Ukrainian war refugee's wish to submit an application for temporary protection;
  • establishes the final destination of a person's movement;
  • accepts an application for international protection if necessary;
  • gives information about staying in Estonia;
  • organises the further movement of an unaccompanied foreign minor.

The Police and Border Guard Board recommends to not travel to Russia unless there is an urgent need. Ukrainian citizens have been granted temporary protection specifically to protect them from Russia's actions and travelling to Russia might bring about the revocation of one's residence permit.

The information necessary for staying in Estonia is available at the border crossing point, at the state helpline 1247 (+372 600 1247) or from www.dopomoga.ee (in Ukrainian).

In Narva (Peetri plats 3), the refugees in transit are counselled by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Temporary protection

If a Ukrainian war refugee wishes to receive temporary or international protection, she needs to turn to a service office of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA). Prior booking at broneering.politsei.ee is necessary for submitting at application for temporary protection at a service office.

Applications for temporary protection are accepted at the following service offices 9:00-17:00 on working days:

  • Tallinn: the Tammsaare (Tammsaare 47) police station
  • the Tartu police station (Riia 132)
  • the Jõhvi police station (Rahu 38)
  • the Rakvere police station (Kreutzwaldi 5a)
  • the Pärnu police station (Tammsaare 61)
  • the Narva police station (Vahtra 3)

More specific information: the Police and Border Guard Board

Ukrainian citizens holding a biometric passport may travel to Estonia without a visa. Ukrainian citizens who are not holders of a biometric passport may travel to Estonia if they are war refugees or apply for temporary protection or international protection. The family members of Ukrainian citizens (children, parents, spouses) who are citizens of some other country and whose visa or other basis for stay has expired or is about to expire may temporarily remain in Estonia. Additionally, the Police and Border Guard Board can admit other arrivals, e.g. partners, from Ukraine to Estonia on humanitarian grounds, in order to maintain family unity.

No, it is not, unless the visa would be needed to visit a family member or for some other family reason. Starting from March 10, it is no longer possible to submit visa applications in the Estonian foreign representations and at the visa centres of outside service providers in the Russian Federation and Belarus.

All visas issued are valid until their expiration date. The Estonian foreign representations will definitely also continue accepting the visa applications of those Russian and Belarusian citizens who wish to come to Estonia to visit their family members, as well as for humanitarian reasons, like severe illness of a close relative or a funeral. NB! Starting from May, the Estonian head consulate in Saint Petersburg and representation in Pskov are closed.

The decision to end the admission of visa applications in Russia and Belarus is due to the technical issues with making visa fee and service charge payments, as well as other unexpected limitations that have to do with the current situation in Russia and Belarus.

It is not allowed to bring in cats, dogs and ferrets from shelters, breeders and other sources. The reason for that is the very high risk of the spread of rabies. Rabies is a disease that has no treatment.

Only pets that are with their owners are allowed to come from Ukraine to Estonia.

The police checks whether the person has valid travel documents, a basis for stay in Estonia and establishes the reason for their entry into the country. If a person does not have documents or the right to stay in Estonia, they will make a decision on whether to allow the person into the country or not.

The police stop the person crossing the border, in order to check his citizenship on the basis of his travel documents. If the travel documents are missing, the citizenship or provenance will be established on the basis of other documents or person's own statements.

Yes, he can.

If a child is travelling from Ukraine to Estonia with at least one parent (or legal guardian), there is no need to have an officially certified consent or any other formal document.

If a child is travelling with an acquaintance or a family member (who is not the child's parent or legal guardian), we recommend that the minor have a handwritten consent with him, containing the contact information of the parents, to make border crossing(s) simpler.

Estonia cannot confirm what requirements are enacted by other European Union member states for crossing their external border -- this has to be asked from the specific country whose border is being crossed.

The state of Estonia accepts all children who have had to escape the war taking place in Ukraine.

If the child does not have an identity document, then at some point the adult companion and the minor have to turn to the Ukrainian Embassy in Estonia, where the child will be issued a certificate with his personal data.

We recommend giving the child or adolescent a hand written permission with her parents contact information to take along, in order to simply the crossing of border(s).

In order to cross the borders it is necessary to have a valid travel document and a legal basis for entering Estonia (a visa, visa freedom, an Estonian residence permit etc).

The list of countries whose citizens have a right to travel to Estonia without a visa can be found on the web page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Estonia accepts all children of Ukrainian citizens regardless of whether the minor has documents or not. After entering the country, the war refugees need to turn to the Ukrainian Embassy in Estonia at some point, so that they could enter the information of the child or the adolescent to the parent's passport or issue a certificate with identity data.

Yes, the state of Estonia accepts all children who have had to escape from the war taking place in Ukraine, regardless of whether they have a valid travel document or not.

If the child does not have a document (but is travelling with a parent or an adult companion), then in some time the adult companion needs to turn to the Ukrainian Embassy in Estonia along with the child and the child will be issued a certificate containing her personal data.

If a minor arrives on the border without documents and an adult companion, the Police , the Social Insurance Board and other authorities will do everything they can so that the children would be cared for and safe here.

This depends on when and why she arrived in Estonia. The legal grounds to arrive in Estonia has temporarily been granted, even if the person does not hold a biometric passport, a Schengen visa or a valid travel document (e.g only has an internal passport), to all Ukrainian citizens who

  1. were in Estonia even before February 24, 2022, or
  2. who can be subjects of temporary protection (i.e. war refugees and their family members, regardless of their citizenship).

If a person is without any kind of documents, her citizenship is determined at the Estonian border based on statements.

