17.09.2020

Information on countries and restriction on freedom of movement requirements for passengers

Travelling to Estonia is possible for the following persons

• Estonian citizens, residents and their family members. Estonian citizens and residents are allowed entry regardless of whether or not they show symptoms of the disease.
• Citizens and residents of the European Union, the Schengen area, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican, and individuals with a long-stay visa and their family members if they show no symptoms. Read the list here.
• Residents of Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay, if they show no symptoms. 
• Citizens of foreign states without symptoms arriving in Estonia from states not named above for work or studies. On arrival they are subjects to 14-day restriction on freedom of movement, which means that:
  • the employer or educational institution must provide transport for the employee or student on their arrival in Estonia and ensure that they comply with the 14-day compulsory restriction on freedom of movement;
  • the employer or educational institution ensures that the employee or student undergoes two SARS-CoV-2 tests. The first test must be administered on their arrival and the second on the 14th day after their arrival;
  • the employee and student is not allowed to start working and studying respectively for the first 14 days following their arrival in Estonia;
  • the employee and student can start work and studies respectively from the 15th day since their arrival on the condition that their second coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 test was negative.

Who is subject to restrictions of the freedom of movement?

• Anyone arriving in Estonia who began their journey from or transited through a country without health data or with an infection rate above 16. 

• Any citizen or resident of Estonia displaying symptoms of illness.

• Comprehensive information about border crossing, which has been compiled from various government authorities, is available on the kriis.ee site: https://www.kriis.ee/en/travelling-and-border-crossing. Information is also provided by the Police and Border Guard Board: https://www.politsei.ee/en/instructions/emergency-situation.

• For more information on Covid-19 and restriction on the freedom of movement, call 1247.

Coronavirus testing opportunity for people arriving to Estonia

• From 1 September, those returning to Estonia from COVID-19 risk countries will have the opportunity to be tested for coronavirus at the airport and port in order to shorten the 14-day restriction on the freedom of movement and allow them to return to work sooner. Testing is free of charge for Estonian residents; foreigners can take the test at a cost of 67 euros and can pay on the spot by card.
• Tests can be taken in the pedestrian area of terminals A and D of the Port of Tallinn as well as at a temporary testing point at Tallinn Airport based on a doctor’s referral note (issued on the spot). It takes about 5 minutes to complete the referral note and give a sample. People are tested on a first-come, first-served basis. The testing points are open each day until the last ship and air passengers arrive.
• Those returning from a risk country by land (train, car, on foot) can arrange a suitable time for testing. To do this, the public Testing Call Centre set up by SYNLAB and Medicum will open a special telephone number (further details to follow). In Estonia, priority for testing is given to people with symptoms. Therefore, the waiting time is approximately 1-2 days, which is why it is recommended to book a time in advance as soon as one’s time of arrival to Estonia is known. Tests can be done in public testing spots all over Estonia in Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, Narva, Kohtla-Järve, Viljandi, Paide, Rakvere, Kuressaare and Kärdla.
• Foreigners can take a coronavirus test to shorten the 14-day period of restriction on the freedom of movement for a fee of 67 euros. Bookings can be made by calling the telephone numbers of service providers offering paid services.
• Testing will be provided by a public testing organisation, whose samples will be analysed by the SYNLAB laboratory, based on an agreement with the Estonian Health Board.
• Until the test results are known, one must be in complete self-isolation. In the case of a negative result, the person will be notified via text message, positive results will be communicated over the phone. The result will also be visible when entering the health information system with an ID card. In the case of a negative test result, the person must stay in limited self-isolation for the first seven days following arrival to Estonia, i.e. the person can go to work and, for example, a shop, but unnecessary contacts must be avoided. The person should also keep their distance from others while at work.
• A second test must be performed no earlier than 7 days after the results of the first test, and if it is also negative, a person can resume their daily life. This means that after two negative tests a person will not be subjected to the full 14-day period of restriction on the freedom of movement, which applies to everyone coming from high-risk countries who did not undergo testing. The public Testing Call Centre will get in touch with a person to book a time for the second test.
• A country with a coronavirus infection rate of 16 cases per 100 000 people or higher is considered a coronavirus risk country.
• An updated list of risk countries is published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs every Friday and comes into force on Monday of the following week. Please see below up-to-date information. 
• Additional information: www.terviseamet.ee/en/, www.kriis.ee/en. National crisis hotline: +372 600 1247

Number of new infections per 100 000 inhabitants in the last 14 days (as of 18.09.2020) (applied in determining the necessity of a restriction on freedom of movement, if a person travels to Estonia during 21.09-27.09.2020)

• Andorra 313,7
• Austria 88,9
• Belgium 93,4
• Bulgaria 27,5
• Croatia 78,1
• Czech Republic 166,2
• Cyprus 6,9
• Denmark 69,2
• Finland 10,9
• France 172,1
• Germany 24,3
• Greece 31,7
• Hungary 94,0

• Iceland 21,9

• Ireland 57,4
• Italy 33,3
• Latvia 4,4
• Liechtenstein 7,8
• Lithuania 18,8**
• Luxembourg 129,7
• Malta 127,4
• Monaco 117,8
• Netherlands 90,2
• Norway 27,5
• Poland 19,6
• Portugal 71,5
• Romania 89,8
• San Marino 23,2
• Slovakia 34,1
• Slovenia 48,9
• Spain 292,2
• Sweden 30,3
• Switzerland 65,0
• United Kingdom 61,8
• Vatican 0,0

**On 11 September, the Government of Estonia raised the infection rate of Finland, Latvia and Lithuania to 25, and if the rate exceeds this limit, anyone arriving from these countries must self-isolate for 14 days. The raised infection rate limit entered into force on 14 September.
 

