eesti.ee : Apply for Citizenship Estonia

Organization : EESTi, Gateway to e-Estonia
Facility : Applying for Citizenship
Country : Estonia

Website : https://www.eesti.ee/eng/kodakondsus/eesti_kodakondsus/taiskasvanu_kodakondsuse_taotlemine

Apply for Citizenship :

Estonian citizenship :
** is acquired by birth if at least one parent has Estonian citizenship
** is obtained through naturalization

Related : EESTi Apply for Maintenance Allowance Estonia : www.statusin.org/27599.html

** is reinstated in the case of persons who lost Estonian citizenship as minors
** is lost by way of release of Estonian citizenship, depriving one of citizenship or by accepting the citizenship of another country.

An Estonian citizen may not simultaneously hold the citizenship of any other country. Estonian citizenship is lost by accepting the citizenship of another country.

A child may hold more than one citizenship if his or her parents have different citizenship. But upon reaching 18 years of age, a child must within three years give up either his or her Estonian citizenship or that of the other country.

Applying for citizenship :
To obtain Estonian citizenship, the person must take examinations on the official language (Estonian), the Estonian Constitution and the Citizenship Act. The official language examination does not have to be taken by those who have acquired basic, secondary or higher education in Estonian.

Foreign nationals who wish to obtain Estonian citizenship are required to :
** be at least 15 years of age
** hold a permanent residence permit or permanent right of residence (if located in Estonia before July 1st 1990)

** be living in Estonia at least 8 years (out of which 5 permanently) on the ground
** be proficient in Estonian at a level necessary for everyday situations
** know the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Citizenship Act

** hold a stable legal income that is enough for him or her and his or her dependents to live on
** have a registered residence in Estonia

** be loyal to the Estonian state
** swear an oath : “In applying for Estonian citizenship, I vow to be loyal to the constitutional order of Estonia.”

For applying for citizenship, please address in person a Service Office of the Citizenship and Migration Bureau, or apply by post or by e-mail.

Applying for citizenship for child younger than 15 :
Estonian citizenship for a minor younger than 15 years of age can be applied for by the child’s :
** parents (or one parent upon an agreement with the other parent or a single parent who is bringing up the child alone) who obtained Estonian citizenship after the birth of the child

** guardian who is an Estonian citizen or a guardianship authority if the parents of the minor are dead, they are missing or have restricted active legal capacity or they have been deprived of their parental rights

** parents (or one parent upon an agreement with the other parent or a single parent who is bringing up the child alone) if they apply for Estonian citizenship simultaneously

** parents (or a single parent who is bringing up the child alone) who are not citizens of any state and who have legally resided in Estonia for at least 5 years.

When applying for Estonian citizenship for a child, the following documents must be filed :
** an application form
** a colour photo measuring 40×50 mm

** the minor’s birth certificate (optional)
** the parents’ identity documents (and for those who are not Estonian citizens, also a residence permit).

Additional documents must be filed if :
** only one parent is an Estonian citizen – an agreement between the parent who is an Estonian citizen and the parent who is not an Estonian citizen provided with officially authenticated signatures

** the application is filed by a parent who is bringing up the child alone – a document certifying that the parent is bringing up the child alone
** the application is filed by a guardian – a document certifying the awarding of guardianship

** the minor is a citizen of another state – a certificate that the minor shall be released from their other citizenship in relation to obtaining Estonian citizenship.

If the granting of Estonian citizenship has been decided by the Government of the Republic, the Police and Border Guard Board will inform you by mail, after which you can go to apply for an ID card or passport of an Estonian citizen for the minor.

Reinstating citizenship :
Estonian citizenship may be reinstated if a person lost it as a minor. No one may be stripped of citizenship due to their beliefs. An application must be submitted to the Police and Border Guard Board both to reinstate citizenship and to be released from citizenship.

To reinstate Estonian citizenship, an application and the required documents must be submitted to an office of the Citizenship and Migration Board. Reinstatement of citizenship may be applied for by anyone who lost citizenship as a minor.

The person seeking to reinstate citizenship must permanently reside in Estonia and have been released of his or her previous citizenship, or he or she must certify that he or she will be released from such citizenship on becoming an Estonian citizen.

The following must be submitted to reinstate citizenship :
** request (can also be filled out on the spot)
** colour photograph measuring 40×50 mm

** identity and citizenship documents into which the Estonian residence permit has been entered
** documents certifying loss of Estonian citizenship
** certificate regarding payment of state fee.

Within six months of acceptance of the request, the person seeking to reinstate citizenship must submit documents that certify that he or she has been released from his or her previous citizenship or that the person will be released from previous citizenship upon becoming an Estonian citizen.

If you fail to submit the certificate in a timely manner, the processing of the request will be discontinued. The decision on reinstatement of citizenship will be made within three months of submitting the required documents and you will be notified in writing and sent a certificate of citizenship as well.

The certificate of citizenship confers the right to apply for an ID card and Estonian citizen’s passport.