After arriving in Estonia, the Ukrainian citizen has to turn to the Ukrainian Embassy in Estonia (+372 601 5815, Lahe 6, 10150 Tallinn) where she will be issued a certificate containing her personal data. Third country citizens can be issued a travel document by their own state or a representation of their own state (an embassy or a consulate).

Important: Estonia is terminating the derogations for the pets of Ukrainian war refugees starting from July 1.

In order to enter Estonia from Ukraine with your pet (a dog, a cat or a ferret), it is necessary for the animal to be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and the animal has to have rabies antibody titration determined at a recognized laboratory. The animal also has to have a veterinary certificate issued by the competent authority in Ukraine. Pets that accompany a traveller are allowed to enter Estonia through all border crossing points open for international travel and the animals are checked there by the Tax and Customs Board. It is no longer necessary to notify the Agriculture and Food Board (PTA) separately.

If you have any questions, you can contact the emergency telephone of the PTA at +372 735 8536. The regional specialists of the PTA can also offer assistance.

The airspace of Ukraine is closed, but it is possible to leave the country by land. When travelling to Estonia, avoid routes that take you to regions and states (Russia, Belarus) involved in the armed conflict. It would make sense to first travel away from the war affected areas towards west and then leave through Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, or Romania. These countries also have functioning air traffic.

The Police and Border Guard Board recommends entering Estonia through the Ikla border crossing point.

If a Ukrainian refugee arrives at a border point that has nearby public transport connections, the refugee will be directed to the correct stop. If there is no public transport near the border crossing location, the people will get support in finding both transportation and accommodation, and they will be given the necessary information.

Coming to Estonia with a pet animal: what must be kept in mind?

In order to bring a dog or cat with non-commercial purpose from Ukraine to Estonia following requirements must be fulfilled:

1. Dogs and cats must be marked by microchip;

2. Dogs and cats must have a valid anti-rabies vaccination. The pet animal must be at least 12 weeks old at the date of vaccination. The date of vaccination  took place after implantation of or reading the number of the microchip. The validity period of the vaccination starts from establishment of the protective immunity but not later than in 21 days after primary vaccination and remains valid until the date the authorised veterinarian or official veterinarian has stated in the pet passport.

NB! BRINGING YOUNG DOGS, CATS AND FERRETS WITHOUT VALID ANTI-RABIES VACCINATION INTO ESTONIA FROM NON-EU COUNTRIES IS NOT ALLOWED.

3. Additionally to the anti-rabies vaccination, dogs and cats must also undergo a rabies antibody titration test

Antibody titre can be determined starting from 30 days after vaccination. The required titre is 0.5 units/ml or higher. The time between determination of titre and movement must be not less than 3 months. The test must be done in an authorised laboratory.

Thus, if the puppy or kitten was vaccinated against rabies at the age of 12 weeks, and antibody titration test was determined on 30th day after vaccination, the minimum age on the animal when travelling to Estonia could be 7 months (12 weeks + 30 days + 3 months).

4. The pet animal must be accompanied with a certificate. The certificate is issued or verified by an official veterinary inspector, filled with capital letters in English language and the language of the Member State of entry and remains valid for 10 day as of the date of issuance. Information about titration of rabies anti-bodies must be entered into the certificate. The certificate must be accompanied with an original laboratory report verifying titration of anti-bodies according to the requirements.

5.  The certificate must be accompanied by the declaration of non-commercial movement signed by the owner of the animal or by a person authorised by the owner.

6. Anti-parasite treatment for dogs is not needed upon entering into Estonia.

Entry of pet animals accompanying travellers on non-commercial purposes to Estonia from non-EU countries is allowed via all border stations open for International trafficking including travellers in which case supervision of such entry is executed by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board.

Pets of war refugees from Ukraine

Pets of war refugees from Ukraine must also meet all of the above mentioned requirements. In a state of emergency, animals that do not meet the requirements may be allowed to enter Estonia only with a PTA permit, for which the pet owner must first submit the application to pta@pta.agri.ee, in which it is needed to describe the details of the owner and animal and the situation why one or the other requirement cannot be met.

For the Estonian citizen in Ukraine: instructions

Register your stay in Ukraine at reisitargalt.vm.ee/registreeri-reis or call +372 5301 9999 (24h)

  • Leave Ukraine at first opportunity and return to Estonia: air traffic has been closed, you can leave by land.
  • If you do decide to stay in Ukraine, you have to consider that war developments might make it increasingly difficult to leave the country.
  • Contact your close ones/relatives and keep them updated about your location and activities. Do this both if you decide to stay in Ukraine and when you start your return journey to Estonia.
  • If you are in a region that is under attack, make sure to use the offered opportunities to shelter. Leave the area as soon as the circumstances allow.
  • Always carry along both your identity document and other necessary documents. Do not keep the documents in a bag, rather keep them at your person (an inside pocket etc.).
  • Acquire essential reserves (food, water, medicines) necessary for yourself and your family for up to 48 hours. If you plan to stay in Ukraine, get reserves for a longer period.
  • Make sure that you could interact with both your close ones and, if necessary, the state (consular assistance), and that you could keep yourself constantly up to date with the changing information. Keep the battery of your phone charged, get a battery bank, an extra phone etc.
  • Find out where you can get trustworthy information by the Ukrainian state and local instructions. It is urgently recommended to follow the instructions issued by the state.
  • Avoid participating in and coming in contact with local so-called protests and larger gatherings.
  • When travelling to Estonia, avoid routes that take you to regions and states (Russia, Belarus) involved in the armed conflict. It would make sense to first travel away from the war affected areas towards west and then leave through Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, or Romania. These countries also have functioning air traffic.
  • If you have registered your stay in Ukraine, let the state also know when you have safely left Ukraine.

Last updated: 21.08.2023