• Estonia
• Moving to
• Living in
• Leaving
• Resources
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

Moving to : Estonia

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Estonia, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Estonia 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Estonia 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Estonian culture is defined in many ways. From their singing to their ancient cities and coastlines.  Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

Kwintessential - Estonia
Halldor - Facts, comments and resources
U Look U Book - Culture

Each area of Estonia will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Estonia you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Estonia you are investigating.

To enter Estonia to work you must have a full 10 year UK passport and it must be valid for at least 2 months after you plan to leave. 

As an EU national you do not need a work permit to work in Estonia on the condition you have registered your residence (see below) and have applied for an ID-Card. However it is always best to be prepared, and have employment set up before you go.

Smart Estonia - EU Citizens Entry & Residence
Smart Estonia - Work for EU Citizens

As a new resident, you will be expected to register your arrival within 3 months of entering Estonia with your local government authority nearest your home.  Temporary residence will be granted for a 5 year period automatically.  After this time, permanent residency can be applied for. 

Smart Estonia - Registration of the place of residence

More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

There are a number of websites which focus on job searchs in Estonia.  The following are a few, however we can not take personal liability for any of their content or claims.

4 International - Careers & Jobs
4ICJ
3 w Jobs - Jobs in Estonia
Jobs Abroad
Job Centre Plus
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs

An employment contract in Estonia is not yet obligatory, however having some kind of an agreement in place prior to starting work is advisable.  Before signing anything, make sure you understand it fully. If it is in Estonian, ask if it can be translated into English so there is no question in your mind what you are signing. If they can't do this, then spend the money and take it to a translator. Always better to be safe than sorry. There may be situations where you need to prove you have work, and for this, again, a contract of employment can be beneficial.  There is an Employment Contract Act which is hoping to be made legislation. Information on this can be found here:

Eurofound - Employment/work contracts examined

Your employer should apply for a social security number on your behalf along with your tax registration. More information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities).

If you are planning on going to Estonia and starting your own business, this site may be of use to you: Doing Business

If you're going to study in Estonia, you will need information regarding courses.

Prospects - Postgraduate study
Open University - Business School in Estonia
Europa - Studying in Estonia
International Study - Estonia
International Graduates - Estonia

Like in most countries, childcare places are limited and you will need to apply well in advance.  Speak to your local town hall for information on daycare facilities in your local area.  Information regarding child care for pre-school children can be found here:

Smart Estonia - Daycare and Schools
Europa - Equal Opportunities

The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school at the age of 7 and finish complusory schooling around 17. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a Estonian school?" These sites may help you with this decision.

ESIS - Education in Estonia
Smart Estonia - Daycare and Schools
English Schools - Estonia
Independent Schools - Estonia
About - Private Schools in Estonia

If you are considering retiring to Estonia, then the following sites should be useful:

Direct Gov - Preparing to move or retire abroad
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Estonia can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Property Abroad - Buyers Guide
Smart Estonia - Buying Property
Smart Estonia - Finding a house or a flat
Prime Location - Estate agents in Estonia
Right Move - Property Website

Rental can be harder as most real estate agencies focus on short term/holiday rentals, however it is not impossible. You will usually be expected to pay a deposit and a months' rent in advance and property search for rentals is usually easier in autumn and winter as during the summer months the shorter lease periods are more appealing to landlords.

Smart Estonia - Rental Agreements
Prime Location - Estate agents in Estonia 
Estate Angels - Lettings

When shipping your personal (household) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Estonian nationals.

NHS Guide   
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance 
Smart Estonia - Health

Many Doctors and Dentists are English speaking, however it could take a while to find them. You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area, providing your choice does not bring the doctor's/dentist's list above the maximum patients permitted. For an English speaking Doctor, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals.

Smart Estonia - Family Physicians 
Smart Estonia - Dental Care

Before taking any medication into Estonia make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn’t know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

Smart Estonia - Medicines

Private medical insurance is a personal choice. Although not necessary as the public healthcare in Estonia is adequate, it can act as a security blanket if something goes seriously wrong.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

Opening a bank account is pretty simple.  Hopefully, these sites should give you the information you need.

Smart Estonia - Banking
EESTI Pank - Opening an account in Estonia

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, you might want to contact these companies in advance, so you are able to have connection from the day you move in.  Like most countries, you can get TV, Internet and phone packages.  Do your research and speak with neighbours, they will be able to advise on the best deals for your area.

The largest internet providers are:

Elion
Elisa
Tele2

Elion has an English interface, however for the other two, you will need an Estonian reader with you to navigate the pages.

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

This site may help you decide which carrier is best for you and how the system works.

Smart Estonia - Phones

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

You can drive your own car for 12 months in Estonia without the need to register it.  However, if you plan on staying longer, it will need to be registered with the Estonian Motor Vehicle Registration Centre.

Smart Estonia - By Car
ARK - Vehicles registration (official government website in English)

No one wants to leave their other family members behind, so take them with you! Also, please don't forget to consider they may need their own Residency permits once in Estonia.

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs & ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)
Smart Estonia - Pets

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Estonia:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research. Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there more information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting