Applying for citizenship

Are you planning to apply for Estonian citizenship? If so, read on!

What does it mean to be an Estonian citizen? What does it give me, and what does it require of me?

The best way of thinking about it is that being a citizen is first and foremost your opportunity to have your say on and make decisions about life in Estonia – the country you call home.

Citizenship isn’t an obligation, but an opportunity to create lasting ties with Estonia and to make your own contribution to the country’s future. Moreover, as a citizen of Estonia you’re also a citizen of the European Union, with its population of 450 million. This makes it possible for you to travel visa-free anywhere in the Schengen zone as well as to the United States and many other countries. You gain the right to live, work and do business in all 27 Member States of the European Union and to find affordable and appropriate learning opportunities. There are also a number of programmes for EU citizens, such as Erasmus+, the world’s most successful student exchange programme.

Most people obtain Estonian citizenship by birth, which is to say that at the time they’re born, one or both of their parents is an Estonian citizen. However, you can also apply for Estonian citizenship if you’re a citizen of another country by birth or if you have undefined citizenship. Obtaining citizenship by any means other than birth is known as ‘naturalisation’.