Countries outside the European Union

Additionally, based on the recommendation of the Council of the European Union, Estonia will open its border to 11 countries outside the European Union that have a low infection rate. 

• Australia
• Canada*
• Georgia*
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• South Korea
• Thailand
• Tunisia*
• Uruguay

* A two-week restriction on freedom of movement is mandatory

​The data is gathered from ECDC, WHO, Johns Hopkins University and countries' official data.

An exception to mandatory restriction of freedom of movement applies on entry to Estonia for the following individuals who show no symptoms:

1. an employee of a diplomatic representation or consular office of a foreign country in Estonia or their family members, or a foreign national arriving in Estonia for the purpose of international military cooperation;
2. individuals without symptoms and directly involved in the transport of goods and raw materials, including in loading goods or raw materials;
3. individuals without symptoms providing medical services or other services essential for the resolution of the emergency;
4. individuals without symptoms and directly involved in the international transport of goods and passengers, including the service staff or crew members of international means of transport and individuals conducting repairs, guarantee repairs or maintenance work on the means of transport;
5. individuals without symptoms providing services to tour groups and directly involved in providing passenger transport services;
6. individuals without symptoms arriving in Estonia for the purpose of ensuring the continuation of vital services;
7. individuals without symptoms arriving in Estonia for a company based in Estonia to perform equipment maintenance works or for repairs, guarantee repairs or ITC work if it is necessary for ensuring the continued operation of the company;
8. a foreign national for the purpose of immediate transit through Estonia on their way to their country of residence;
9. a foreign national with a special permit from the Police and Border Guard Board to enter the country.

Source: https://vm.ee/en/information-countries-and-self-isolation-requirements-passengers#EU%20+%20Schengen

13.07.2020

14.04.2020

Border traffic

Currently all border crossing points are open. Entry is allowed for vehicles of international carriage of goods (including food and medical supplies) as well as for providers of vital services, e.g. suppliers of fuel.

Estonia is allowing the transit of foreign nationals on their way to their home countries, provided that they are not having symptoms of the COVID-19 virus.

The Government of Estonia has not imposed a ban on exiting the country.

The temporary restrictions on crossing the state border will remain in effect until the relevant
order is amended, and the necessity is assessed every two weeks at the latest.

ATA Carnet

Estonia follows the common European Union rules and has not implemented any additional
measures for ATA Carnets. In cases where the goods under temporary importation can not be
re-exported within the foreseen deadline because of COVID-19 pandemic, the customs
authority has to be informed about the necessity to prolong the deadline. In exceptional cases
customs can prolong the deadline. However, if possible, we recommend to close the ATA
Carnet and place the goods covered by ATA Carnet under customs warehousing procedure.
More information can be found at :
https://www.emta.ee/eng/business-client/customs-trade-goods/classification-customs-authorities
https://www.koda.ee/en

Health security procedures

All the border crossing points are equipped with disinfection materials. Border controls include
the inspection of travel documents and checking for symptoms.

More detailed information

Tax and Customs Board: https://www.emta.ee/eng/offices
Estonian Police and Border Guard Board: https://www.politsei.ee/en/instructions/emergencysituation

Temporary reintroduction of border controls (15.03.2020)

The government decided to reintroduce border controls temporarily on all state borders to stop the spread of coronavirus. From 17 March onwards, only Estonian citizens and residents can enter the country, including people with the temporary residence permit or right of residence.

Start date: 17.03.2020

End date: not available

Further information: https://vm.ee/en/coronavirus-2019-ncov

Quarantine for 14 days for everyone coming into the country (16.03.2020)

Estonia has ordered a 14-day restriction of movement for people arriving in Estonia from abroad. From the day of arrival in Estonia it is prohibited for the person to leave home or place of stay during 14 days. Within the two weeks after arrival in Estonia the person can leave home or place of stay only at the request of medical worker or police or in case of an emergency that is threatening the person’s life or health.

Start date: 16.03.2020

End date: not available

Further information: https://vm.ee/en/coronavirus-2019-ncov

18.06.2020

As of 1 June, the Estonian borders have been reopened for people arriving from European countries.

Concerning arrivals in Estonia, no self-isolation at home is required if people:

·       arrive from a EU Member State, a Schengen country or the UK,

·       show no symptoms,

·       have stayed  in one of the countries mentioned above, where the infection rate has been below 15 persons per 100.000 inhabitants during the past 14 days.

More information can be found on the Government website (Estonian, English and Russian)

Source: ERAA

15.05.2020

Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) have decided that free movement between the three Baltic states will be restored on 15 May for residents of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia, and for people staying there legally, provided that they show no symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) (more information here).

From 14 May, new border crossing procedures come into force between Estonia and Finland. Those with a Finnish citizenship, residence permit, or whose permanent residence is in Finland, according to the population register, can now come to Estonia more frequently for work or studies or for family reasons without being required to stay in isolation, provided that they have no symptoms of the virus (more information here).

A special website has been created to share all information on the emergency situation in Estonia. Information is available in Estonian, English, and Russian.

Source: ERAA

18.03.2020

The government has decided to restrict the crossing of the Schengen internal and external border temporarily, and to reintroduce border controls in order to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Only citizens of Estonia and holders of Estonian residency permits (or rights of residence) can enter Estonia, as well as foreign citizens with family members living in the country.

International road freight is exempt.

Foreigners are allowed to transit Estonia if travelling to their home country as long as they are not showing symptoms of COVID-19.

At the border control, travel documents and medical symptoms will be checked.

There are no restrictions for exiting the country.

The border control was reintroduced on 17 March 2020. The temporary restriction of border crossing will be in force until further notice, and the situation will be reviewed every two weeks.

Source:ERAA